Heidi Friedman is a partner in Thompson Hine’s Environmental and Products Liability practice groups and Co-chair of the firm’s ESG Collaborative. She serves as national environmental counsel for many large corporations, including Fortune 500 companies.
Heidi is also a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL), a Member of the International Association of Defense Counsel and DRI, and she’s on the Board of Directors and Honoree Committee for Bellefaire JCB and DirectWomen, respectively.
As a mother, lawyer, and Founder and Former Chair of Thompson Hine’s Women’s Initiative, Heidi strongly advocates for diversity, equality, authenticity, and creating a culture of belonging. For Heidi, achieving these feats is all about crafting your unique course to success, both inside and outside of the workplace.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
- Heidi Friedman discusses her response to a controversial article and the key components to chart your own course
- How was Heidi able to find flexibility as an associate?
- Heidi talks about her career journey and the myth of work-life balance
- Why is a work family so valuable?
- Building your own board of directors — inside and outside of your firm
- Why stepping off the ladder does not destroy your career
- How to overcome the difficulties of asking for what you want
- Heidi’s advice: don’t underestimate the value of a strong network
- The programs that Heidi and her team implemented through Thompson Hine’s Women’s Initiative
- Finding your own track and avoiding comparison
In this episode…
Oftentimes, lawyers are expected to fulfill cookie-cutter examples of success, incessantly working their way up the ladder in order to make partner. But what about entry-level associates, parents, and others who want to find success and happiness in their careers right now? Is there a way to achieve your goals while straying from the traditional path?
According to Heidi Friedman, the “you do you” philosophy can help anyone find happiness in their professional and personal lives regardless of age, gender, or experience. Based on prioritization, flexibility, and authenticity, this method allows you to chart your own path and find what works best for you. Instead of falling into the traps of comparison, begrudgingly following tradition, and feeding the voice in your head saying “you’re not doing enough,” Heidi suggests following the course that is genuinely and authentically you.
In this episode of The Lawyer’s Edge Podcast, Elise Holtzman is joined by Heidi Friedman, Partner in Thompson Hine’s Environmental Products and Liability sector and Co-chair of the firm’s ESG Collaborative. Together, they talk about shaping your unique track to success in the legal industry by embracing authenticity, asking for what you want, and nurturing relationships. Heidi also describes her journey to success and shares inspirational advice from mentors along the way.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Elise Holtzman on LinkedIn
- The Lawyer’s Edge
- Heidi Friedman on LinkedIn
- Thompson Hine
- “Lawyer Moms—and All Parents for that Matter: You Do You” by Heidi Friedman
- “INSIGHT: What I’d Tell My 25-Year-Old Self About a BigLaw Career” by Heidi Friedman
- Craig Martahus on LinkedIn
- April Miller Boise on LinkedIn
- Debbie Epstein Henry on The Lawyer’s Edge Podcast
- Pat Gillette on The Lawyer’s Edge Podcast
Sponsor for this episode…
This episode is brought to you by The Lawyer’s Edge, a firm based in the New York metropolitan area founded by Elise Holtzman in 2008 to help lawyers become skilled business developers and leaders so that they can grow their practices, retain top talent, and step confidently into leadership roles.
The firm offers customized coaching, consulting, and training programs such as their signature business development program, Lawyers Making Rain.
Now more than ever, it’s not enough to just do good work and hope your law firm will thrive. And no matter how smart and hard-working you are, it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to figure it all out by yourself.
To learn more about how we help lawyers become rainmakers and leaders, visit thelawyersedge.com or email us at podcast@thelawyersedge.com.
