Beyond Work-Life Balance: Having "It All" as a Female In-House Counsel

This post is written by Krista Russell. Krista is Deputy GC at Airbus and adjunct professor at Miami School of Law, is a versatile legal professional with a knack for turning complexity into clarity. With a rich background in contract management, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Her passion for law, coupled with her ability to adapt and learn, makes her a visionary leader, constantly driving forward with a playful sense of humor and a data-driven approach. The following blog encapsulates Krista's thoughts on the importance of working cross-functionally as a legal professional. 

In a world that often dictates the terms of success and fulfillment, the elusive concept of having "it all" feels like a distant dream. As a female in-house counsel navigating the intricate dance between career and personal life, the quest for balance can be both consuming and liberating. 

The demands of a legal career can be all-consuming, and for years, I found myself tangled in the web of societal expectations. The pursuit of balance became a relentless struggle, a constant juggling act between billable hours and cherished family moments. The guilt of not measuring up to the unrealistic standards set by others often left me feeling inadequate.

It was only magnified when I became a mother. Not just because of the added pressures of juggling my career and home life, but also because I was carrying the weight of something really heavy in my personal life. While I won’t expand on that now, the spirit of what I’m trying to message here is that it was a lot. 

It was during a pivotal moment in 2017, a moment that shook the foundation of my beliefs, that I realized the importance of redefining what "it all" truly means. A gut-wrenching incident forced me to pause, reflect, and question the societal norms that had been dictating my life. And I was never the same again.

As an in-house counsel, the pressure to prove myself in a male-dominated profession was unrelenting. But in that moment of reckoning, I understood that true fulfillment wasn't about conforming to someone else's idea of success; it was about embracing my authentic self.

I would love to say that I immediately righted the ship, solved my personal dilemma, and moved on to embrace my new mentality and personal brand of “recovering superwoman.” Still, it took nearly two more years before I put it all together.

Here’s where I landed though → Having "it all" isn't a one-size-fits-all concept. It's a deeply personal and subjective matter, and the first step toward achieving it is defining it for oneself. For me, it meant finding harmony between my professional aspirations and my personal values, and operating without the weight of crippling guilt that I wasn’t living up to a definition of success that wasn’t even my own. It meant acknowledging that success isn't solely measured in billable hours or corner offices or how many hats I can wear at the same time to “prove myself” but in the moments of joy and connection that make life meaningful. 

I recognize that the last sentiment may have elicited an eye-roll or two. And at a different point in my life, I’d probably be leading the charge. However, proving myself to people I’ve never met or to society as a whole feels empty without joy and connection… and as I saw it, those things will only come if I pursue my own definition of success.

I started by dismantling the societal expectations that had shackled me for so long. I stopped measuring my worth by the number of dollars in deals I closed and began to value the quality of those hours instead. I learned to prioritize the projects that truly aligned with my passions and contributed to my professional growth. In doing so, I discovered that success isn't just about climbing the corporate ladder; it's about carving a path that resonates with your unique journey. 

Embracing the notion of "it all" also required me to redefine my relationship with time. Time is a finite resource, and spending it wisely became a conscious choice. I learned to say no to unnecessary commitments and create boundaries that protected both my personal and professional space. By reclaiming control over my time, I found the freedom to savor the moments that truly mattered – both at work and at home. I embraced the idea of realistic out-of-office messages - “I am spending the afternoon at my son’s kindergarten graduation and will return your messages when I return” instead of the standard empty text.

I started embracing my humanity.

The journey toward having "it all" as a female in-house counsel is not without its challenges. It requires courage, self-discovery, and a willingness to challenge societal norms. I cannot say I would have had the courage or the professional opportunity to forge this path during the earlier days of my career. Nonetheless, I can only speak to my own journey and the way it played out. One thing I can tell you…  the rewards are immeasurable – a life that is not defined by external expectations but by a genuine alignment with one's values and aspirations.

As I stand here today, I can attest that having "it all" is not a mirage but a tangible reality, so long as you are the one defining what “it all” means to you. It is a testament to the power of self-definition and the courage to live authentically. To my fellow female in-house counsel, I urge you to embark on your own journey, to question the societal narratives, and to redefine "it all" in a way that resonates with your heart and soul. The path may be challenging, but the destination is worth every step.