Humility

Laura never expected Humility to be one of her defining strengths.

As a longtime trial attorney who spent decades arguing cases in front of judges and juries, the strengths of Humility did not initially seem like an obvious fit for her. But over time, she has come to recognize how deeply it shapes the way she works with and relates to others.

Rather than needing to have all the answers, Laura has learned the value of staying open to learning, listening, and recognizing that insight can come from anyone, regardless of age or experience.

One experience from her final trial especially stayed with her.

The Department of Justice assigned a young attorney to work on the case alongside her. Laura naturally expected to lead the effort, but quickly realized how talented the younger attorney was. One evening, after drafting a response to a complicated legal motion, Laura asked her colleague to review it before filing. The younger attorney spotted an important issue Laura had missed. This was a critical insight from her colleague.

That experience reinforced something Laura now believes strongly: Humility creates space for others to grow.

Throughout the trial, Laura intentionally gave the younger attorney opportunities to take on meaningful responsibilities in court, even when she knew it would push her outside her comfort zone. At Laura’s retirement celebration later that year, the attorney shared how empowering that trust had been and how much it had shaped her confidence.

Today, Laura sees Humility not as stepping back, but as staying open to learning and to the possibility that everyone has something valuable to offer.

Her advice is to remain willing to ask questions and learn from others. Humility, she believes, is not about thinking less of yourself. It is about being secure enough to recognize that other people have something important to teach you, too.

“You have to be secure enough in yourself to admit you don’t know everything — and stay open to learning from other people.”

- Laura