What was your route to the top? A Homeric tale: an epic where I never truly went home, or at least back to the start: promises made and kept, foreign travel, wine, battles, raging storms, lost friends, new friends, disguises, narrow straits, encounters with fantastic sea creatures, a tapestry to unweave every evening and through it all: navigating by my inner compass. A hero for some, a demon for others.

What keeps you up at night? (i.e. What are your biggest business-related concerns?) Protecting my clients from risk: compliance, business and just plain silly risks where I didn't see around the corners.

What is the best leadership advice you provided, or received, and why do you think it was effective? Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Let them shine, be creative and give them the encouragement and support they need. And always give them credit. You and your team will benefit in ways you never envisioned, which is frankly, the point.

Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you started out in the legal profession? How completely demanding it is—mentally and emotionally. And how much I would like it!

What is the most valuable career advice anyone has ever given you? “Do you” Someone told me that recently as I was headed to a presentation (I was nervous) and it resonated with me. There is no one recipe for success and often we are afraid to take risks, speak out, push back or set boundaries. Being true to yourself while managing a career can be difficult and your path may be longer, more circuitous, but have faith that you will get “there,” wherever that is for you, by being yourself.