A first-generation college graduate who grew up in the home of her Russian refugee grandparents, Myers began her pioneering legal career in 1977. She gravitated toward representing brilliant young entrepreneurs, themselves often immigrants or underrepresented minorities. Instead of accepting an offer to relocate to Silicon Valley in the early 1980s—as the steel industry collapsed, plunging Pittsburgh into recession—she focused on building Pittsburgh’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. In 1996, to access the resources of a large international firm, she co-founded the Pittsburgh office of Morgan Lewis with two young partners and six junior associates. In 19 years as Pittsburgh managing partner, she steered the office through times of significant growth in the Pittsburgh technology market, as well as in the education, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, retail, and energy sectors. Now counting more than 60 partners, associates, and support staff, the office has become the “go to” firm for businesses seeking the best in legal representation and strategic advice.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned during the course of your career that you wish you knew as a young lawyer?