Women’s History Month Spotlight Series: Elizabeth Chang

As part of our Women’s History Month celebration, we’ve asked our colleagues to reflect on the significance of this month.

Cleary Gottlieb senior attorney Elizabeth Chang shares some of her thoughts below.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your role at Cleary.

I am a senior attorney in the Capital Markets Group and have been at Cleary for 25 years this October. My practice focuses on transactional work representing investment banks and issuers raising funds in the public and private markets. I’m a process geek who loves finding execution efficiencies, but training and supporting junior lawyers is where I have found my joy at Cleary. I love to teach, both through work together on transactions and through a talent initiative I developed called the 1YCAFI (Corporate Associate Foundations Initiative).

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

To me, Women’s History Month is an opportunity to share stories that might not otherwise be told; to be inspired in a more personal and relatable way; and to celebrate the unique power, perspective and passion that women bring into every room they enter. Specifically acknowledging the contributions, triumphs and tenacity of women during Women’s History Month is important to me because as my career has evolved I have come to understand that what sets me apart, what is different about me—including my being a woman—isn’t shameful or regrettable; it’s actually my superpower, and it can fuel my success if I let it.

Are there any leaders, activists, writers/artists, professionals, or family members who have inspired you?

My mother is my biggest inspiration. I grew up in rural Southwest Florida in a small town with a majority population of day-laborers who came from Mexico and South America to work seasonal jobs on the large tomato and strawberry farms in the area. An elementary school teacher for more than 30 years in a small public school near those farms, my mother taught hundreds of children to read, many of whom were the first members of their families to acquire that skill. Her guidance extended beyond her students to their parents and siblings, making a significant impact through literacy. She was a single parent raising two daughters and at times, she worked three different jobs just to ensure we had what we needed. Schoolwork always came first, but she made sure there was also time and resources for music and dance, acting and student government, church and friends. She lives with me and my family now, and when the hours at Cleary get long, I often think of how hard she always worked, how grateful I am for the example she set of caring for family and community, and how grateful I am for a career that is both fulfilling and allows me to care for her, my family and my community now.