Washington Lawyer - July/August 2021 - 23

FEATURE
Ericka Aiken, counsel at WilmerHale LLP, shared the same concern in the
beginning, but walked away from the training with valuable experience.
" I thought the program's ability to still function and run well was a strong
testament to how good the leadership is, " says Aiken. " One of the key
things we learned is that if you are going to be a good leader, then you
have to know how to lead during times of crisis. "
BUILDING SKILLS & CONNECTING
Named for the late John Payton, an influential civil rights attorney and
former president of the D.C. Bar, the Leadership Academy was launched
in 2013 as a way to develop attorneys to be successful and inspiring
leaders. The academy is unique in that the intensive program is taught
by lawyers for lawyers.
The class of 2020 included Andrea Mangones, managing attorney at Kids
in Need of Defense, whose work focuses on how the rule of law impacts
policies within countries, especially at their borders. " With this role I was
already in a leadership position and was really looking for a way to build
those leadership skills and to take what I was doing and apply it to an
evidence-based background on leadership, " says Mangones.
Fernandez, on the other hand, says lack of diversity in her own career
was what motivated her to apply to the academy. " There are not a lot
of people who look like me, and that's pretty wild, " says Fernandez. " As
I looked around, I wanted to get more engaged in diversity issues, so
I became the co-chair of our firm's associate diversity community and
started a fellowship program to give an opportunity for 1Ls from diverse
backgrounds to come and work at Sidley. "
Phillips, who recently waived into the D.C. Bar from Colorado, was
looking for like-minded peers in the District, where his legal career
began. " [It was] a great way to get to know fellow attorneys in the
District and to contribute to the community here. "
Even though the programming was held online, members of the class
still managed to develop a bond through seven months of learning
together. " I was so impressed by the diversity of the professionals
involved in the program and how they made themselves available in this
difficult time, " says Phillips. " By making an effort to be vulnerable . . . it
can strike a chord with people, and we had a very robust conversation. "
I wasn't sure how the
program was going to
go, but it was flawless
. . . which I think is a
testament to good
leaders.
WANDALY FERNANDEZ
Sidley Austin LLP
Mangones was also excited about the relationships she was able to cultivate
through the academy. " One of the best parts of the program was, as
I was hoping, the other participants, " she says. " It automatically appealed
to me that there would be a cohort of people in all different practices
that I would get to learn from and talk to. "
" The leaders of the academy did a great job of helping us build relationships
with our cohort, " Mangones adds. " Participants were encouraged
to reach out to their peers through one-on-one phone calls, so I was
able to make connections and keep up with a few people. " Mangones
still keeps in touch with some of her classmates to make sure they are on
track to accomplish their targets. As for Mangones, she was inducted in
June as D.C. Bar treasurer for the 2021-2022 term.
WHAT MAKES A GREAT LEADER
For Fernandez, a big takeaway was an analysis of her leadership skills
through formal assessments. She says her results were an eye-opener
- certain attributes that she thought were weaknesses were actually
skills she could use as a leader. Fernandez was even inspired to run for
Bar office.
Great leaders are
the ones who can
lead a group of
people in uncertain
times and who have
the courage to do it.
ERICKA AIKEN
WilmerHale LLP
A redefinition of weakness also stood out for Aiken. " In the academy we
were taught that we all have things we need to work on, but instead of
viewing them as weaknesses, if you view them as lesser strengths versus
stronger strengths, then you have more of the ability to shape the narrative
around who you are as a person and what you bring to the table, "
she says.
The academy also taught her the difference between good leaders and
great leaders, Aiken says. " Good leaders are prepared and are able to get
a group of folks to follow them when times are well. But great leaders are
the ones who can lead a group of people in uncertain times and who
have the courage to do it. "
Aiken says she was encouraged to learn that leadership is about more
than just personality. " I think a lot of times people think that in order to
be a good leader, you have to be the tough, domineering, bossy type of
force. And it was good to learn that, no, you don't have to have that type
of personality, and it's actually more effective to be able to empathize
with your team, " she says.
JULY/AUGUST 2021
* WASHINGTON LAWYER 23
Sidley Austin LLP
WilmerHale LLP
Washington Lawyer - July/August 2021

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