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Q:
How long have you been with BellSouth?
A:
Sixteen years - since 1989. I was also outside counsel for
BellSouth's predecessor, Southern Bell, for seven years when
I worked at Shutts & Bowen in Miami.
Q:
What does Chief Rights-of-Way Counsel do?
A:
I am responsible for BellSouth's legal team that negotiates,
litigates and participates in legislation related to public
and private rights-of-way issues at the local, state and federal
levels. The issues generally include our use of public and
private property to place and maintain our facilities, related
fees and taxes, and dealing with governmental entities that
compete with BellSouth.
Q:
Did you have a nice Rosh Hashana? Were you in town?
A:
Yes, I had a wonderful Rosh Hashanah. My 13 year-old daughter
and I sang in the choir which was a magnificent way to experience
the service and holiday. Our Rabbi, Julie Schwartz, at Temple
Emanu-el leads a warm, spiritual service and spoke on making
prayer meaningful and I hosted lunch for a friend who recently
had surgery (rofeh holim) and her family and a friend from
law school. (He's single in case anyone's interested·.)
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Q:
Did you have mentors along the way of your career that helped
you with your professional development?
A:
Yes. I had three distinctly different mentors at my law firm,
each of whom took me under his wing and taught me valuable
lessons. Since being at BellSouth, I've been fortunate to
have mentors both inside and outside the Legal Department
and the company who have taken an interest in my development.
Q: How do you find balance with your professional and personal
lives? What kind of steps do you take to find balance?
A:
I'm very focused when I'm at the office and try to give a
similar focus to my family. I'm very organized, make endless
lists, and depend on my husband to help.
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Q:
What advice would you give women to help them find a good
mentor?
A:
My advice is to look in unexpected places. Traditionally,
women have looked for mentoring from established, more successful
men. The fact is that mentors can be supervisors and peers,
colleagues in and outside your firm or company and in or outside
your professional area.
Q: What advice would you give other professional women
in finding the right balance?
A:
First, I think it's important to acknowledge that the "right
balance" for one person may not be right for someone
else. In addition to the "right balance" being different
for different people, it may be different at different times
in your life. Ideally, you find a career and work environment
that suits your need. I would add that I don't think this
is just a women's issue. BellSouth values its employees and
recognizes that their worlds revolve not only around our workplace,
but also in and around the communities in which we eat, sleep,
participate and raise families.
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