MoFo's Women of Color Collective: a conversation with CCWC’s Laurie Robinson Haden

By: Christin Hill and Tammy C. Davies

We are excited to announce that MoFo is expanding our Affinity Program to include our Women of Color Collective (WoCC), led by San Francisco partner Christin Hill and New York partner Tammy Davies. The collective provides an opportunity for members to connect and celebrate their valuable perspectives. By fostering opportunities for meaningful engagement with clients, we aim to elevate and share our collective experiences as women of color in our industry.

In January, we officially launched the WoCC with a kickoff event in the New York office, where Tammy was joined by Laurie Robinson Haden, the founder, president, and CEO of Corporate Counsel Women of Color (CCWC), for a discussion about the importance of diversity and inclusion and supporting women of color in the legal profession.

Laurie grew up in a predominantly African American community near Washington, D.C., where her parents’ professional roles instilled in her a strong sense of ambition and possibility. She attended North Carolina Central University, an HBCU, where she thrived in leadership roles, and later pursued her legal education at Indiana University School of Law at Bloomington, where she experienced being a minority for the first time, which shaped her understanding of diversity.

Her career began with an internship with the National Football League in New York City, where she built her network from scratch using traditional methods. This led to positions at Epstein, Becker, and Green, and ultimately CBS Corporation, where she rose to Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Litigation.

In 2004, Laurie founded CCWC, inspired by her experiences of isolation and the lack of networks available to women of color in corporate legal environments. Initially, the organization began as a small gathering of 10 women who met to share their experiences and support each other in navigating their careers.

Laurie recognized the potential for a broader network and created a directory that contained members’ details and facilitated connections among women of color in the legal field. The concept quickly gained traction, and within a week, the network expanded to 50 women, as members shared the directory with their contacts.

CCWC's growth was exponential, and it now connects 30,000 attorneys globally. The organization provides a platform for women of color to network, share experiences, and access opportunities that might otherwise be unavailable.

Laurie’s career progression at CBS Corporation was significantly influenced by her proactive networking and leadership skills, which she honed through her early experiences and the founding of CCWC. Her ability to create impactful connections and demonstrate her value was further exemplified in her relationship with her sponsor Louis Briskman, whom she credits as having played a pivotal role in her career development.

Laurie first gained Louis’ attention through her active participation in company initiatives, which allowed her to demonstrate her leadership and organizational skills. Impressed by her work with the CCWC, Louis recognized her potential and offered her a position working directly for him, bypassing traditional hierarchies. Their relationship was mutually beneficial, as Laurie consistently delivered high-quality work, which led Louis to provide her with high-visibility assignments and introductions to key executives, further advancing her career. Laurie highlights this relationship as an example of how a sponsor can significantly impact one’s career by offering visibility and advocating for professional growth.

Laurie’s new book, It’s Time to Shine: A Guide for Professionals of Color on How to Advance Their Career, is the culmination of over 20 years of professional experience and shares valuable insights and lessons she has learned throughout her career. She was motivated to write the book after observing many executives rise within corporations only to eventually stagnate or transition out without passing on their knowledge and experiences to the next generation. Designed to be a playbook that readers can refer to at different stages of their careers, the book offers guidance on setting and achieving career goals and encourages readers to advocate for themselves.

Laurie concluded the discussion by emphasizing that in uncertain times, resilience and perseverance are crucial, urging individuals to know their value and identity to confidently navigate challenges.

“No matter what happens—maybe somebody might yell at you or say you don’t belong here—you’ve got to shine,” she said. “You’re driving your career.”