Senior Leadership at JAMS: Women at the Helm
Each year, International Women’s Day (March 8) and Women’s History Month (March) remind companies to refocus on gender-parity efforts. Sadly, though, many of these efforts fizzle out—which may help explain why in 2020, the number of female executives at S&P 500 companies averaged just 18%.[1]
At JAMS, things are different. Nearly half of the company’s top executives—five out of 12—are women: Kim Taylor, Gina Miller, Liz Carter and Sheri Eisner. JAMS recently named Taylor president of the company; at the same time, Martinez, Miller, Carter and Eisner became senior vice presidents.
We spoke with each of these women to learn about their journeys to JAMS, why they’ve stayed, the challenges they’ve faced, why diversity is important and their advice for those following in their footsteps.
Tell us what led you to JAMS.
Kim Taylor, President: Before joining JAMS, I worked as a paralegal in a law firm, and I went to law school at night. After I graduated and passed the bar, I stayed with the same firm and practiced law for a few years. When the partner whom I worked with most closely decided to retire, I left the firm to clerk for Justice Steve Stone at the California Court of Appeal. After a couple of years, Judge Stone retired from the bench to join JAMS, and he persuaded me to come with him.
Gina Miller, Senior Vice President, U.S. West Region: I was still an undergrad when I came to JAMS. My godmother was good friends with a clerk who left the superior court to open the JAMS Los Angeles. office. She told me they had a client coordinator position available. I interviewed for it, and they hired me. I’m outgoing and enjoy engaging with people, and the folks at JAMS thought that would be great for their clients!
Liz Carter, Senior Vice President, U.S. East Region: I had just moved to Chicago, and I was working with an executive search firm to find a job as an attorney. But I ended up working for the search firm instead, as a headhunter. One day, a position at JAMS came across my desk, and I thought, “I’d be really good at this job.” So, I placed myself at JAMS!
Sheri Eisner, Senior Vice President and General Counsel: After law school, I immediately went to work for a huge, international law firm. I was a litigator there, and I stayed for 16 years and made partner. I got some amazing legal training and had some outstanding mentors, without whom I wouldn’t be where I am today. Then, when I was 39, my best friend died suddenly. It was a profound turning point for me and forced me to question the decisions I made regarding work-life balance. I gave myself two years to make some changes and was fortunate enough to find JAMS.
What do you find to be special about JAMS?
Kim Taylor: One thing I love about JAMS, and that has kept me here for 22 years, is the caliber of the people I work with—not only my colleagues on the senior management team, but also associates throughout the organization, not to mention our neutrals. And, it’s very rewarding to be part of an organization whose mission it is to help people resolve conflict.
Gina Miller: When I started at JAMS in 1989, staying so long wasn’t part of the plan. My college best friend and I were on our way to New York, with my goal of becoming the future editor of Vogue magazine! Later, I did get an opportunity to work for Condé Nast, but I turned it down. JAMS has always been an organization that recognizes its associates’ contributions. My manager at the time was a great mentor to me and offered me more and more responsibility, and I felt valued and just wanted to do more for the company.
Liz Carter: I’m fortunate to have worked for 14 years at a company that does such important work. As a former litigator, I find the opportunity to resolve disputes outside the courtroom to be very rewarding. In addition, my team keeps me at JAMS. I work with the best people in this industry, and I learn from them every day.
Sheri Eisner: I have learned here every single day, from the moment I started in 2008. It never gets boring. I work with a tremendous group of people, period, but the women I work with on a daily basis—Kim, Laura, Gina, Liz—they’re just remarkable. They’re not only some of the smartest people I’ve ever worked with, but they’re also very supportive.
Has being a woman posed any challenges for you in the workplace?
Kim Taylor: I don’t feel that being a woman has hurt me in my career at all, especially at JAMS. I suppose that when I was a young lawyer, sometimes there might have been a tendency for male opposing attorneys or male judges to underestimate me, but I tried to always use that to my advantage.
Gina Miller: When it comes to challenges, being a woman—a woman of color—is not the first thing that comes to mind. That doesn't mean that implicit bias doesn't exist; it's just that personally, whenever I face challenges in the workplace, I do not immediately think it's because of race or gender. However, I will say the past few years have been eye-opening for me because I thought things were evolving, and I realized that maybe things hadn't evolved as much as I thought they had. But I've always appreciated JAMS senior managements’ thoughtful approach to ensuring the fair treatment of all associates.
Liz Carter: My first job out of law school was at a small firm. One day, a male colleague and I were in court. He was a young father. We were setting a trial date, and he said, “I can’t do that date. My wife will be out of town, and I’ll have to watch my girls.” And the judge—in open court, on the record—pointed to me and said, “Well, can’t you babysit?” It was awful—just so humiliating.
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