Athena Talks
The Athena Why: to bring the American dream to life.
- Leading is hard.
- Building a reliable tribe is hard.
- Investing right is hard.
- Running a business is hard.
But doing hard is possible. And we love to talk with those that have been there and done that as they carve out their version of the American dream.
Join lawyer Katy Spicer and finance guru James Collins as they set out to build the Athena community. Along the way they will share tales of their civilian careers and Marine Reserve journey, and connect with brilliant legal minds, successful entrepreneurs, Military and civilian leaders, veterans and more, to hear, learn, and grow from their triumphs and setbacks along their individual journeys.
Inspire - Connect- Invest
Athena Talks
Episode 7: Redefining Success in Big Law: Boundaries, Balance & Billables (w/ Emily Stedman)
This week, Katy sits down with Emily Logan Stedman, commercial litigator and passionate mental health advocate for lawyers—to talk about the realities of life in Big Law.
Emily opens up about her own journey: navigating the pressures of billable hours, questioning whether law was truly her path, and ultimately finding a healthier, more authentic way to work.
The conversation dives into strategies for maintaining mental health while excelling professionally—setting clear boundaries with work, carving out time for hobbies and exercise, and leaning on colleagues, family, and therapists for support. Emily also reveals her go-to tactics for hitting billable hours without burning out and why showing up with authenticity on LinkedIn can build more meaningful connections.
“Finding autonomy and exercising control over your day can make a world of difference,” Emily notes. By releasing your daily mental load, creating systems, and taking ownership, you can achieve balance—and redefine what success looks like.
For more from Emily, follow her on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilystedman/