The five women chatted comfortably as they ate their lunches. The two executives asked some legal questions, which the three lawyers answered easily.

Colette shot Audrey a look, indicating that Audrey should start the pitch for business. Audrey was starting with a soft appeal, with Colette making the closing argument. Audrey could feel her shoulders hunch over, almost as if she was a supplicant. Colette raised her eyebrows at Audrey, pulling her shoulders back. Audrey straightened.

Audrey said, “We’re also hoping we can bring in a case to show that we’re a team, and expand the parameters so that they realize there’s enough business to support both of us as partners.”

“This is why women find it hard to be the rainmakers. We feel awkward asking for business,” Winnie said.

“We’re not asking as women, but because we think we make a great team and will provide you top-quality legal representation. That case we just discussed is only one of the federal securities litigations that Audrey and Winnie have won in the past five years,” Colette said. She pushed their bios across the table.

“Last year, Colette won an accounting fraud case, and she worked on many financial cases during her two-year clerkship with a Southern District judge,” Audrey said. “We’ve also all done hostile takeover cases. Feel free to ask us any questions that you may have.”

The two women from Global Capital smiled. “We do have one matter we’d like to get your counsel on. We’ll ask our in-house counsel to coordinate with you.”

Audrey, Winnie and Colette all broke out into huge grins.

“Pitching gets easier the more you do it,” the senior investment banker said. “I always remember what my mentor said to me: if you don’t ask, you’ve already got the no. You might as well ask and try to get the yes.”

“That’s always been my philosophy,” Colette said.

“It’s just that you have to be prepared for that overt rejection,” Winnie said.

“Rejection is fine, as long as it’s for legitimate reasons. It’s one of the best ways to learn what is working and what isn’t working. And you get better each time, as long as you improve based on those rejections,” the senior banker said.

“So how can we improve the pitch we just did?” Audrey asked.

“Just rely on your expertise as lawyers. You don’t need to appeal to us as women, although we appreciate that. But your track records are impressive, and we wouldn’t hire you unless they were. We need to defend our decision to our management as well.”

“Thank you. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us and for your mentoring,” Audrey said. She was impressed that they had given so much of themselves to the three of them. She hoped she was that kind of role model for other women.

Chapter Fifty-One

Chapter Fifty-One