Women Who Win Profiles Sonia Sujanani as a Top Lawyer Changing the Narrative on What Motherhood Means for Careers
- 1.29.2025
In an interview with Women Who Win, a media platform dedicated to sharing diverse and inspiring stories of women worldwide, Counsel Sonia Sujanani shares her advice for young female lawyers, discusses the power of mentorship and reflects on her journey balancing motherhood with a successful legal career, among other topics.
Excerpt: “As a successful female lawyer, recognized as a Top Lawyer by Boston Magazine, and particularly as a mother of two young children, what challenges have you personally faced in the legal field, and how did you overcome them? And what is your advice to young female lawyers and/or aspiring lawyers?
As a mother of two young children during the pandemic, I witnessed many of my female peers leave large law firms or the profession entirely. The lack of childcare during those years made it especially challenging, but the barriers women face in the legal field are still prevalent today. While the ‘motherhood penalty’ is often discussed, I believe it’s time to flip the script to the ‘motherhood advantage.’ Primary caregivers—often (but not always) mothers—juggle a complex family dynamic, from lack of sleep to sick kids to sports, activities, and school. This ability to manage competing priorities actually makes them more efficient, resilient, and effective at work. It’s a crash course in executive functioning: grit, perseverance, creativity, adaptability, and balance. I’m actually working on a book about this: Flipping the Script: From Motherhood Penalty to Motherhood Advantage.”
