What’s changing here (and why it matters for you)**

Starting today, this newsletter is written directly to you: a BigLaw woman who refuses to be dismissed, and is using boundaries and business to claim her authority.

Here is what to expect:

✅ Behind-the-scenes stories I do not share on LinkedIn

✅ A recommitment to intersectionality, reflecting the lived experiences of my Black and Brown clients

✅ Teachings grounded in my BRAIN framework: Branding, Rainmaking, Abundance, Influence, and Networking

A quick story

A client was told her social media presence was “under review.”
The critique had no real basis.
It was silencing and deeply painful.

In our private space, we worked through it.

The scrutiny is real. For many women, especially Black and Brown women, it is not just about being overlooked.

It is about being labeled “not a culture fit.”
It is about being pressured to play small so others do not have to face their own biases.
Sometimes, it feels like endless self-defense, just to hold your position.

Back to my client. The turning point was shifting her focus away from his fragility and back to her goals.

So I encouraged her to ask herself:

🔹 What outcome do I want?

🔹 Not, “How do I calm him down?”

🔹 But, “What outcome will advance my goals for myself, both professionally and in how I show up in conflict?”

Guiding principles

💡 Self-regulate before you respond

💡 Remember their big feelings are theirs to manage

💡 Use your core values to recenter on the result that you want

Possible response

“I hear your concern. My goal is to use my platform to elevate the firm and serve clients. Let’s talk about how to align on that.”

Compassion inward. Compassion outward. Authority stays with you.

xo,

Rachel

P.S. Join me Friday at 10:30am ET for Taking Up Space in a Competitive Landscape: How top performers get recognized, remembered, and recommended.

👉 Register here

Bonus for all registrants:
You’ll get The BigLaw Women’s Brand Advantage — a practical tool to:

🔹 Pinpoint where your brand and visibility are strongest
🔹 See where to sharpen your presence
🔹 Use ready-to-go scripts to signal your value and gain access to decision-making rooms