There’s a shortage of women in science, technology, engineering and math. And there’s still a 17 percent gender gap in pay—across the board—in the legal profession (18 percent at Big Law firms). But within the legal technology community there are many women with thriving careers. Monica Bay recently interviewed Valerie Chan, 45, who left law firms so she could start a public relations firm, Plat4orm PR, to help legal startups.

Home base: Seattle and San Francisco—I split my time between both. San Francisco is such a rich technology hub, and I love learning and being part of the innovation that’s happening there. Seattle is such a livable city. I went to law school and college in Washington, and it still feels like home. But Seattle is damp and cold in the winter, and San Francisco is not. I get the best of both worlds.