2024
DIVERSE
Client Services Program Manager
LAWYERS Making a Difference
Education: JD, Seattle University School of Law; BA, Pacific University, Journalism Company Name: EPIQ Industry: Professional Services Company CEO: David C. Dobson Company Headquarters Location: New York, NY Number of Employees: 8,000+ Your Location: Las Cruces, NM Words you live by: Growth happens when you step outside of your comfort zone. Who is your personal hero? US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor What book are you reading? For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts: A Love Letter to Women of Color by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez What was your first job? Kennel attendant at a dog boarding facility Favorite charity: Northwest Immigrant Rights Project Interests/Hobbies: Mineral collecting, travel, and reading Family: Oldest sister of three siblings with two loving and supporting parents
A long and winding road through college, work and law school led to her passion My professional journey has been unconventional, and I’ve admittedly been happiest in a role that I never envisioned or even knew existed. However, when I reflect on my past experiences, I realize that every step of the way prepared me for success in my career. In undergrad, I wanted to pursue journalism because I loved research and writing. My classes and working on the school newspaper and at a local radio station taught me valuable communication skills and how to adapt the message for the medium and audience. Unfortunately, I graduated during the recession when print publications were going under or otherwise experiencing severe disruption and so, like many other millennial graduates, I needed to come up with alternative plans. While I reassessed, I began working as a customer support specialist for a start-up handling customer calls and online support tickets. There,
66
2024 Fourth Quarter
I learned how to support and work with a diverse array of people from around the world, juggle multiple tasks, and how to de-escalate scenarios where the other party was frustrated. Wanting something more fulfilling, I applied to law school thinking I could leverage my interest in research and writing while also helping people. Hesitant to give up working altogether, I opted to work full-time during the day and take night classes. Doing both meant there was no room for redundancy or wasted time, so this taught me the importance of time management and efficiency. After law school, I still struggled to find where my passion aligned with my career path. After briefly practicing law, I resigned to care of a sick family member and reconsider my professional goals. I initially applied to be a contractor at Epiq while applying for permanent positions. However, I enjoyed
the work and what initially felt like a transient role soon seemed like a place to work where I could thrive based on the culmination of my past work experiences. I thrived at Epiq because I had learned to communicate effectively through my journalism degree and customer support role; I valued efficiency from working fulltime while in law school, and lastly, my law degree further sharpened my communication skills and taught me how to identify and mitigate risks. While each step of my journey appeared to take me further from my initial career goals, it ultimately brought me to a place where I could succeed and flourish. For anyone feeling a bit lost or aimless in their career, know that it is not about the name of the role but how the amalgamation of one’s skills and experiences apply to the work. Success came when I valued all my past experiences and thoughtfully applied them to my current role and work.
www.diversityjournal.com
AWARD
Rebecca Lopez