Lauren Violi, KSM
You are the Director of Workplace Culture & Experience at an accounting firm. Can you tell us what that entails and how you got into that role?
My role is something that I created with KSM’s executive team, so it was new to the firm and started with a pretty blank slate. The vision for it was/is to be a resource for our people as they develop personally and professionally – to serve as an internal coach, build programs to encourage engagement, and work with individuals and groups on people-oriented initiatives. I like to think of it as supporting our people in their development toward being the best versions of themselves. I also serve as an advisor to KSM leaders to help inform, develop, and assess firm culture and the experience of all our employees.
What was your career background leading up to your role at KSM?
I joined Krieg DeVault after graduating from law school, and practiced litigation for six years. I loved working there but found that I was increasingly drawn to the people-oriented aspects of my job more than the actual legal work itself. I ended up transitioning into higher ed and going to work at my alma mater, Maurer, as a Director of Career Services – I was able to work directly with students as they found their paths and worked towards their professional goals. I’d always had a vision of doing that type of work (people development and coaching) in a professional services setting, and that’s part of what led me to KSM.
Your work is not a traditional legal job. What advice do you have for lawyers wanting to transition to an alternative career or legal adjacent role?
Talk to as many people as possible who are doing things that interest you! See what their paths were and what they think are important traits, skills, and experiences in their lines of work. And if there are other things that interest you, see how you can develop and build those skills in the role that you have now – whether that’s at work, on your own time, through a hobby, or with an organization. There are so many ways to develop professionally outside of your day-to-day job responsibilities. And keep your mind open – lawyers can do SO many things, and our skills translate beautifully to a lot of different paths. Don’t assume you can’t do something just because you don’t have a particular degree or certain experience.
What does a typical day look like for you?
What a question! There really isn’t a typical day in my role, but I spend a lot of time in meetings (that might sound awful, but I think it’s actually great!) – I get to talk and work with people one-on-one, in small groups, and in larger settings, having coaching conversations, leading development sessions, and teaching. I also work on building programs around people-oriented initiatives like mentorship, advise leaders on people-first decision-making, and partner with other operations and client-facing leaders on projects that impact our people.
Why did you become an attorney?
I always had a hard time answering that question because I never felt as strongly directed as some of my law school classmates or attorney peers. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do and thought a law degree would open a lot of doors. I enjoyed reading, writing, thinking, and problem-solving – it seemed like a good fit, and that something that could lead to other things down the road if I wanted it to.
What do you like to do outside of the office?
I love to cook, though I definitely have less time for that these days with a new baby. Reading has always been a favorite thing, and I read a book a week or so. I really enjoy tennis and am getting back into playing competitively. I love the outdoors and hiking, and would love to visit all the national parks. I’m also a huge sports fan and love watching/attending games (especially football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and gymnastics). My husband and I also love board games, Lego, learning new cocktails, and trying new foods.
As a working mother, what advice would you offer other working moms?
My son is only nine months old, so I feel like I’m very much in my “receiving advice” era, as opposed to being equipped to give any! I have *very little* figured out… But I would say communication has been a huge help to me so far at work – talking with my colleagues and leaders about my needs, desires, struggles, etc. has been really valuable. I feel like it keeps us all on the same page and allows me to feel more comfortable with the ebb and flow of this transition. It’s a tough one, and having people who know what’s going on and are on your side is invaluable! The other thing I’d say is to lower your expectations – I don’t mean that in a discouraging way, but it’s been something I’ve had to continually keep in mind as a person who has always been somewhat of a Type-A, achiever, typical firstborn… Not everything is going to be perfect or go well all the time! That’s ok. 😊
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you were starting out as a lawyer?
That there are more ways to grow in your career than might seem obvious at first. I think I felt like I had to want to be a partner or that I had to grow my practice/career in very particular ways to be successful. In reality, I know now that there are a lot of different ways to do it, to be successful, and to contribute to the profession and to a workplace. I wish I’d thought more about what makes me uniquely me – and how I could use that to grow, develop, and add value.
Tell us a random interesting fact about you
I have a sports bucket list! I’ve been to the Final Four (Go IU!), the World Series (Go Cubs!), and the US Open; what’s left is the Super Bowl and an Olympics gymnastics competition. Hoping to check the latter off in LA 2028, and that the Bears will make it to a Super Bowl in my lifetime…
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