By Valerie Franchi, Contributing Writer
Region – It’s not unusual today to find women in all types of careers; it is more uncommon, however, to find them in leadership roles. When Diane Power and Joan Vorster embarked on their careers decades ago, they were considered trailblazers in their fields. Now they are again proving that women can be as successful as their male counterparts, bringing unique perspectives and skills to the boardroom.
Both women have been lucky enough to work for a company that supports women in the workplace, the law firm of Mirick O’Connell, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Power is the first female executive director in Mirick O’Connell’s history and the first female member of the firm’s Management Committee. She has more than 25 years’ experience within the professional service industry. As executive director, she has overall management responsibility for the business functions of the firm, including finances, human resources, operations, facilities, information systems and marketing. She also plays an integral part in the strategic planning, practice management and business development for the firm.
Starting out in the business world, Power said she never felt male dominance.
“I never let it stop me,” she said. “I never looked at it as a hurdle.”
She added that she learned to advocate for herself early on while working in Boston for 23 years before moving back to the area 10 years ago to where she grew up, to work for Mirick O’Connell.
“We bring something different to the table,” she explained. “We are better at the ‘softer skills’ which, in a service-oriented business, is so important. We network differently, follow through and multi-task.”
Vorster became the first female trial lawyer at Mirick O’Connell in 1987 when, she said, “I was often the only woman in the room except the court reporter.”
She noted that while she did not meet with much resistance from her male counterparts, she was often overlooked.
“I had to find a way to make myself heard,” she said.
Now she is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Group, concentrating her practice in litigation involving medical malpractice and in business and insurance disputes.
“Now, often at a deposition, it is all women,” she noted. “I am not asked ‘are you the court reporter today?’”
In March, she was appointed to the firm’s Management Committee along with Power, making the four-person committee 50 percent female.
“Mirick O’Connell is looking for diversity in leadership to bring a different perspective,” she said.
Vorster was appointed to the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) in 2010 by Governor Deval L. Patrick and served until 2014.
“The JNC is one-third women,” Vorster said, “a perfect example of how important it is to have people of diverse backgrounds.”
Vorster was named a Massachusetts “Super Lawyer” by Boston magazine and Law & Politics every year since 2008. She was also named as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Massachusetts in 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2015 and as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in New England in 2010.
Both women praise Mirick O’Connell, which has offices in Boston, Worcester and Westborough, for its innovative programs to promote women in the workplace.
“Its part-time partner program in the late ‘90s was ahead of the curve,” Vorster said. “It allowed them to retain talent.”
“The firm promotes flexibility such as working part-time or remotely,” Power added, “and it has good benefits.”
Currently, five of seven heads of Mirick O’Connell’s management committees are women.
“That’s pretty impressive,” Power said.
The executive director has always served as a leader and mentor to other women throughout her career. She is dedicated to programs that support women and girls in central Mass. and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Female Leadership Interest Council (FLIC), a nonprofit organization designed to educate and assist women with career, work/family balance and business skills.
Both agree that having a mentor – whether a man or woman – is important to being successful.
When asked what advice for up-and-coming businesswomen, Vorster had this advice: “You have to have a passion for what you are doing. You have to do the work and find mentors. The most important thing is that you care about what you do.”