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Is that what drew you to business law?

Yes, absolutely. My goal was to practice law for a few years and then to transition to the business side. I did my “coops” or internships with law firms and companies during law school. After graduation, I joined Palmer & Dodge (now Edwards Wildman Palmer) in Boston as a corporate attorney. When I entered private practice in 1998, it was the height of the dot-com boom and a fantastic time to gain substantive experience in corporate transactions with technology businesses. I worked with a number of private and public companies with excellent exposure to clients and deals. Then, I began to focus my practice on venture capital and M&A transactions.

What led you to join Sports Club/LA as General Counsel?

By my eighth year of practicing law, I was trying to decide what direction I wanted to take with the rest of my career. I was resolved to pursue partnership at the firm. But, as fate would have it, the opportunity presented itself to join The Sports Club/LA as General Counsel, and I could not pass it up. My first child was nine months old at the time, and The Sports Club/LA was a place where I had always found refuge. I joined as a club member in 2002 and worked out at the club at nights after a long day of work. I loved the brand and the environment, and when the opportunity opened to go in-house, I knew it would be a great place to grow my career.

Initially, I was hired as the company’s new General Counsel, overseeing the legal department for the newly acquired sports clubs. It had been envisioned to be a part-time, four-days-per-week job. However, once I started, we realized how much work was needed to develop and organize the legal department from the ground floor. There was a lot to accomplish as a result of the acquisition; the company was creating a new infrastructure for the clubs. Over time, I had a chance to get involved in the operational side of the business, which is something I did not do in private practice. The role of General Counsel had not been defined entirely, so it was a fantastic opportunity to jump right into the business, learn the different drivers, and contribute to strategic decisions. While my day-to-day job involves being the company’s legal advisor, I have also progressed into a senior management role. I now spend more time on activities that support our growth and on providing key business advice that will advance the company's overall objectives and strategy. It has been a wonderful progression from a purely legal role to a management and strategic role. That is really what makes my job fun, and, why, I think, so many lawyers leave private practice to go in-house.

Did having a young child play a role in that decision?

Yes and no. When I made the decision to go in-house, I knew that my firm was committed to helping me succeed as a partner and working mother. In fact, when I returned from maternity leave, I was approached by a longstanding female partner, who told me that she had heard great things about me and she wanted the firm to work with me to succeed. It was a proactive discussion and not one that I had to initiate. Additionally, it was important to me that someone would approach me and care about my professional success. The fact that the firm took a proactive role showed its commitment to female partners. However, the opportunity to join The Sports Club/LA and focus on health and wellness inside and outside the workplace appealed to me, especially having just had my first child.

What are some of the best pieces of professional advice you have received during your career?

I have received a number of different pieces of advice over the course of my career, and, certainly now, I understand much more of what people were trying to tell me. First, I believe in being passionate about your work and the impact it has on others; each day, I am inspired by how we improve the lives of our members and employees. Second, it’s important to not only build your network, but also develop strong relationships with that network. That requires a lot of time. My husband reminds me that I always need to be mindful of my personal "brand" and only commit to those causes and events that are I find most meaningful.

Do you have any advice on achieving work/life balance? How do you do it?

Balancing work and home is definitely a constant juggling act and a bit of a challenge for me. Since joining The Sports Club/LA, I had a second child and my children are growing up fast. The balancing act gets even more difficult as kids get older and are involved with school and activities. I have many outside activities in the evening, and I know my family wants to spend time with me. So we adjust our timing, but, most importantly, I have adjusted my feelings of guilt. At first, I felt very guilty about working and also spending so much time away from my family. Now, when I am at home, I make the most of it and try to disengage from work. There is definitely the instinct to check e-mails when I am home and to respond to issues immediately. But, just as focused as I am on work when I am at the office, I am focused on my family when I am at home. I have learned to adjust my expectations and to create a terrific network of support. It’s an ongoing challenge, but it’s all about adjusting schedules and making sure that when I am home, I dedicate my time to my kids and am not distracted by work or outside commitments.

The same principle applies to my fitness routine. Fitness and exercise are important to me; it takes work to incorporate them into my daily routine, but I make the time. I firmly believe that committing a half hour a few times a week to something that is important to you is critical to maintaining a successful balance and overall sanity – whether it is fitness, meeting with a friend, or just getting outside the office for lunch. A lot of women feel that they should be planted in their office in order to get their work done as soon as possible and then head home. That can lead to isolation and prevents you from getting outside and establishing a network. Sharing time with your coworkers, catching up with clients, mentoring younger professionals – each opportunity provides a new perspective every day.

How have you built your professional network?

Having an extensive professional and personal network is key for professional women. I am able to connect and work with people on a variety of issues, even if I am not personally benefiting from the network or connection. I also think that, in creating your network, you should focus on specific people with interests in which you are passionate about. It is less about creating a large group of people that you barely know, but rather developing individual relationships, which takes time. Doing something outside of work with your professional network helps you get to know others better. It’s all about fostering mutually beneficial relationships so that, one day, you can help each other.

For me, it is important to be active in my local community, so I have gotten involved in several organizations in the Boston area. Since I was young, I have wanted to be a role model for Latinos. Latino issues, such as education, are a passion of mine. More than five years ago, I was introduced to ALPFA, a national organization focused on building Latino business leaders. In 2008, ALPFA Boston launched a program that sought to bring lawyers into the organization as members in order to connect attorneys with the business community. In 2010, I took over the leadership of that program. More recently, I joined the Board of Directors for the YWCA in Boston. The YWCA allows me to focus on women’s issues, which is also a passion of mine. The organization provides a direct community impact on such issues as combating gender and racial discrimination.

How does fitness play a role in balancing work life – especially being the General Counsel and Executive Vice President of a premier fitness club?

Fitness is very important to me in a number of ways. I did not exercise much in college, but, after I graduated, my brother bought me a home version of the Reebok Step. I put the video on and found the exercise routine to be so much fun and so important to my overall well-being. Since then, fitness has been a regular part of my life.

But, in my job at The Sports Club/LA, it is even more important that I do things other than just incorporating fitness as a way to maintain my balance and sanity. First, it is key for me as a senior executive to know my company's products and brand. We call it "product knowledge," and I have to know what classes we offer, what products are available, and what is new and developing at the clubs. I don’t feel that I can successfully advise the company on business, legal, and strategic issues if I don't understand what our clubs, people, or members are doing. Second, it is important for me as the General Counsel to be visible in the clubs to our employees so that they know that senior leadership is committed to their workplace and available as a resource on any issue that may arise, whether it is a legal issue or not.

What is your favorite fitness class offered at the clubs?

I really enjoy the Definition classes, which are body-sculpting classes meant to improve muscular strength and endurance using free weights. Aspen Ascent is another new class that is extremely hot and popular right now. We partnered with Aspen/Snowmass, and the class is designed to prepare people for skiing and other winter sports. It’s a challenging workout for sure, and our classes are always full and always fun! I also do one-on-one personal training, which helps with building strength and keeps me motivated.