P2P

24 P E E R T O P E E R : I L T A ' S Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E | S P R I N G 2 0 2 4 W O M E N W H O L E A D Do you have a life philosophy? Where does it originate and how does it shape who you are? JACLYN: "Try your best and learn as much as you can along the way." The first part came from my father, who always encouraged me to try my hardest, whatever the results may be, and it became especially resonant to me as I took on more roles where my efforts alone did not determine the success of a project. The second part, learning as much as I can, is the result of accepting and capitalizing on my generalist skillset. Earlier in my career, I thought I wouldn't go far or be well respected if I wasn't a deep expert in my field. I have since discovered that I'm more successful when I know a little bit about a lot of things. I can draw together information from disparate sources to synthesize a solution and translate technical jargon to make ideas more accessible and consensus more achievable. Success with this approach demands I stay sharp, though, so I volunteer for tasks outside my role, shadow others to learn about their expertise, and try new things I have no background in—all with the perspective that I'm gathering knowledge for future use. I may not be an expert in every topic I encounter in my line of work, but I typically know enough to be "dangerous." What do you pull from for inspiration? (books, podcasts, Ted talks, etc.) MEGHANN: Regarding work, I try to incorporate design thinking exercises when it makes sense, and I use The Design Thinking Toolbox by Michael Lewrick, Patrick Link, and Larry Leifer for inspiration for new exercises to keep things fresh. Also, even though it's a bit old, I still like Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think Revisited for guidance on web design. For KM related inspiration, I like Mary Abraham's blog "Above and Beyond KM." I try to go to as many webinars and conferences as my schedule allows to stay up to speed on the latest developments. There is a wealth of free and low-cost resources out there. However, perhaps my biggest inspiration is my colleagues both within my firm and in the legal technology space. I enjoy hearing about the new strategies my colleagues are trying with their projects to see what I can do to incorporate [them] into mine. What advice would you give to your younger self? JACLYN: Your career is not a ladder; it's a zig-zag rollercoaster with some loops thrown in for good measure, and that's what makes it exciting! Walk your own path accordingly. In the same vein, learn as much as you can about as many subjects as possible. Next, growth sometimes puts you in an uncomfortable position, but you need to push yourself and be ok with the possibility of mistakes or failure. Fear is your friend here. And last, but not least, when you get cranky, it means you need a vacation! MEGHANN: Have confidence in your path and follow your interests even if you don't think you have every required skill because you are still learning and will continue to do so throughout your entire career. Law school is the start of your education, not the end. Also, there are a lot of interesting alternative paths for a legal career that don't involve the traditional concept of litigating or advice and counsel. I don't have a technology background and would never have guessed that I would be where I am today when I graduated law school in 2002. ILTA

• Cover