Women Shaping the Future of Law: Five lessons on leadership and career growth

On October 7, 2026, McCarthy Tétrault hosted Women Shaping the Future of Law, bringing together female leaders from both private practice and industry to share insights on leadership, career development and the evolving role of legal counsel.

The panel was moderated by Partner Valerie Prather and featured:

• Susan Anderson, Senior Vice-President, Legal, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary at Cenovus Energy;
• Stephanie Uhlich, General Counsel and Vice-President, Legal at LNG Canada;
• Laura Gill, Partner and Practice Lead, Litigation and Dispute Resolution (Calgary); and
• Alyson Goldman, Partner, Business Law (Calgary).

The panelists shared candid perspectives on the experiences that have shaped their careers, the skills that have helped them succeed, and the lessons they have learned along the way.

Several themes stood out.

1. Great leaders don’t need to have all the answers

Effective leadership is less about having every answer and more about listening, distilling the end goal and effectively delegating. Strong leaders identify the right experts, direct the relevant questions to them, create an environment that empowers team members to do their best work, and coordinate the team’s knowledge into a coherent outcome.

2. Trust and communication are essential to bringing people together

Complex matters require leaders to understand the interests and motivations of different stakeholders, build trust, and establish clear expectations, even if this means having hard conversations. Legal teams add value by working across organizational and cultural boundaries to keep participants aligned around a common goal.

3. Complex legal advice must be clear, objective and actionable

In fast-moving and highly scrutinized environments, legal counsel can add value by remaining calm, balanced, and grounded in objective facts. Synthesize complex analysis into concise, digestible formats that help decision-makers understand risks, options, and trade-offs quickly.

4. Career growth often begins outside your comfort zone

Taking on a significant role or unfamiliar mandate can be an opportunity to build agility and broaden business perspective. Effective leadership depends on collaboration, continuous learning, and a willingness to rely on others, all of which can be learned and strengthened through saying yes to experiences and responsibilities that may initially feel intimidating.

5. Authenticity and relationships create lasting opportunities

Focusing on what can be controlled—being responsive, building expertise, and delivering high-quality work—while cultivating genuine professional relationships is essential to career development. Maintaining external networks, finding supportive peers and mentors, and developing a personal approach to business development can establish credibility to build long-term relationships and generate lasting opportunities.

Final Thoughts

These leaders showcased the significant impact women lawyers continue to have on business and the law profession. Through candid reflections and practical insights, the panelists offered meaningful guidance on navigating challenges while embracing the distinctive perspectives, strengths and opportunities that women bring to both the practice of law and to leadership roles more broadly.