Raising the Bar: Reimagining What Leadership in Law Looks Like

​In this Panel Discussion, you'll hear candid stories from four trailblazers as they share their journeys—from traditional Big Law paths to unexpected pivots and reinventions.

​Whether you're early in your career, at a crossroads, or looking for inspiration, this panel offers real conversations about what it takes to build meaningful careers while staying true to yourself.

​What You'll Discover:

• ​Career Navigation & Non-Linear Paths
  How high-achieving women have crafted unconventional careers that don't follow the traditional playbook

• ​Work-Life Balance & Flexibility
  Innovative approaches to professional fulfillment without burnout

• ​Mental Health, Burnout & Perfectionism
  Honest conversations about the pressures we face and how to prioritize your wellbeing

• ​Cultural Identity in Professional Spaces
  How culture can shape careers, from representation in leadership to embracing cultural identity

• ​Reinvention & Career Agility
  Stories of women who pivoted mid-career and discovered unexpected possibilities with their legal training

​About the Panelists

​Alina Lee is the Founder and CEO of Aspire Law, where she provides practical legal advice to some of America's largest and most beloved brands on structuring multimillion-dollar marketing campaigns, IP licensing, software development, and related transactions. Before launching her firm, she served as in-house counsel to Mailchimp and Southern Company Gas, focusing on marketing, IP, and IT transactions and counseling.

​Connect with Alina
LinkedIn | Website

​Jaya Saxena is a lawyer and inclusion strategist with nearly two decades of experience advancing equity and belonging across global organizations. Most recently, she served as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Spencer Stuart, a global executive search and leadership advisory firm. At its core, she helps leaders examine inherited norms, redesign systems, and create environments where difference is meaningfully embraced and teams thrive. An avid reader, death doula, and active board member, Jaya is committed to building compassionate, inclusive spaces both professionally and in the community. Above all else, her most important role is being a Mom to two spirited daughters, ages 9 and 13.

​Connect with Jaya
LinkedIn | Instagram

​Grace Shie is a Washington, DC–based leader of a Chambers-ranked Global Mobility & Migration practice. With more than 20 years of experience in private practice, she advises multinational companies on cross-border workforce mobility to meet talent needs, immigration compliance, and regulatory enforcement.

​With clients ranging from Fortune Global 500 companies to startups, she brings deep expertise across industries and a global perspective shaped by five years leading a top-ranked immigration practice in Hong Kong, helping businesses navigate complex mobility, expansion, and employer-sponsored immigration challenges across jurisdictions.

​Connect with Grace
Linkedin

​Ellen Yang is a Partner and General Counsel at DTO Law, a boutique law firm with offices in Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and New York. Before returning to private practice, Ellen spent 17 years in-house, serving as Chief of Staff and Legal Counsel at Cruise, General Counsel of Penske Motor Group, Director of Contracts at Taco Bell, and Corporate Counsel at Public Storage. During that time, she has seen it all—from mature, well-established public companies to a “move fast and break things” startup that ultimately came to a high-profile end.  Ellen is also a contributor to the “Good Counsel” column on Bloomberg Law.

​Connect with Ellen
LinkedIn

​About our Moderator

​Misasha Suzuki Graham is a practicing lawyer of over 20 years and is also a writer, speaker, podcaster, and storyteller. She is the co-founder and co-host of the award-winning podcast and platform What Do You Mean By That?, and co-author of the book Dear White Women: Let's Get (Un)comfortable Talking About Racism. Through her work, which has included collaborating with brands like Fidelity Investments, UC Santa Cruz, Ibotta, and Tandem Diabetes Care, she shares the historical facts and heart-led stories of people whose voices sit outside the dominant narrative, guided by a belief that our voices are most powerful when we use them to fight for each other.

​Connect with Misasha
LinkedIn | Instagram | Podcast

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Please note that this is a space that centers women and those who relate to their lived experience. If you do not identify with this and would still like to support or engage with the community, feel free to reach out to The Authentic Asian team. We’d be happy to explore other ways to include you.