JUDIE SAUNDERS
FOUNDER, LAW OFFICES OF JUDIE SAUNDERS
"The most important attribute a female entrepreneur/business owner can possess is an open easy mindset that embodies empathy and active listening."
How do you start your day?
At least 20 minutes of meditation, followed by water and a decaffeinated tea.
Who inspires you?
Honest conversation with my girlfriends. Mentoring others. Advocating for children and women. Podcasts that discuss business, finance and stories of personal growth.
What would you tell yourself as a teenager?
I would tell my teenage self that it is not about the grades, checking off items on a list or completing cultural milestones (i.e. find a husband, have kids, buy a house). Instead I would tell 14 year old Judie, that the entire point of life is going slow and watching the journey unfold. I would also tell teenage Judie, “you are good enough so stop trying to make others feel happy or good about themselves.”
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
“You can legislate laws, but you cannot legislate love.”
What do you need to get you through each day?
Slow intentional breathing because it takes my awareness out of my thoughts;
“Fresh Direct” delivery grocery service;
The kisses of my two sons;
The smile of my husband, Joe Donahue;
Podcasts;
90’s rap music.
What are you reading?
“More Myself” by Alicia Keys and re-reading “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle
Briefly describe your business and inspiration for it.
I provide legal representation and counsel to individuals who have been sexually, physically or psychological abused by authority figures and institutions. Our firm also provides legal services to people accused of criminal charges.
The inspiration for representing clients in these two categories, grows out of the pure joy I feel knowing that I am using my legal skills to provide options, hope and clarity to people going through an extremely difficult time.
How has your passion fueled your business?
It is not so much passion that fuels my business but more of an appreciation as to how can I be so lucky to have been chosen to stand with children and adults who have been abused by authority figures and institutions. What beautiful luck.
I am honored to partner with my clients and own a business that amplifies the voices of abused children while raising awareness on the many forms of abuse.
What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I wish I had some profound “burning bush” founder’s story. However, my business was born out of convenience. At the time, I felt I had the skills to hang out a “shingle”, raise two young children and manage a home; but when reality set in, I learned that running a business required a high-level focus and time commitment. I am glad I did not give up the desire to create a business because being an entrepreneur offers greater flexibility to care for my family and work on cases that inspire me.
What has been the key to your success?
I am a hopeless optimist. I see opportunity in everything and everyone.
What lessons have you learned along the way that you wish you would have known at the beginning of your start-up career?
Work with a business coach;
Seek out and obtain early funding sources;
Have a global marketing strategy; and
Settle into a niche early in the startup.
What is the biggest mistake/challenge you have encountered in your business to date and how have you moved past it?
The biggest challenge I have encountered in my business, to date, is getting my message and service offerings to prospective clients. I focused the majority of my attention on working in the business and developing cases for hearing and trial. I did not have a consistent global marketing strategy for reaching potential clients. I am moving past this challenge with the hiring of an operations manager who handles the majority of the administrative and operations tasks for the business.
What would you have done differently?
If I could have done anything differently, I would have viewed the opening of my law practice more in line with the opening of a product-based business. I would have secured funding from a variety of sources. I would have used that funding to:
Hire a marketing agency to create and disseminate content;
Invest in paid advertising;
Hire an office administrator.
When self-doubt hits, what do you do?
When self-doubt hits, full on, with ruminating thoughts such as “you’re not good enough”; “you have never done that before” or “just give up” I draw from the words of my 62 year old client, Andre Wallace, who was unjustly incarcerated at the age of 15 years old in 1960’s Alabama and remains in prison today, who stated to me, “Ms. Saunders, if you don’t use your voice, who will speak for us.”
What is your biggest fear as an entrepreneur?
Using incorrect or inadequate business processes that will fail to deliver my services to children who have been sexually, physically or psychologically abused, thus leaving those children and their families feeling hopeless and unseen.
What aspects of being an entrepreneur do you love and/or dislike?
Being entrepreneur is a brilliantly terrifying journey. I do not have a business or finance background which leaves me feeling like I am playing catch up in the game of growing a successful business. I love the thrill of learning and automating processes that saves the business time and money. I dislike the limited funding options for small businesses.
Which books, articles, blogs have helped to shape your business and/or leadership style?
My business has been shaped by many things including:
Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth,” which to this day helps steady and align my personal and business purpose.
“Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz, which provides a framework for paying yourself each month;
“The Richest Man in Babylon” by George Classon for its timeless story of business wisdom;
“The B Corp” Handbook by Ryan Honeyman. I pursued and was awarded status as a certified B Corp, a symbol I proudly display and advocate because certified B Corps promote environmental health, community prosperity; inclusion and diversity among for-profit companies.
Are there any go-to resources that you have found useful to run your business?
“Side Hustle Pro” podcast, with Nicalia Matthews for her amazing ability to provide the listener with tangible actions to improve and monetize business ventures;
“What Works” podcast by Terri McMillian because of the conversations the host has with business owners currently in the struggle of running profitable businesses;
Clio practice management software, which tracks my time, expenses, prepares and disseminates invoices to clients. Clio has amazing customer service.
Network Solutions, for email and website hosting. This company has live customer service agents. Business owners are pressed for times and I need answers from real live people. I seek out and spend my dollars only with companies that provide excellent customer service.
Co-working spaces are not only convenient, they are economical, and which allows me to pass those savings to my clients. Roughly 30% of my clients are women who are not paid a living wage. To service this population, my business must seek out and employ cost saving tools. I refuse to sacrifice professionalism, so I find service providers that save my business money.
What would you say to another woman who asked you if they should take the leap and start their own business?
I would tell another women considering the leap to start their own business, words I borrow from author Elizabeth Gilbert, [not exact quote] “if the idea was born in you, it is your responsibility to bring it into the world.” This thought is also helpful to banish imposter syndrome.
In the age of COVID, how have you pivoted or what are you doing differently?
As soon as I had a full understanding of Covid-19’s impact, I reached into my skill toolbox from my time working on national political campaigns and with the NYC Mayor’s Office to read and interpret portions of the Congressional CARES Act, so that I could offer information on funding to individuals and small businesses.