The Most Memorable Moments from the 2024 Fellows and Pathfinder Fall Meetings
(Washington, DC) — From October 8-10, the 2024 Fellows and Pathfinders gathered at the Westin in Washington, DC for their final in-person class meetings of the year. Here are some of the unforgettable moments from two and a half days of networking, learning, and celebration.
A Warm Welcome for 632 Fellows and Pathfinders
After a year filled with virtual and in-person events, 307 Fellows and 325 Pathfinders reunited in DC for a packed agenda focused on leadership development, lawyer wellbeing, and meaningful connection. The energy was high as attendees greeted classmates from across the country and picked up their brand-new class t-shirts to rep their LCLD pride.
Fellows Expand Their Leadership Toolkits and Stretch Their Comfort Zones
Over the course of the meeting, Fellows learned from expert speakers, engaged in group discussions, and strengthened relationships through active participation in substantive sessions and social opportunities.
- Mindfulness and Wellbeing with Anu Gupta: Attendees explored somatic tools for strengthening wellbeing and mitigating the harms of bias during this interactive workshop.
- Emotional Intelligence with Hassan Kamel: OKA Lead Consultant Hassan Kamel offered insights into Emotional Intelligence and practical behaviors to enhance team and professional development.
- Feedback in Action with Mary Abbajay: Fellows learned strategies for delivering effective performance feedback and then practiced this feedback framework during real-life workplace scenarios.
- Leading Well with Paula Davis: This session equipped Fellows with five new mindsets to help them lead in a way that inspires engagement, connection, and meaningful work.
- Improv Games: In small breakout groups led by members from DC Improv, Fellows played improv games that focused on active listening, effective communication, and thinking outside the box.
- Creativity and Innovation with Cliff Goldmacher: Did anyone expect songwriting to be on the agenda during an LCLD program? Surprise! To encourage Fellows to explore their creative side, hit songwriter Cliff Goldmacher helped Fellows brainstorm lyrics about teamwork to co-create their very own class song.
“I really feel that the LCLD experience has been one of the highlights of my career. I already see that it has elevated my career trajectory, just from the relationships I’ve been able to forge and the different skills and engagement that I’m learning about myself.” — 2024 Fellow Janea Hawkins
Pathfinders Dive into Career Progression and Relationship-Building
During their two-day meeting, Pathfinders gained practical skills for navigating their career progression and explored the tools needed to become a successful leader.
- Advice from the Trenches with Corporate Homie’s Demetra Liggins and Bemetra Simmons: The dynamic duo offered candid advice on achieving work-life balance, career planning, and sustaining mental wellness.
- Bridging Divides with VallotKarp: Mitchell Karp and MaLora McCullough shared techniques for building and maintaining work relationships, including how to counter stereotypes and communicate across differences.
- Leading vs Managing with Carrie Fletcher and John Mitchell: Pathfinders gained tips on how to balance the producer-manager dilemma as they progress in their careers. Halfway through the session, they split into law firm and in-house groups to discuss leadership strategies tailored to their current roles.
- Developing a Leadership Mindset with Paula Davis: The final Pathfinder session focused on resiliency and stress management, leaving attendees equipped with skills to strengthen their resilience and lead well.
“Since coming to the LCLD program I’ve learned to value what I bring to the table: my personality type, my work style, and then how I can leverage that to work with other people as well.” — 2024 Pathfinder Melanie Jordan
A Joint Reception at the Wharf
The programming for Fellows and Pathfinders may be separate, but the two groups had the chance to intentionally connect during a joint reception at the vibrant La Vie restaurant. As the sun set over the Wharf, attendees caught up with friends in both programs and enjoyed delicious food, drinks, and music from a live DJ.
Dining Around DC
No LCLD meeting would be complete without Dine-Arounds, a beloved tradition of small group engagement at various restaurants around town. For their respective Dine-Around evenings, Fellows and Pathfinders met up at spots across DC to deepen bonds and expand their circles.
Moving Forward as Alumni
The 2024 Fellows and Pathfinder Fall Meetings offered more than professional development—they were a chance to create lasting memories, forge meaningful connections, and gain fresh perspectives on building a more inclusive legal profession.
“The biggest takeaway is that we’re not in this alone, and that gives you a warm feeling in your chest. Law is the type of profession where you doubt yourself. There’s a big imposter syndrome virus going around. But at the end of the day, we’re all just doing our best. So it’s nice to surround yourself with similar people to reaffirm that.” — 2024 Pathfinder Trey Bartholomew
“It’s been really inspiring to know that there’s such a big community of people, both in the law firm world and in the in-house world, who care about the issue of diversity and are working to advance it.” —2024 Fellow Anant Saraswat
Photos by LNJ Designs