5 October 2026
/ Danielle Pecenka Cullen
Redefining Success: Can Women in Law Have It All, On Their Own Terms?
Cleveland Attorney Danielle Pecenka Cullen recently attended the Women In Power, Influence in Law (WILP) 2026 Conference in Nashville, TN. Now, she’s sharing her top takeaways!
It was two and a half days of pure magic with over 1,000 driven, hard-working women leaders in the law, 100 who presented in roundtables, and 4 Keynote Speakers who were non-lawyers, including Nicole Kidman.
While it was so interesting to learn about all the current trends, such as AI use by law firms and companies, it was equally captivating to hear about and feel the underlying tension between the female professional demands and work-life balance, whether in law or other industries. For lawyers, women began outnumbering men among law school graduates in 2019, yet American women are still trying to “balance it all”. Now that women are in positions of power, we can theoretically effect change, yet the process is slow. Very slow. But why?
One of the panels was designed around how to communicate and work effectively within several generations in the workplace, from Boomers down to Gen Z. This topic surfaced, as there is a current trend in Big Law for Gen Z associates to indicate (almost in a casual way) that they are not available for depo prep on Friday because they have “planned time off”.
The query became: Is it wrong for associates in big firms to say that working and skill-gaining is not their identity, but a means to an end?
Ideas were split. Naturally, many lawyers identify our person and our success within our role in the profession. Is it possible to do both well? Nicole Kidman suggests “yes”. Her advice when advocating for women generally is to advocate for yourself first. I have been lucky to have a mentor, Shareholder & Compliance Officer Eileen Bitterman, who looked outside the box and allowed me the opportunity to practice law part-time in our mid-sized firm.
While this had its challenges, it can be successfully done in a way that is meaningful to both the organization and the employee. However, men are not going to make this change for the women. No one will offer the change. Women need to find their voice, use it for themselves, and lift those below them. We must be willing to step outside our comfort zone, not see things in black and white, and step forward each day, authentic to ourselves. Quite simply, be the change you wish to see in your profession.
The Conversations That Stay with You
The most meaningful conference takeaways aren't always found in a presentation slide or a perfectly crafted keynote. Sometimes, they're found in an unexpected conversation, a shared experience, or a moment that makes you pause and reconsider your own perspective.
Reflecting on my time at WILP, three questions stand out – and here are my responses:
1. Was there a specific comment, conversation, or keynote moment that challenged how you think about leadership?
The conference made me think a lot about leadership. For starters, a leader must have a group to lead. I don’t think you can be a female partner, general counsel, or C-suite member while working part-time for any organization. If you have a reduced schedule, there is just not enough time to do your work and manage others. However, I fully believe female lawyers should have the opportunity to transition between roles. A law firm or other business can absolutely benefit from having highly specialized roles for women to practice law and grow meaningfully within the organization on a reduced schedule.
2. What surprised you most about being surrounded by 1,000 women leaders in law?
Their vulnerability and willingness to share experiences, hurdles, and how they approach professional interactions every day. Many breakout sessions focused on a leader’s communication style. Whether verbal or nonverbal, and across varying power structures and settings. When we stop and think about the nonverbal messages we each project, along with the content we share, we realize that we all have room to grow, wherever we are on the leadership spectrum. This nuance is important when we focus on the varying audiences we are interacting with.
3. What does "balancing it all" actually look like in your life?
For me, “balancing it all” required a streamlined focus for my professional work. However, now that our children are away in college, I have come to realize that I have additional energy to return to my professional work, including developing leadership and other skills. I am grateful for this opportunity at my firm and feel driven to advocate and inspire all female attorneys to choose themselves first.
If you have questions on this topic or would like to learn more about Weltman’s Solutions, feel free to connect with Danielle at any time.
This blog is not a solicitation for business, and it is not intended to constitute legal advice on specific matters, create an attorney-client relationship or be legally binding in any way.
