March 2024
At Hanson Bridgett, we celebrate our people, the inclusive workplace culture, and the communities where we work and live: they are the heartbeat of our firm. These are the stories of our values in action. The current happenings and the vibrant individuals behind the scenes and legal matters. Don’t miss a beat.
A Winning Formula: Hanson Bridgett’s Women’s Impact Network
Plus, Meet the Committee's Co-Chairs!
March is Women’s History Month, and this year’s theme, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” is on point for us. Here at Hanson Bridgett, we’re committed to leveling the playing field—for women and historically underrepresented communities—and we’ve worked to eliminate the type of bias and discrimination that have plagued the legal industry for far too long.
We’re really prioritizing our investments in our DEI initiatives, such as our inclusive hiring practices and continuing transparent promotion pathways… These aren't just HR policies, these are fundamental to the firm’s business model and growth strategy.” – CFO/COO Laura Long, as quoted on a recent Passle Podcast episode.
But the success we’ve built didn’t happen overnight, and it wouldn't have been possible over the years without a certain group of ladies pushing the boundaries, staying involved, and actively living these values from within our firm and beyond. They remain inspired by the women advocates and heroes of the past, and are continuing to inspire.
The WIN-Win
Enter: The Women’s Impact Network, better known as simply “the WIN”—the committee responsible for supporting Hanson Bridgett’s women attorneys and administrative professionals through leadership training opportunities, mentoring, internal and external networking, and firm policy development and improvement. At the firm, they have a reputation for planning fun and meaningful events.
My favorite quote: ‘Be the women you look up to!’ It embodies my aspiration to not only achieve personal growth and success, but also serves as a source of inspiration and empowerment for other women.”– Legal Secretary & WIN Co-Chair, Ambra Jackson
Perhaps the most popular example is our annual Marketplace event, a firm favorite, where we partner with and support small, women-owned businesses, usually around the holidays. The WIN Committee researches and invites select local businesses to our office and offers them space to promote and sell their products. In turn, our people, clients, and partners are invited to come for a cool and exclusive shopping experience. It’s a fun social event, and there’s purpose. That combination resonates.
This month, in honor of Women’s History Month, DEI and Social Impact Manager Briana Jeffery presented a virtual music bingo event. “The idea became a front runner as a cost-effective and entertaining way to celebrate Women’s History Month while highlighting the contributions of women in music,” she explained.
There was a personal component for Briana as well, a self-described “nerd at the party, predicting what song the DJ is going to mix in next.” Snippets of her music selections were shared, each corresponding to song titles on participants' virtual bingo cards. Briana's carefully crafted mix made the event special, and there was something for everyone. Stream Briana’s mix here.
The common theme for WIN events is that they're creative, and those involved in the planning are passionate about them. Fresh ideas and collaboration are always welcomed, which makes getting involved fun for the committee members. Since the WIN Committee are already rockstars at our firm, we wanted to introduce its co-chairs here on the Heart Beat to explain further.
Meet the WIN Co-Chairs
A Q&A with Legal Secretary Ambra Jackson and Partner Samantha Wolff
How do you explain the WIN group to those outside the firm?
Ambra: It’s a committee dedicated to providing women attorneys and staff like me with opportunities to attend networking events. These events are designed to impart knowledge and enhance skills, ultimately empowering women to advance into leadership roles within our firm. Taking advantage of those opportunities has afforded me the opportunity to become Co-Chair of the WIN.
Samantha: Ambra’s right. We’re here to provide advancement opportunities for women, and we do it through internal and external networking events, memberships in affinity groups, and creating engaging learning opportunities.
What’s the Committee’s focus right now?
Samantha: We’re planning events, and taking care to make sure they’re meaningful and worthwhile of everyone’s limited time, but also ensuring that they're fun and enjoyable, like the annual Marketplace. We also organize an event with a panel of women who are leaders in their field and provide their perspective and advice on advancement and personal growth.
Why/how did you get involved in the WIN and how has it changed over time?
Ambra: I began by offering support to Samantha. As I continued attending meetings, I became increasingly acquainted with the group’s mission and values. Motivated by this understanding, I volunteered to contribute to the planning of the Women's History Month event. It was through this active participation that I officially became a member of the committee.
Samantha: I think it was through a former partner here that I truly respected and liked, so it was an easy decision. Since its inception, we’ve created more annual events that people now come to expect from us. We’re also trying to do more to raise our profile with summer associates and new hires so they know that we’re here to support them.
What’s the WIN group teeing up next?
Samantha: We’re working on a speed mentoring event that is the brainchild of one of our members. And, I’m excited for our panel discussion on the topic: What Would I Tell My Younger Self?
Ambra: I’m excited to share that we’re actively planning a special movie night for Healthright360’s Women’s Hope program here in San Francisco. This program supports underserved women and their children in receiving specialized care, and our goal is to provide them with an enjoyable and memorable evening. It’s part of our commitment to giving back to the community.
