Baker Women

Sheila Burke, the chair of Baker Donelson's Government Relations and Public Policy Group, has been recognized by the University of San Francisco with two prestigious alumni awards: the Public Service Award and the School of Nursing and Health Professions Legacy Award. Ms. Burke was honored during CelebrateUSF, the school's annual alumni weekend, which was held October 17 – 20. A 1973 graduate of the University of San Francisco, where she earned her B.S. in nursing, Ms. Burke also holds an M.P.A. from Harvard University. She served for 19 years on Capitol Hill. Early in her career, she was a member of the staff of the Senate Finance Committee responsible for legislation relating to Medicare, Medicaid, and other health programs. Ms. Burke ultimately became Deputy Staff Director of the Finance Committee, then she went on to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff to Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and later as his Chief of Staff. In 1995, she was elected as Secretary of the Senate, the chief administrative officer of the United States Senate. Ms. Burke also served from 2000 to 2007 as a member of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). In addition to her government experience, Ms. Burke served as the deputy secretary and chief operating officer of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum and research complex. She was also a faculty member at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where she taught a number of health policy courses and served as executive dean. Read more: https://lnkd.in/exNeXriG

I know many moms hesitate when it comes to work travel or opportunities because of the extra logistics. It's not easy, and it takes extra work to think creatively, and lean on different support systems to be able to make the trip. Christy Tosh Crider presented me with an amazing opportunity to present to a client, but like many #workingmoms, I faced a common challenge – how do I make it work with a young child at home? Instead of saying no, I traveled with my baby (and my mom aka our nanny on call). What I appreciate about my firm is that they considered me and have additional support options in place for when I’m ready to leave baby behind. Often, you hear horror stories where new moms aren't asked and are passed over for opportunities; the decision is made for them. What worked best for my family was to travel with my child and be present for the client. If parenting has taught me anything, it’s how to make things happen and juggle multiple priorities. #worklikeamom

For the fifth consecutive year, Baker Donelson has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus status. More than 360 law firms earned Mansfield Certification for the 2023 – 24 period, marking a 13 percent increase from the nearly 320 firms certified the previous year. Mansfield is a year-long, structured certification process designed to ensure all qualified talent at participating law firms have a fair and equal opportunity to be considered for advancement into leadership roles. The focus is on "opening the door wider" and ensuring that opportunities for advancement are transparent and inclusive for everyone. Mansfield expands opportunities, fostering growth without imposing limitations. Mansfield Certification Plus is an added designation reserved for firms that voluntarily report the outcomes of their inclusive processes. More than half of the 360+ law firms opted into "Mansfield Certification Plus" this year. Baker Donelson's Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Mark Baugh, "We're proud of our Firm's steadfast commitment to the Mansfield certification process. While Mansfield's certification criteria have grown increasingly challenging each year, we have consistently recommitted to the core principles of transparency, accountability, and knowledge sharing because of our dedication to Baker Donelson being an inclusive and equitable workplace." Read more: https://lnkd.in/gESZdZrR