Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership with our friends at MothersEsquire. Welcome Jeanine M. Donohue back to our pages. Click here if you’d like to donate to MothersEsquire.
We are often taught as children that kindness begets kindness — and that it costs nothing. I was recently reminded of this timeless lesson during the Women, Influence, and Power in Law conference.
On the first morning, I was in Starbucks, desperately craving my much-needed latte. A woman entered, placed her order, and then stood next to me while waiting. I recognized her as someone who had spoken on a panel the previous year. Her wit, humor, and practical advice had left a lasting impression on me, and I remembered her well.
As an introvert, networking doesn’t always come naturally to me, and I hesitated over whether to speak. But I decided to overcome my shyness. Turning to her, I honestly choked out, “Excuse me, you were a panelist last year, right? Your presentation was fantastic.” Her face lit up with a genuine smile, and she thanked me. That small moment sparked a simple conversation as we walked to the conference together. I learned she was presenting again this year and that she had recently started a new job. I shared briefly about my own practice and my hopes for the conference.
Later, I attended her presentation, and she knocked it out of the park. At the start, she mentioned that someone had praised her for her previous presentation that morning — words that boosted her confidence and energized her for her own performance. That acknowledgment, coming from a stranger over coffee, had made a real difference in her demeanor and motivation.
Reflecting on that day, I felt a warm sense of connection and realization: just a few sincere words can have a profound and lasting impact on someone else’s confidence and day. Small acts of kindness ripple outward, creating positivity that benefits everyone involved.
To my surprise, later that evening, my new acquaintance posted on LinkedIn about her presentation — and she tagged me. She is a highly respected, nationally recognized general counsel. She didn’t need to tag me, yet she chose to do so — an act of kindness that cost her nothing but meant everything. Her gesture was both empowering and uplifting, a reminder of how promoting and lifting others up is a simple act with profound effects.
The Lesson Here
Promoting and encouraging others is free — yet priceless. A kind word, a simple compliment, or a moment of recognition can inspire confidence, strengthen relationships, and foster a culture of support. Kindness costs nothing but can create ripples of positivity that last far beyond the moment. Always remember: kindness begets kindness, and it’s the small acts that often make the biggest difference.
Jeanine M. Donohue is a member of Buchalter’s Litigation Practice Group and Wineries, Vineyards and Breweries Practice Group. She practices in the firm’s St. Helena and San Francisco offices. With over 30 years of experience, Jeanine is a big picture strategist who quickly appreciates the 30,000 foot major issues, while also being attentive to the nuances and important details of each matter she handles. Jeanine maintains a broad litigation practice that includes insurance recovery, commercial, real estate and products liability. Since 2013, Jeanine has served as Outside General Counsel to four active 524(g) settlement trusts with over $1 billion in assets. She manages all outside trust litigation including insurance coverage litigation, bankruptcy and adversary proceedings.
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