Following Senator Kamala Harris’ selection as the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee for the 2020 presidential election, Texas Lawyer spotlighted six women lawyers – including Jackson Walker partner Meghan Griffiths – as they shared challenges that women face today as leaders and what it means to have a seat at the table.
“I’m grateful to be a part of this conversation on the example that Kamala Harris is setting for young girls and women across the country,” Meghan said regarding her inclusion in the Texas Lawyer article. “I’ll be even more grateful when the number of women and people of color in the upper echelon of politics, law firm management, and corporate board seats is so commonplace that this is no longer news.”
In the article, she noted:
“It’s no secret that women leaders, especially women of color like Kamala Harris, face both conscious and unconscious bias and have had to work harder for a seat at the table. When a woman gets that seat at the table – whether it be in politics, law firm management, or a corporate board seat – it’s more than likely she has had to work overtime to make her voice heard and get credit for her contributions. You can also bet there was no free ride to the top and that she got there with grit, smarts, teamwork, and the ability to make allies.
Challenges exist at every stage of a career, but a successful career is a lot like a marathon. Some days it’s a burn and you just have to put one foot in front of the other. Other days, you can see the finish line and the feeling at the end of it all is worth the hard work. I try to get through the challenges by remembering that the “runner’s high” of solving a complex problem, winning a case, or making a certain achievement is in sight, even when roadblocks present themselves.”
For women who face double standards in politics, business, and the law, Meghan advised, “Don’t listen to detractors and be true to yourself. Listen to that inner voice that you had as a kid. You remember the one. The one that said: ‘You can do it!’ and ‘Don’t be afraid.’”
To read more, view the Texas Lawyer article “Kamala Harris VP Selection Spurs Conversation About Women in Leadership Roles From Women Legal Leaders Across Texas” (subscription required).
Meet Meghan
Based in Jackson Walker’s Austin office, Meghan E. Griffiths is an energy attorney focused on representing clients in regulatory matters, litigation, and commercial transactions involving the electric power industry. Her clients span all sectors of the industry, including owners of conventional and renewable generation, electric utilities, utility investors, large power users, and retail electric providers. In recognition of her practice, Meghan has been named among The Best Lawyers in America since 2018 and has been ranked in the Chambers USA guide since 2017 in the area of Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) for Texas.
Outside of her practice, Meghan is a member of the Association of Women in Energy, Travis County Women Lawyers’ Association, Gulf Coast Power Association, and the planning committee for the annual UT Law CLE Gas and Power Institute.
