The pandemic has been stressful for everyone, but especially for lawyers, who often put themselves last on the priority list when it comes to addressing the symptoms of burnout.
So when the Women Initiative Network of the Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division sought a speaker for its annual reception, organizers aimed high.
Maryland lawyer Yonelle Moore Lee, who serves as vice chair of the group, said she immediately thought of her longtime friend and Delta Sigma Theta sorority sister, Rosie Allen-Herring.
“We wanted someone from outside the legal profession who could offer a fresh perspective on coping with uncertainty,” Lee said on securing the business dynamo.
Allen-Herring headlines the “Present and Powerful Speaker Series” on Feb. 11 from 4-5 p.m. CT, during the 2022 ABA Virtual Midyear Meeting.
As president and chief executive officer of United Way of the National Capital Area, Allen-Herring helms the not-for-profit provider of comprehensive support services for community members in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
Allen-Herring will offer lessons learned in reaching the top of her field, drawing from her many professional milestones.
The United Way executive was also the managing director of the Community Investment and Engagement Division at Fannie Mae, among other positions of note.
Moreover, Allen-Herring makes significant time to serve her community. She is on the boards of several business and civic organizations, such as the Greater Washington Board of Trade, MedStar Health, Inc., WesBanco, A.T. Still University and Prince George’s Community College Foundation, to name a sampling of groups.
Allen-Herring’s accomplishments are even more impressive when you know her background, said Lee, elaborating that her close colleague grew up as the youngest of 10 children in Mississippi.
Allen-Herring’s remarks are entitled “Unleashing the Power Within.” She will offer tips and tools to thrive in today’s workplace – and at home – by developing what the United Way executive calls “internal personal power,” Lee went on to say, pointing out the value of such self-development, particularly in light of the uncertainties presented by COVID.
“Some people have had to pivot and change careers or make a change in where they practice. I’m hoping she makes people ask themselves, ‘Who am I and what is my purpose? Am I currently serving my purpose?’.”
The Women Initiative Network’s “Present and Powerful Speaker Series” is sponsored by the ABA GPSolo Division.