2013 Honoree

Linda Addison

Global Head of Dispute Resolution and Litigation, Norton Rose Fulbright

“The best advice I have ever ignored is “don’t ask, you will look pushy.” I am a big believer that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. People who know your goals and aspirations can help you achieve them, and that is equally true for women as for men.”

What city best describes your personality?

I love both New York and Houston. Both cities are vibrant, exciting, and global. Both are populated by warm, welcoming, and big-hearted people with “can do” attitudes. I strive to be all of these things.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever ignored, and the worst advice you’ve ever taken?

The best advice I have ever ignored is “don’t ask, you will look pushy.” I am a big believer that if you don’t ask, you don’t get. People who know your goals and aspirations can help you achieve them, and that is equally true for women as for men. I cannot think of any bad advice I have taken. I am aware that the mistakes I have made were mine. Fortunately, most of them have been good learning experiences.

What is your Best Read? What book would you want to be a character in?

One of the best books I have read is Katharine Graham’s autobiography. It is 625 pages of dense, beautifully written prose that she wrote herself and for which she won the Pulitzer Prize. It would be fun to be a character in a novel by Jane Austen, but only if I could be a heroine.

How do you define power? Do you enjoy it? How do you live with your success?

I don’t think of myself as powerful. I just think of myself as someone who, after many years of practicing law, is better able to get things done or to have access to certain people. I do believe that I am in a position to set a goal and lead people to achieve it. I really focus on the goal and on achieving success, not power.

When do we stop asking questions about gender equality? When will it be Power People instead of Power Women? Is gender more important than politics?

Hopefully in my lifetime. Definitely in my daughter’s lifetime. I look forward to a time when successful, high-achieving women are no longer a novelty and such lists are no longer necessary.

What do you think of social media?

Twitter can be riveting, informative and useful. Some of the others are fun but do not seem to be efficient ways of getting information or keeping up with people. I still prefer personal communication and believe it is the only way to build meaningful relationships.

What advice would you give to a young woman starting out?

Be careful whom you choose as your life partner and even more careful with whom you choose to have children. If your career is not as important to your partner as it is to you, you don’t stand a chance. Also, getting to the top of any field requires enormous stamina. If you don’t have stamina, then do whatever you can to build it. Exercise, get fit, eat right. And if you can’t build your stamina, reconsider your career goals.