On Thursday, December 5, 2019, MoFo welcomed leading attorneys and diversity professionals from some of the most influential law firms in the United States to the New York office for the 2019 Women’s Initiative Think Tank. The Think Tank, presented by Threshold Advisors and Hub6, was formed to inspire meaningful dialogue on women’s initiatives within law firms and provide attendees with actionable takeaways to help improve their firms’ women’s and diversity programs.
MoFo partner and co-chair of the Women’s Strategy Committee Carrie H. Cohen, Chief Talent Officer Diane Downs, and Director of Attorney Development and Women’s Initiatives Janet Stone Herman represented MoFo at the event. Carrie, Diane, and Janet were invited to discuss key topics regarding the advancement of women in law firms during a tactical workshop. They also shared some of the core principles and strategies that have driven the success of women’s programs at MoFo.
In addition, Carrie led the lunchtime keynote titled “Diversity & Inclusion: A View from the Bench.” As part of the keynote, Carrie presented findings from a report she co-authored that was adopted by the New York State Bar Association and the American Bar Association titled If Not Now, When? Achieving Equality for Women Attorneys in the Courtroom and in ADR. She also engaged in a fireside chat with a member of the judiciary in which they discussed the bench’s ability in the courtroom to advance the professional development of women and diverse attorneys.
Other programs on the agenda included a session on intersectionality titled “Changing the Conversation with Black Women at Work,” and a roundtable discussion on “Allyship: New and Best Practices.” Attendees were given the opportunity to offer and receive advice on a number of critical issues in the advancement of women in law firms. The event ended with a networking and cocktail reception.
The Think Tank was started by Threshold Advisors in an effort to further the work of women’s initiatives. Psychologist, career coach, and author Dr. Karen Kahn established the Talent Development Collaborancy™ to provide strategic business coaching for the legal industry and lead others in creating workplaces where women and men thrive and elevate the success of their firms. Rachel Silverman from Hub6 Advisors, a business development coach with extensive legal experience, teamed up with Karen to design and execute the Think Tank’s programming.
Learn more about women’s programs and initiatives at MoFo here.