Montana Lawyer April/May 2025

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Leading on Her Own Terms: Women, Leadership, and the Legal Profession

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The rule of law is good for business.

“Does a Woman Have to Become a Man to Become President?” This was the title of my fifth grade social studies paper. Based on studies ana lyzing the character traits of successful leaders, my conclusion then was a resounding no. Years later, leadership research continues to support that con clusion. A recent article in the Harvard Business Review identifies eight qualities of effective leaders: authenticity, curiosity, analytical prowess, adapt ability, creativity, comfort with ambiguity, resil ience, and empathy. 1 As President of the State Bar of Montana dur ing a tumultuous legislative term, I have striven to embody these characteristics to the best of my ability. My approach has always been to seek un derstanding first and argue later. As one leadership principle states: “If someone strikes you as illogi cal, it’s likely you don’t understand what matters most to that person.” 2 In my experience, if you peel back the layers far enough, you will often find common ground—even in the most contentious debates. Take Montana, for example. Montanans are fiercely independent and want a say in their gov ernment. They believe in economic opportunity while also valuing the breathtaking natural beauty of our state. They are resourceful and innovative— traits reflected in the earliest inhabitants of our land and in the inventors I represent as a patent attorney today. These shared values form the foun dation upon which we can build agreements, even when perspectives on governance differ. In my January 6 letter to the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I highlighted three key prin ciples upon which I believed we could all agree:

The State Bar does (and should continue to) take diversity of viewpoints into account in its CLE programs. 3. Maintaining the separation of powers, as set forth in the U.S. and Montana Constitutions, is vital. The most contentious issues during this past legislative session stemmed not necessarily from opposing values but from differing views on how best to govern in alignment with those values. Nearly every Montanan agrees that judges should be fair and unbiased, and that lawyers should be able to represent their clients without govern ment interference. The question we faced repeat edly was whether these ideals were best protected by preserving an independent judiciary and a self-regulating legal profession. Our answer was, unequivocally, yes. Leadership in these moments required disci pline, patience, and a steady hand. Napoleon is famously quoted: “Never interrupt your enemy when they are making a mistake.” 3 That wisdom applies far beyond the battlefield. In leadership, it is often more effective to stay the course rather than react impulsively. Good leaders do not allow distractions or political noise to pull them away from their core mission. Instead, they remain focused, ensuring that when they do act, it is with intention and clarity. This leadership style aligns closely with the strengths that women bring to leadership roles. Historically, leadership has been defined in traditionally masculine terms—assertiveness,

Toni Tease is a registered patent attorney and a solo practitioner who special izes in intellectual property law. Her office is located in Billings, Montana, and her website is at www.tease law.com.

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