Mia Bell, Lawyer
Problem
Mia is a 42-year-old Chinese Patent and Copyright Lawyer working for one of the top legal firms in the United States. She’s worked for the firm since receiving her Juris Doctor degree. She lives in a large city, is pregnant and unmarried, and is competing with other top-notch lawyers to make partner. Mia seeks guidance from a The Ginac Group because she is concerned about her ability to compete for a partner spot and raise a baby by herself. She also ended a two-year relationship with the baby’s father and she is lonely. Mia is unclear about her choice to stay within the legal field because of the demands it will place on her but she is hesitant about exploring other options.
Solution
In working with Mia, we explored the concerns that she might have regarding her work environment and career development. We encouraged Mia to talk about what she valued in her job and what brought her satisfaction in her daily routine. We also explored Mia's traditional Chinese values regarding single parenthood. This enabled us to ascertain her need for satisfaction in several areas including independence, authority, competition, advancement, work relationships and saving face. We explored her relationship with her boss, co-workers and employees to understand the dynamics.
Throughout our sessions, Mia explored other occupations that she believed would bring satisfaction into her life. Given her strong ties to her Chinese heritage and the difference of these values to many values in the U.S. society and, in particular, in the legal profession, she had difficulty making decisions for herself. Because we were able to take into consideration Mia's worldview, values, level of acculturation and stage of racial identity development, we were able to create a successful outcome for Mia. Mia came to realize that her work as a lawyer held the strongest value for her because it allowed her to solve problems, work independently and interact with others in a competitive environment. Mia hired a full-time nanny and is learning to balance her need to work and be a responsible parent. |
