Laura Bianchi of Bianchi & Brandt On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman In a Male-Dominated Industry
An Interview With Candice Georgiadis
Don’t take it personally. Stop giving people the power to change your emotional state and steal your energy away from your mission. When your ideas are criticized, step back and think about the issue itself: What are solutions to the identified weak points? How can I communicate differently? How can I overcome or even completely circumvent the challenge?
In the United States in 2022, fields such as Aircraft piloting, Agriculture, Architecture, Construction, Finance, and Information technology, are still male-dominated industries. For a woman who is working in a male-dominated environment, what exactly does it take to thrive and succeed? In this interview series, we are talking to successful women who work in a Male-Dominated Industry who can share their stories and experiences about navigating work and life as strong women in a male-dominated industry. As a part of this series, we had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Laura A. Bianchi.
Bianchi & Brandt co-founding partner Laura A. Bianchi is a widely sought-after expert in cannabis law, business operations and corporate mergers and acquisitions who pioneered a holistic approach to legal services for the cannabis industry. In 2010, Laura recognized the urgent need to support businesses and policymakers in state-regulated cannabis programs, despite the hesitation of the broader legal community. Laura graduated from Vermont Law School after earning a bachelor’s in political science from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and in her free time advocates for animal rights and is passionate about traveling, Latin music and mixed martial arts.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your childhood “backstory”?
I grew up in Colorado in a very tight-knit Italian family and am fortunate to have supportive parents who raised their children to be strong and self-reliant. My father was the OG girl dad. He doted on my sister and me, but more importantly, he infused us with confidence, always letting us know that we could do anything the boys could do, if not more. My sister became a doctor, I became a lawyer, and we both went on to found our own practices. My mom is also a powerhouse and we’re quite close. She had a long career as a speech pathologist, then after a few months of being bored by retirement, she launched her second career as our firm’s office manager and head of HR.
My path to becoming a lawyer wasn’t linear. I was naturally inquisitive and always up for a debate, which wasn’t exactly encouraged in parochial school. But in high school I was lucky enough to find that one teacher who really understood me — Mr. Barnhardt. He saw leadership qualities in me that even I hadn’t recognized and after realizing I was a highly experiential learner, began looking for ways for me to do things instead of just reading and listening. Understanding how I learn — my need to be hands-on and engaged — really empowered me to explore and discover new and exciting interests. After college I had a multitude of experiences: from working for the governor of Colorado, to living in Hawaii and learning to crew a sailboat, before ultimately returning to law school and setting my professional course. Looking back, I recognize that the range of experiences and personalities, as well as the support, guidance and encouragement of my family and educators helped me not only discover my passions, but it laid the foundation that allowed me to successfully navigate the multitude of industries, individuals and complex hurdles that I now deal with on a daily basis in an ever-growing law firm. I’m thankful my parents instilled in me the strength, determination and fortitude to see every obstacle as a chance to learn, grow and find alternate paths to achieving my goals.
Can you tell us the story about what led you to this particular career path?
I knew early on that finding the right firm was going to be a tall order. I was interested in developing a practice that allowed me to utilize my entrepreneurial spirit, while navigating and ultimately solving complex issues, bringing value to my clients. I also knew that traditional “big law” would never be the right fit for me. After meeting with many attorneys and law firms, I secured an internship with a woman-owned boutique law firm in Arizona. I was eventually offered a job at that firm and spent the next 12 years developing and building my practice, my skill set and my experience, eventually becoming a partner. While looking for opportunities to make an impact, add value and carve out my professional path, I found my passion for business and corporate law. That allowed me to not only discover, but build, strengthen and fine-tune my own unique approach to business and the law. By setting aside ego and deploying a more holistic approach, I’ve been able to develop out-of-the-box solutions to issues that may otherwise seem impossible. Rarely do creativity and the law belong in the same sentence, but by stepping out of the rut of tradition, and applying creative thinking to client and industry challenges, I’ve been fortunate to devise uncommon solutions that benefit all of the parties and allow for greater success in the long run.
