How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?

I have been a member of WALRAA since I relocated to the DC area in May 2013. I have been fortunate to have had countless great experiences in WALRAA, from my first member meeting when Irena introduced me, to the day I was elected president. I am looking forward to making many more great memories in the coming year!

How has WALRAA helped you in your field?

WALRAA has helped me to grow tremendously since I joined. I was new to the area, and did not know many people. WALRAA has exposed me to many amazing professionals that I have been able to get to know and learn from during my time with the organization. Thanks to these generous people, I have become a better manager and more confident leader.

How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?

I moved to New York after graduating from college and began working as a Legal Assistant in the Securitization and Structured Finance Group at Sidley Austin. After deciding against my original plan of going to law school, I took an interest in legal recruiting. Fortunately, there was a recruiting opening at my firm so I was able to transition smoothly into the department. The rest is history!

What is your favorite moment of your career so far?

This is a tough one.... If I had to pick one, I think it would have to be when I was first promoted to Legal Recruiting Manager. I worked very hard to get to the next step in my career, so when it happened, it was extremely rewarding.

What is it that challenges you most in your job?

Keeping up with the constant change and breakneck pace of the industry.

How do you balance your career and personal life?

We all know recruiting is cyclical, so I try to plan ahead and carve out time for my family and friends whenever possible. We have such full plates that we could easily stay at work late every night, but I think it is important to set limits and boundaries. There are certain times of the year when your schedule is not really your own, so it is important to take advantage of the times when you can control when you leave the office.

What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?

I want to further develop my technological, management and communication skills this year.

What is the best professional advice you have received?

Build your own brand; an excellent reputation will precede you in any job or project you do.

What do you like to do for fun?

My family was in the restaurant business, so I like going out to eat and trying new places (although my husband is one of the best cooks I know!) I also love to travel and took some amazing trips in 2015, so hopefully I can keep up the trend. I have a four year old English Bulldog named Linus (happy to show you a picture anytime!) so when I am in town, much of my free time is spent cuddling with him.

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.

I grew up in Florida and swam competitively, qualifying for the Junior Olympics on multiple occasions. People always assume I played basketball because of my height, but if you saw me dribble, you would quickly see that is not the case.