As Axiom celebrated International Women's Day on March 8th, I had the privilege of joining three extraordinary legal leaders, Catherine Kemnitz (Axiom), Lisa Brower (NatWest Markets), and Jasmine Singh (Ironclad), for a candid conversation on how women are navigating, redefining, and leading in the legal field.
Together, we explored the progress made, the work still to be done, and the very real, very human stories behind career milestones. What emerged wasn’t a one-size-fits-all blueprint but something even more valuable: practical insight shaped by experience and honest reflections that offer guidance for anyone building a career in law.
Growth Doesn’t Happen in a Straight Line
Legal careers rarely unfold in the tidy, linear paths our resumes may suggest they do. Behind every single title are unexpected pivots, hard choices, and sometimes, uncomfortable truths.
For some women in law, the lack of representation in law firm leadership may push them to consider in-house roles earlier in their careers. For others, staying in BigLaw can provide unmatched experience and mentorship. There’s no universal right answer, only the right fit for each person at each stage.
Jasmine shared a memorable moment when she stepped away from law entirely, taking a break from firm life to become a fitness instructor. That bold decision, rooted in a need to rediscover herself, ultimately led her back to legal work with more clarity and confidence. "It was the best job I ever had," she said, "even though it paid the least."
Whether taking a leap of faith into a new role or simply recognizing when something no longer fits, each panelist had a version of this moment: the quiet realization that it was time to pivot. Sometimes, the best moves aren’t made in pursuit of a dream job but in an honest response to a difficult one.
Redefining Success on Your Own Terms
We all enter the legal profession with a set of expectations. Some of these we set ourselves, and others we inherit. But over time, the most fulfilling careers tend to be those shaped by self-awareness rather than external benchmarks.
Lisa shared how she resisted being nudged toward firm management or compliance tracks, despite having the skills for both. She stayed rooted in the work that inspired her. "Just because it’s not good for somebody else," she said, "doesn’t mean it’s not good for me."
Jasmine spoke to the internal voice many professionals carry, or the instinct to equate failure with personal inadequacy. "I have to know that a mistake is not a testament to my worthiness," she shared. "It just means I haven’t experienced everything yet." That mindset shift, from proving oneself to accepting imperfection, was echoed across the panel.
These reflections are a reminder that your career is yours to define. Whether you're building toward a traditional leadership role or carving out space in a less conventional lane, the real measure of success lies in how well it aligns with your values, interests, and life outside of work.
Letting Go of Perfectionism
Many of us in the legal industry, especially women in leadership, learn the hard way that perfection is a myth. The truth is, no one can show up 100% in every role at all times, whether it’s as an executive, parent, partner, or friend. And that’s okay.
Catherine put it in perspective: “If all the clear answers are going to be handled by technology, what’s left is our ability to navigate ambiguity.” In other words, what makes us valuable isn’t being flawless; it’s being able to adapt, problem-solve, and lead through uncertainty.
And Jasmine summed it up well: “I try to work in places where I’m allowed to fail, and say, ‘Wow, I really did that badly. I can’t wait to do it again and do it better.’” Creating cultures where failure isn’t punished but used as a tool for growth is essential to innovation and inclusion.
Community Is Everything
Across every chapter of a legal career, support systems matter. We don’t build resilience alone. For some, it starts with peer groups –those colleagues who share your challenges, celebrate your wins, and call you out when needed.
Lisa reflected on the women she started out with in BigLaw, many of whom remain her closest friends and advisors. “We knew we weren’t all going to make partner,” she said, “but the relationships would outlast the firm.”
Support also shows up in surprising places. Catherine recalled preparing to return to work after surgery and her CEO gently telling her she wasn’t ready. “Take your time,” he said. That permission to rest, and more importantly that permission to be human, was an act of leadership in itself.
In my own career, the advice that stuck with me most came from a mentor who had navigated both law and motherhood. “Take everything six months at a time,” she told me. It was a simple reminder not to over-engineer every decision at work or at home and to stay open to change.
The Role of Champions and the Evolution of Ambition
Everyone needs people who believe in them before they believe in themselves, people who say your name in a room full of opportunity or sit with you, day after day, until the lightbulb goes off.
For Jasmine, one of those people was a manager who spent months walking her through contract redlines when she transitioned into transactional work. “He invested time in me because he believed in my potential,” she said. That early encouragement became a foundation for future growth.
Champions don’t always outrank you. Sometimes they’re peers who see your work and advocate for you. One of Jasmine’s biggest professional expansions came when a colleague, not her boss, recommended her for a new leadership role. “He didn’t have to say that,” she recalled, “but it changed everything.”
Ambition, we all agreed, is not a dirty word. But it isn’t one-size-fits-all either. For some, it’s about climbing the ladder. For others, it’s about influence, impact, or learning something new. Whatever form it takes, ambition needs room to grow and people who’ll help you find the right direction, even if it’s one you haven’t imagined yet.
Work, family, health, and identity are all connected. As Lisa put it, “You can’t look at your life in silos.” The roles we play outside of work inevitably shape how we show up inside of it, and vice versa. A fulfilling career doesn’t compete with your life; it contributes to it.
For those of us leading legal departments, growing companies, or juggling both with caregiving, the path isn’t linear. And it rarely looks like anyone else’s. That’s the point.
The conversation reminded me that when we share our real stories, not just the titles and wins, we create space for others to do the same. We make room for more women to lead, more lawyers to thrive, and more paths to be valid.
💡 Watch the webinar on demand to gain valuable insights from leading legal professionals on navigating career growth, embracing challenges, and redefining success in the legal industry.
