What kind of work do you do?

I am an attorney at Blue Dot Advocates, PBC, which is a certified B-Corp law firm that specializes in impact investing transactions and assisting social enterprises.

Our work includes assisting investors and startups in the rapidly growing vegan business/investing space.

What do you love about it?

I love that every single deal that I work on, or every single company that I help, is affirmatively seeking to create positive change in the world.

What’s your ‘why’ in life? What drives you?

I believe in progress over perfection, and accomplishing any amount of progress—however small or slow—nourishes and drives me.

Why are you a member of the Vegan Women’s Leadership Network?

I have been in the animal rights movement, one way or another, for over 20 years.  As many others have noted, we (women) represent the vast majority of animal rights advocates, yet men dominate the leadership of this movement. It’s about time that changes.

I also hope to bring *a* (not “the”—there are many!) perspective of a woman of the global majority, i.e. a woman of color, which I think is also vastly missing from this movement.

What’s been the biggest highlight or ‘wow’ moment of your career/business/professional life?

Doing the job I currently have!  I never thought I would be able to merge my interests and skills in animal rights, business, and law together, let alone in my job.

How do you handle failures, fear and disappointment?

I learn from and own my failures. Everyone makes mistakes; it’s what you do after that counts.

Fear and disappointment are perfectly natural, so I don’t try to repress those emotions, but I also don’t dwell in them either.

What would you tell your 16-year-old self?

Trust your instincts, even though it means being “different.”

Which women inspire you and why?

Buffy Summers, because she saved the world. A lot. And she was a fearless feminine unapologetic badass.

What’s been the biggest obstacle you’ve faced and how has it helped mould who you are now?

I’ve been through a lot of economic hardship and, from an early age, carried the weight of supporting my family.

It was also a challenge to secure a big law firm job that would allow me to successfully carry that weight, but in hindsight, that challenge really paved my success for that job because I didn’t take it for granted like so many other attorneys with similar jobs.

What’s your super-power? What are you amazing at?

Seeing the forest AND the trees.

What brings you joy? The three “F’s”: family, friends, and fitness.

How do you define success, and how will you know when you’ve achieved it?

The answer to both questions: happiness.

What’s your vision for yourself and your business/career for the future?

Being the go-to for vegan investors and businesses who need legal advice.