Inspirational Woman June 2013: Daliah Saper
Daliah Saper is the definition of multifaceted. Lawyer, professor, mother, volunteer, leader, mentor, entrepreneur. A Chicago-based lawyer who has argued in front of the Illinois Supreme Court, teaches as an Adjunct Professor at two law schools, volunteers for several art-related initiatives, and pays it forward by being a mentor to other legal professionals. Her work has led her to be named on the Law Bulletin’s “40 under 40″ list, and has been named by Super Lawyers magazine as a “Rising Star” five years in a row.
Daliah’s rich background and passion for her work has continued to drive her in all areas of her life, whether it be at work or at home. Her drive has pushed her to great levels of success at such a young age. The SkinLess Project is proud to announce Daliah Saper as this month’s Inspirational Woman!
You have created quite a name for yourself in the legal world. Before we indulge in the present, tell us about your past. Where did you grow up and what is your background?
I was born in Iran, and I immigrated to Chicago with my family when I was six years old. I attended the University of Illinois for both my undergraduate and legal education. I was always passionate about speaking and writing, and these interests helped lead me toward my career as an attorney.
Who in your childhood pushed you to go for your dreams, specifically is there someone who always motivated you?
My parents always led by example and were supportive of my goals. While my parents did not put unfair pressure on me to exceed, there was an unspoken expectation that I maximize the opportunities they made available to me as a result of their sacrifices. If I need to choose one specific person other than my parents who pushed me, it would have to be my 8 th grade teacher Mrs. White. She was really remarkable!
You have a diverse background, has this enriched or taken away from your journey thus far?
My background has certainly enriched my journey thus far, and it has given me a broader perspective. As a member of a Jewish family from Iran, I learned quickly the reality of being in the minority. This allowed me to learn how to respect others for their differences and has led me to be an advocate for those who also feel underrepresented. My own diversity helps me relate to a multitude of people, and my experiences have forced me to transition well in various business social and professional settings.
So you graduated from law school and quickly decided to start a solo practice which has now turned into a full fledged firm with numerous employees, what made you take such a leap?
A combination of circumstance and a desire to be an entrepreneur motivated me to start my own firm. I found myself at an opportune crossroads in a difficult economy, and I decided to take the leap. I will forever be grateful that I did.
Most individuals regardless of their field are nervous about hanging their own name on the door, what gave you such confidence?
It was not a matter of confidence for me. I did not view it as a risk to my reputation, but rather an opportunity to build it. I also sought the guidance of many experienced mentors who gave me the support and self-assurance to be successful.
What does your firm specialize in?
Saper Law is an intellectual property, social media, and business law firm with headline grabbing clients and cases. We’re best known for our expertise in handling contract negotiations, drafting complex software, trademark, and copyright licensing agreements, organizing new LLCs or Corporations, and generally serving as outside “inside” counsel to many creative individuals and innovative business organizations. Our litigation practice is equally famous for tackling novel internet, social media, and cyberlaw cases as well as traditional cases involving breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, defamation, trademarks, copyrights, right of publicity, and privacy.
How did you master your knowledge in the area?
I mastered my area of law like any good lawyer should: through hard work and practice. At the beginning of my career, I learned a lot about the legal world by just jumping in head first and trying things out. My strategy was to work extremely hard and seek guidance from experienced mentors. Now, my firm has grown to the point that I am able to extend my own mentorship to young legal professionals beginning their careers. I appreciate the opportunity to pay it forward.
Many people shy away from labeling themselves an expert in a field, how do you feel about that and the word “expert” itself?
The word “expert” to me means that a person has worked hard to learn as much as they can about their field. I don’t know if I would label myself as an expert now, but I certainly was not an expert to start out with. However, I was committed to excellence from the start of my career, and I built my knowledge brick by brick. Also, being an “expert” is not a static achievement: it requires constant evolving and continuing education to stay at the top of your field.
Tell us about one of your most exciting experiences as head of Saper Law?
We represent plenty of creative and fascinating clients from many industries. I suppose one good example of an exciting experience here at Saper Law is our annual appearance at C2E2, Chicago’s Comic and Entertainment Expo. Most people attend this “Comic Con” in costume, so we at Saper Law do as well. We presented our “Legal Cos Play” seminar this April discussing intellectual property issues in the comic book industry while dressed in furry animal costumes. Setting aside the fun we have in this field, an exciting legal accomplishment for me was taking my internet fraud case to the Illinois Supreme Court back in 2011.
Ok, let’s get frank. For women who have been in the competitive work force know – you have to work extra hard to stand out, be taken seriously and thrive – can you elaborate on your own experience?
There have been many times that I have attended predominantly male dominated business events where the men I introduce myself to are openly surprised by my title and the length of time that I have owned my own firm. I often get asked, “Is this your father’s law firm?” I enjoy the look on their faces when I proudly proclaim that the firm is my own, and that I have owned it for eight years. I hope to continue defying stereotypes of women in the professional community.
What advice would you give other young women who are facing a similar situation?
You can never control someone else’s preconceptions or prejudices. The best thing for a young woman to do if faced with a situation of being marginalized is to prove them wrong. There is no doubt that there is gender disparity in the professional world, but it isn’t improved merely by pointing it out. Women are out there doing amazing work, and the best thing we can do is continue that and get noticed for our successes – not for our inequality.
You have created an empire for yourself. This requires planning, strategy and guts. What advice would you give women who want to pursue their own dreams?
You can’t have great rewards without great risks. Sometimes it is important to trust your instincts and your intellect to guide you toward success, even if it means breaking out of your comfort zone. Sure, there are times where you will feel unsure, but maintaining your drive and believing in yourself will help you achieve your goals. There may be more security in following along with someone else’s dream, but the possibilities are endless if you pursue your own.
You are also a mother – how do you balance?
Being a working mother has its challenges, but I balance those competing interests with creativity and a little resolve. My top priority is and always will be my daughter, but I have learned how to maintain a successful business while keeping my focus on her. I developed a “virtual office” when my daughter was very young, and all my employees have become skilled in video chatting, phone conferences, and rapid fire e-mail correspondence so that I can supervise the firm while spending time with my daughter. Sometimes motherhood means putting my daughter to bed and then doing some middle-of-the-night legal work; this is a sacrifice that I am always willing to make, as being a mom is my most important role.
What advice would you give to other women who are struggling with this balance?
My advice is to spend as much time with your family as possible. Of course, there are times when you must buckle down and focus on your work. However, we all need to remember what is most important. The joy and perspective you will gain from your time with your family will motivate you in your career and ultimately give you more success.
Have you had experiences where you have felt vulnerable through this process? Please elaborate?
It would take a pretty naive person to never feel vulnerable when starting out in a daunting professional field. There were times early in my career when I was trying something completely new, and it was nerve-wracking. Whether I was taking on a new type of client or speaking for the first time before an intimidating judge, I felt pressure to do a good job despite my relative inexperience. Whenever I faced a situation where I was feeling vulnerable, it propelled me to conquer whatever I was working on even more. Sometimes a little vulnerability was just the driving force I needed to succeed.
Lastly, with all your accolades it is clear you are successful. But most important how do you define success, both personally and professionally?
I define success, both personally and professionally, as doing better than my personal best. I also measure accomplishment by how happy I am: if my work is making me happy, then I count that as a great success.
For women in the professional community, there is a lot of pressure to succeed and often not as many opportunities to do so. As a result, there are some women who may mistreat and disparage one another.
We should laud the accomplishments of our fellow gender and build each other up to succeed.