When Arizona voted in 2010 to approve our medical marijuana program, many attorneys immediately refused to engage or advise on the subject. For me, it could not have been more intriguing. It’s a rare thing to build the foundation for a new industry and be a part of history in the making. Despite the incredible challenges, including the illegality of cannabis from a federal perspective, I viewed this as a chance to assist and guide clients through the unknown. From there, my professional journey continued as I focused not only on this new industry, but on other heavily regulated industries, working to reshape how attorneys engage with their clients by combining practical advice, business strategy and legal guidance to add value to each client and their business. My colleague (now my business partner) Justin Brandt and I shared this uncommon point of view and we soon realized that only by launching Bianchi & Brandt could we throw out the old way of doing things and provide services, advice and direction with a bigger purpose than just one project, or one client. The bedrock philosophy of our firm is to take the long view of our clients’ business future as we support their growth strategically and transparently.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
It’s not a story, per se, but one of the challenging realities of the early days of the cannabis industry is that many clients had never worked with an attorney. It took time to not only establish, but build trusted relationships, especially with so much uncertainty still looming. Doing business in this industry is not for the faint of heart. I think a lot of people have this misconception that people engaged in this industry are just printing money. That is certainly not the case and in fact, doing business in the cannabis industry is far more costly and in many ways uncertain than almost any other sector. Despite the progress we have made over the past 25-plus years, stigmas still exist, banking and lending are still filled with hurdles and typical federal tax deductions available to any other business remain unavailable for those in the cannabis industry. However, it has been thrilling to make this journey with our clients and assist them in overcoming so many difficulties, and they’re thriving today. It’s one of the most rewarding parts of this business: To know where your clients began, see where they are today and know you have been an integral part of that journey.
You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
1) Be disruptive. I’ve never been interested in making noise. My goal is to make an impact and effectuate change. Why accept the status quo, when there is always a way to improve? For me, the most enjoyable part of the process is digging in, looking at the situation from alternative perspectives and finding what the traditional would deem as the most unlikely path forward. Justin and I strove to do things differently, better. We developed a culture that puts the clients and their needs first, and have built a team that collaborates with one another instead of competing with one another. We encourage excellence in all of our efforts and stay in the know on local, state and national perspectives because in this industry, the goal posts are always moving.
2) Stay determined. When I started my cannabis practice, the bar associations warned attorneys of the risks associated with its federal illegality. For me, that reaction made no sense. The people of Arizona had voted medical marijuana into law. This was a new industry with no case precedent, no clear path forward and an incredible amount of uncertainty. Where would there be a greater need for legal guidance and direction than this brand-new world? So despite the naysayers and concerned citizens, I continued forward assisting and advising clients, seeking out talented professionals who had come before me (often outside of Arizona). This is where our definition of “lawyer” began to evolve and come to mean a strategic business partner, trusted advisor and confidant. And our firm’s approach has been tested and proven many times over as the industry established a foothold and is now serving adult-use consumers as well as medical patients. Bianchi & Brandt has played a key role in positive regulatory change and business transactions totalling over $250 million. The road hasn’t been easy, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. It epitomizes the saying, “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
3) Remove the ego. One of the most devastating personality traits is ego. Whether you’re a business owner, attorney or any other professional, when operating out of the ego, bad business decisions are made, unnecessary conflict created, time and money is wasted — and often with horrific end results. I’ve often said, “I can be right, or I can be successful.” Training myself to withdraw from my ego and look at situations from the perspective of what action will allow for the greatest chance of success has allowed me to pivot, adjust and move through some of the most difficult situations. One example that comes to mind is when I was dealing with an attorney who sadly fit the stereotype of an old, misogynistic white man. My very presence infuriated him and that was clear from the outset. So I had two choices: I could feed my ego and fight against his irrational reaction to me, or I could put our client’s needs first, step away from the front line and work my magic from behind the scenes, and give one of our associates the opportunity to “lead” the account. The choice was easy for me, as nothing is gained from arguing with a fool. Certainly doesn’t mean I accept mistreatment or disrespect, but I pick my battles and refuse to allow someone else’s issues to derail me or keep me from meeting my business goals.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you help articulate a few of the biggest obstacles or challenges you’ve had to overcome while working in a male-dominated industry?
As women in male-dominated industries, the reality is we have to work harder and be even better. We have to develop both the thick skin and the finesse to navigate the overt offenses of being dismissed, and the subtler thefts of dignity, such as when a male colleague repeats your idea at a slightly higher volume and gets met with enthusiastic congratulations. I think any male-dominated industry — from mergers and acquisitions law to cannabis to science and tech — has the same catalog of bad behaviors executed at whatever level the company leadership will tolerate. Much of it is ingrained, and again, it’s important to not take it personally. You can underestimate me, but you certainly won’t stop me. I refuse to give away my energy or let foolishness distract me or derail me from my objectives.
It’s that mindset that has allowed me to grow, flourish and place so many of those foolish men in the rearview mirror. I grew stronger because I had to. I became better because I had to. I grew wiser because I had to. I became a leader because there was never any other option. That struggle is what made me the person and professional I am today. Now it’s my turn to use my position, my voice, my strength and my accomplishments to be the voice for those young women who will come after me. We do this in the hopes that one day, we will be judged for our minds, our skills and our abilities, without a thought as to our gender.
Can you share a few of the things you have done to gain acceptance among your male peers and the general work community? What did your female co-workers do? Can you share some stories or examples?
