Stacie Tobin, partner-in-charge of Venable's Baltimore office and partner in the Commercial Litigation Practice, was recognized among Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Women Worth Watching in Leadership for 2021. This award honors individuals who have blazed new trails, mentored others, advanced diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and excelled in their chosen fields. The following is an excerpt from Ms. Tobin’s profile article published in the Profiles in Diversity Journal magazine, in which she discusses how her COVID-19 pandemic experience made her a better leader.
As the person appointed to lead our office of 400 people, I was challenged to recreate an office culture that was no longer defined by being physically present in the same space, but would help us get through an unprecedented period of stress, personal loss, and uncertainty. To do that, I sought to create a dialogue that was personal, positive, inclusive, and affirming. I worked to become more intentional about making time and space for personal interaction, even via Zoom. I had to share more of myself in my work relationships and be willing to talk about the challenges the pandemic and quarantine had created for me, and how I was dealing with them (and admitting when I was not dealing with them well)… This experience has taught me how to be more empathetic, flexible, inventive, and appreciative. I hope I can retain what I have learned going forward, even when we have returned to a new “normal.”
Profiles in Diversity Journal is dedicated to promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion in the corporate, government, nonprofit, higher education, and military sectors. Since 1999, it has helped to stimulate organizational change by showcasing the visionary leadership, innovative programs, and committed individuals who are making it happen.