Women Who Mean Business: Susan L. Bickley
Blank Rome Partner Susan L. Bickley was named an Outstanding Leader in Law honoree in the Houston Business Journal’s 2019 Women Who Mean Business Awards.
The honorees were announced in August 2019, and Susan formally received her award on October 3 at the fourth annual Women Who Mean Business awards gala, which celebrated Houston’s most successful women business leaders in for-profit and nonprofit industries. Winners were selected based on their career achievement, contribution to company and city success, community involvement, and leadership.
All honorees received a profile in a special supplement of the Houston Business Journal, published on October 4, 2019.
HONOREE PROFILE, AS PUBLISHED IN THE HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL
Susan L. Bickley, Partner and Houston office chair, Blank Rome LLP
Education: Bachelor’s, University of Texas-Austin; Juris Doctorate, University of Houston
Years in the industry: 35
Boards and affiliations: American Bar Association; International Municipal Lawyers Association; Houston Bar Association; Houston Bar Foundation; State Bar of Texas; Texas Bar Foundation; University of Houston Law Center's Blakely Advocacy Institute; United Way Women's Initiative
How do you start your day? Pour a large cup of coffee, take our dogs outside, review overnight emails, visit with my husband and get to work — not necessarily in that order.
What is the most difficult thing you’ve had to do? Address a relative’s health issue.
Who’s been an important influence in your life and why? My mother, Dorothy Bickley, who brought up my two sisters and me as a single parent and supported us on an elementary school librarian’s annual salary. She serves as an example of so many virtues, including the value of sacrificing for a greater purpose, education and life-long learning and having enthusiasm for life and work. She taught me that making the right things is a priority and to treat people with dignity.
In what ways are you seeing your industry changing? The legal industry has increasingly welcomed the incorporation of innovations into the way legal services are delivered.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming female leaders? Have high standards, and inspire — and attempt to exemplify — excellence, trustworthiness and honesty inside and outside your organization.
Susan L. Bickley (center) with Blank Rome associate Emery Richardson (right) and Wendy Standorf, Texas Municipal League.
Susan L. Bickley receives Outstanding Leader in Law award at the Houston Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business gala on October 3, 2019.