Training your attention on “acceptance” is a slippery slope. One day you’re doing or saying something slightly out of character and the next, you barely recognize the person in the mirror. I made a very conscious decision to let my work speak for itself. That said, I’m clearly not a wallflower. I have always been proactive and my own advocate. I fought for the outcomes I wanted, I went above and beyond to earn the complete trust of my clients, and I earned the respect of colleagues — friend and foe alike. I never let anything distract me, discourage me or defeat me. When I was seemingly knocked down, I gave myself a moment to grieve and then analyzed it for what I could learn and moved on. I worked to train and condition my mind, my emotions and my reactions. Quitting was and still isn’t an option, and I always want to be the best. So this is a lifetime journey.
What do you think male-oriented organizations can do to enhance their recruiting efforts to attract more women?
We could talk all day about how organizations should hire more women. They absolutely should. Women make up half the population, 55% of current law students, etc., so seeing industries where only a fraction of the workforce is female, I’d say the culture needs to shift before even opening the conversation about recruitment.
But I want to also put this on the shoulders of strong, successful women. I think it’s on us to hire and mentor other women, to share credit and highlight the success of the women around us, to recommend admired colleagues for promotions, and to break out, start our own businesses and proactively seek talented women for our teams. I think real change comes when we make it ourselves.
Ok thank you for all of that. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your opinion and experience, what are the “Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman In a Male-Dominated Industry?” (Please share a story or example for each.)
- Don’t take it personally. Stop giving people the power to change your emotional state and steal your energy away from your mission. When your ideas are criticized, step back and think about the issue itself: What are solutions to the identified weak points? How can I communicate differently? How can I overcome or even completely circumvent the challenge?
- Operate despite the fear. When you’re coming up in your career, there will be stresses and stressors — monumental projects, impossible quotas, hard deadlines, stubborn colleagues and clients. You need to speak up and step up with the end goal in mind. Feel the fear and do it anyway. Stay motivated by learning to relish the victories of problem-solving and not just reaching the finish line. And celebrate your role in making the change happen. You will never erase the fear, but by overcoming the fear, it’s as if it never existed at all.
- Learn the difference between confidence and ego. The ego is designed to keep us safe in the comfort zone of success where we’re regularly complimented and grow complacent. When challenges occur, the ego lashes out. On the other hand, confidence is a powerful tool. Where the ego would deflect blame, confidence takes radical responsibility. Where the ego struggles to lead because of perceived criticism, confidence builds teams and collaboration. Ego walks into a room and wonders who likes you. Confidence walks in and wonders who she likes.
- Practice growth and evolution. As the world changes, my career changes with it. It has to. I thrive when I’m learning and pushing myself. For me, the balance of work and life — and my happiness in both — is interconnected, so I prioritize growth and evolution across the board, from running my business, to improving my health and fitness, to traveling and learning, to nurturing my personal and professional relationships. One thing I’ve learned is that you are never ready. You just have to do it
- Flip the conversation. Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of things that were previously viewed as negatives turn into perceptual benefits, including the cannabis industry itself. Understand that reality is perception. Lead the debate, shift the narrative and consider potential benefits of something believed to be a drawback. The ability to zoom out and see the different angles, and appeal to people by meeting them where they are, will build up your mental elasticity and help make you a formidable negotiator.
If you had a close woman friend who came to you with a choice of entering a field that is male-dominated or female-dominated, what would you advise her? Would you advise a woman friend to start a career in a field or industry that’s traditionally been mostly men? Can you explain what you mean?
I always advise people to follow their passion. If you love what you do and take pride in doing your job well, you’ll overcome the obstacles and persevere whether you’re in a male-dominated or female-dominated field. Focus your expectations on yourself and your abilities instead of external factors like being in the minority at a meeting. Keep your ego in check when you meet resistance. And as you grow professionally, support your female peers — share the knowledge you wish had when you were in their position.
Have you seen things change for women working in male-dominated industries, over the past 10 years? How do you anticipate that it might improve in the future? Can you please explain what you mean?
From a global perspective, there are more brilliant, powerful women in leadership than ever. Gender studies of the business world and workplace show female entrepreneurs often achieve a higher ROI on their enterprise, which will hopefully open up more capital investment and resources. But again, we have to be the change when it comes to hiring practices and internal promotions. We have to evolve out of needing to separate ourselves. I’m not interested in being recognized as a great female attorney. I’m a great attorney, period. Many of these conversations and opportunities to commiserate are just serving to confirm and reinforce successful females as an anomaly, when the aim is equality.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is someone I’d love to share a meal with. She thinks differently, she’s fearless, you can’t put her in a box. My team and I were recently in Washington, D.C., sponsoring a State Society of Arizona event, and it was so clear how she is brilliantly navigating the political chaos. She’s a policymaker who’s not doing things the way she’s supposed to, she’s just unapologetically herself and paving her own path without asking anyone for permission. So inspiring to witness, especially in our current political climate.
Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.
Laura Bianchi of Bianchi & Brandt On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman In… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.