Beware of the glass cliff...
Written by Sam Abeysekera on Dec. 16th 2020
Beware of the glass cliff...

Most women don’t know what it is until they’re falling from it. 

They’ve heard of the glass ceiling but not the glass cliff, so they are completely unaware, even when they are on its edge. 

So what is it? 
A glass cliff is not seen from afar or close up...

It’s not talked about much either, but it is very real...

There are two ways to find yourself on it. 

The first is something we’ve talked about before here - even though you work so hard to reach a senior level, you end up considering leaving due to a lack of business development opportunity, support, or plain old marginalization.  

The second is where senior women do find a way to work their way up but they Lean In too far - ending up as workhorses, working 24/7, taking whatever assignment. 

In the end, they get burnt out and leave or take a fall for the company. A case in point is the story of the very brave Erin Callan. 

She was a tax attorney who worked her way up to be the first woman on the executive committee of Lehman Brothers as their Chief Financial Officer in 2007. She was considered the most powerful woman on Wall Street. It was nine months before their decline. 

She was so “all-in,” she drank the company kool-aid and admits losing her first marriage because she was all about work. She would fly to Europe at the drop of a hat if needed. And when Lehman was declining in the financial credit crisis, she was asked to go on TV and tell analysts that everything was OK. 

All this, while the former CEO, Dick Fuld, laid low essentially throwing her over the glass cliff in what looked like an attempt to save himself. 

She ended up taking the fall for Lehman’s decline and resigning. Not what a newcomer to Lehman had signed up for. 

After some years, Fuld later showed regret but Callan spent years recovering. She was so burnt out she couldn’t do her next job. But she bravely rebuilt herself and a new family, and her story is a warning to other driven women. 

Because the problem isn’t about, “Should I Lean In or Lean Back?” even though this describes the existential angst for many working women.

The problem is much simpler.

It comes down to a basic principle: 
 
You must prioritize what you want in your life, or someone else will do it for you.
 
It is why we help female senior attorneys and partners with methods for a full book of business, clarity for your mindset, AND teach you to deliver more with less.
 
That’s more revenue, more value to clients, but with less work. 
 
We don’t want you just to shatter the glass ceiling. We want you to thrive there! And NEVER be at risk of falling off the edge because YOU have an edge!
 

Sam Abeysekera

Sam is dedicated to empowering female partners and founders in the legal industry to break through barriers and redefine success. As the lawyer's advocate, she equips her clients with strategies to become seasoned rainmakers and thrive within the dynamics of law firm culture, all while maintaining balance and authenticity.
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