Name: Laurie A. Vahey

Category: Law Firm: Managing Partner of the Year

Firm/Company: Vahey Getz

Title: Founding Partner

Time in Position: Since 2017

What was your route to the top? 

Getting to the "top" is self-measured. Hopefully, there will be no end to my growth. However, I was fortunate to get where I am through hard work, having a passion for learning and helping others—and most importantly, luck. When possible, make as many positive and sincere connections as you can. Later, those connections may prove essential to your success.

What keeps you up at night? 

Challenges are around every corner. Right now, I am focused on finding personnel that shares our vision and supporting those individuals to allow them to grow and succeed. Of course, being able to balance work, family and fun is also a constant issue. I believe in and strive for wellness, but sometimes being managing partner means putting oneself last. To fulfill my role, however, staying healthy and having physical and mental well-being is a priority—which can be difficult to balance.

What is the best leadership advice you've given or received, and why do you think it was effective?

Recognizing that no one person can do it all, I was told in my younger days that—if I can—to pay others to help at home. Taking that advice, it allowed me to focus at work and home on what was most important. Everyone was a lot happier when I was not trying to do it all. Additionally, at a recent conference a speaker discussed leading and making every business decision by coming back to and acting on the core values of the business (our values are trust, accountability, excellence, collaboration, service, innovation and gratitude). That analysis is now the cornerstone for all my decision-making.

Looking back, what do you wish you had known when you started out in the legal profession?

In the beginning, I wish I had known that when it's tough you are, in fact, growing. That growth is a tremendous asset later in one's career. Such experiences lead to effective strategic thinking and leadership abilities. Further, that we should be as kind to ourselves as we are to others. This profession can be very stressful, but it is one of the greatest in the world.

What is the most valuable career advice anyone has ever given you?

An attorney's career should be owned by that ­individual. Invest in yourself. That does not mean just money, but also pay attention to where you spend your time and energy. Be a continual learner, and if others put a roadblock in your way, believe that you can work around it. Once, I felt I was not given the necessary resources to develop my practice. When working through official channels was unsuccessful, I hired a career coach at my own expense and did the work (in addition to my regular practice). My practice grew as a result. If you have a problem, don't just complain. Offer or be the solution.