Gia is a seventh-year real estate associate at her firm. She’s an undeniably rising star, going out of her way to build a reputation in the industry, networking with old faces and key players. She’s doing everything she can to be an excellent lawyer, and she just so happens to be from a well-known family in Southern California, an association that’s earned the firm more than a few clients.

During a recent performance review with her practice group leader— a “boomer”—Gia said she’d like monetary credit for the work she’s bringing. The seventh-year associate also told him she’d like to be made partner.