On June 24, 2021, nearly 250 of this year’s Fellows attended the LCLD 2021 Fellows Second Meeting, where they gathered virtually to gain professional development insights and continue building relationships with one another. 

LCLD Alumni Program Director Nichole Velasquez opened the meeting by introducing Jessica Washington (right), the new Fellows Program Manager who joined LCLD in mid-June. Washington, who is excited to take on the role, has been working with Velasquez (former Fellows Program Manager) during this time of transition. She received a very warm welcome in the chat window from the Fellows. 

Following the opening remarks, Fellows participated in a session on preventing burnout led by Paula Davis, Founder & CEO of the Stress & Resilience Institute. With special focus on lawyers, Davis provided actionable strategies to prevent burnout for individuals, leaders, and teams. The Fellows broke out into small Accountability Partner groups during the session to enhance their learning with discussions on how burnout might be impacting themselves and their organizations. 

The Fellows also attended a discussion on “Leading by Leaning on Others,” with Sharon Barner, Vice President and Chief Administration Officer at Cummins Inc., and Vice President - At Large of the LCLD Board of Directors, and LCLD Member Anat Hakim, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary at Eli Lilly and Company, moderated by LCLD President Robert Grey. 

Barner has acted as a longtime mentor and sponsor to Hakim, and they discussed how their relationship evolved and the lessons they learned throughout their careers. Barner and Hakim also shared how they have navigated the pandemic, as well as advice for emerging leaders in the legal profession. 

In addition to the substantive sessions, there were several opportunities for networking among 2021 Fellows Program class members. They met with their Regional Cohort Group—each including 10-12 Fellows from their LCLD geographical region—to discuss allyship and engage in authentic conversations about current events. They also participated in one-on-one speed networking sessions, a trivia competition, and Dine-Arounds where they networked more informally over snacks or dinner. 

In September, 2021 Fellows will meet with their Accountability Partners to discuss the topic, “Building Your Professional Persona.” They will also participate in their second set of Regional Cohort meetings. 

For questions about the Fellows Program, please contact Jessica Washington, Fellows Program Manager.