Trish Lilley is truly a woman who wows. She is the Chief Marketing and Business Development Officer at Stroock, Stroock & Lavan in New York City, a wife and mother, and an active volunteer for the Legal Marketing Association. I really don’t know how she does it all – and does it so well.

She is also a great advocate for women in the profession, is an innovator in our field and is someone who will lend an ear and give great advice whenever you need it.

I’ve known Trish for many years through our work in the LMA. She has pushed me to be a better version of myself and talked me off many ledges. I am grateful to her for always believing in me, and I know others feel the same way about her.

Learn more about Trish in this interview.

Why did you choose your profession? 

I think it chose me. I went from journalism – covering the federal courts for both legal and general interest publications – to running legal services for the indigent at the nation’s third-largest bar association to a law firm gig in NY that encompassed both practice management and business development. I sort of rolled into legal marketing and BD, but it’s held my interest for a couple of decades so I’m not complaining.

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

I think it’s a nice placeholder to remind us to reflect on the incredible strides that women have taken personally and professionally as well as on the significant challenges that we still face both here in the United States and globally. It’s a springboard for discussion and reflection.

Just over 100 years ago, women in this country couldn’t vote. That’s scary to contemplate – even if it seems incomprehensible to my teenage daughter.

We’ve come a long way but we need to be mindful to ensure we don’t lose ground and continue to expand access to equal pay and career opportunities as well as general societal equity.

Do you have a mentor?

My former boss at the Philadelphia Bar Association taught me a lot; most importantly, how to balance family and career. Bob Heim, who headed litigation at Dechert when I was there, was also an important influence in my personal and professional development; perhaps most significantly in helping me learn when “not to get your Irish up.”

Currently, I have a wonderful tribe of personal and professional connections who provide terrific advice and much-needed reality checks on a regular basis.

 Any advice to women who want to succeed in the workplace? 

Treat everyone with respect. Soak up learning opportunities. Almost never say no. You *can* do it – just give it your best even if it is a totally unfamiliar task, project or initiative.

How do you achieve work/life balance?

Be mindful in every situation so you don’t give 80 percent attention to family and work. Apply the “five year rule” in key situations; meaning, “In five years will it matter if [INSERT ACTION OR INACTION].” For instance, in five years, will it matter if I miss my kid’s first music recital to attend a partner call? If the answer is yes, then your action is clear.

Subscribe to Women Who Wow. Read other Women Who Wow profiles in the series.