The legal landscape of 2024 is a dynamic one. From the ever-evolving world of technology to ongoing debates around social justice, impactful leaders are rising to the challenge.
Among them, Samantha-Anne Horwitch Nadolny stands out as a leader to watch in 2024. She is a beacon for aspiring lawyers and a driving force within the legal community. We, at EliteX, are honored to introduce her as one of the most impactful leaders in the Legal industry in 2024.
Samantha-Anne Horwitch Nadolny | Vice President, Associate General Counsel | SELECT WATER SOLUTIONS
Remarkable Journey in Legal Leadership
Samantha-Anne Horwitch Nadolny is the Vice President and Associate General Counsel for Select Water Solutions, Inc. It is a publicly traded water infrastructure and specialized chemistry company based in Houston, Texas.
Growing up, Nadolny was inspired to pursue a career in law by two legal role models: her uncle Bill and Jack McCoy from Law and Order. She admired both as the smartest and coolest figures, even though only one was real. Her uncle would share fascinating stories about his legal career and judicial experiences, sparking her interest in the field from a young age.
Throughout her career, Nadolny has achieved numerous significant leadership milestones. Her involvement with the Houston Young Lawyers Association (HYLA) and Houston Young Lawyers Foundation (HYLF) has been particularly impactful. When Nadolny joined HYLA, she attended a meeting with the simple hope of meeting some great people. Unexpectedly, she ended up chairing that committee for eight years.
Under her leadership, this large legal charitable organization now provides $50,000 in grants to local area charities annually. Nadolny says, “Being asked to step into the position was a huge moment and a significant one for not only my legal career but also my philanthropic ventures.”
Navigating Legal Trends
Nadolny employs numerous strategies to stay abreast of the latest trends and developments in the legal field. This task is particularly challenging for in-house counsel due to the diverse array of areas they need to be knowledgeable about.
Nadolny heavily relies on her network of outside counsel. She greatly appreciates the digests, alerts, and summaries they provide, which help her to expand her knowledge. She says, “Having a network or trusted advisors who can help supplement your practice is so key and something no in-house counsel can be successful without.”
Embracing Technology
Technology is the way of the future and it’s everywhere. Keeping up with technological trends is essential to avoid being left behind. Nadolny embraces technology for its potential to simplify jobs and improve lives.
She adds, “I think that as long as you are careful and knowledgeable about your technology, it can greatly impact productivity for a legal department. It is gratifying to see the improvements in day-to-day operations that come as a result.”
Nadolny’s Approach
Nadolny balances the demands of leadership with maintaining her well-being and work-life harmony. Notably, she avoids the term ‘balance,’ as it suggests an unrealistic equal distribution of time and effort.
Instead, Nadolny aims for work-life integration, where leadership responsibilities and personal life coexist and support each other. She emphasizes the importance of efficient planning, proper scheduling, and realistic time commitments to avoid burnout.
“Planning things out to ensure efficiency, proper scheduling, and realistic time commitments is key to ensuring your workload and life load doesn’t burn you out,” she says.
Refocusing on Shared Goals
In team disagreements, the crucial step is to step back and ensure everyone recognizes that they are collectively working towards the same objective. Often, it’s not the result causing friction, but rather the differing paths to achieve it, causing individuals to lose sight of the desired outcome.
Nadolny says, “By diffusing the situation and refocusing on the end goal, teams can align on the success point they are all striving for. This alignment allows for a thorough investigation into what factors led to deviations from the shared goal along the way.”
Rising Above the Challenges
Nadolny’s biggest challenge in her career was that it rarely started. A week before she was set to begin law school, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and required an emergency craniotomy. For Nadolny, law school and a legal career became a distant dream after this ordeal.
Nadolny adds, “Fortunately, I had a wonderful medical team who ensured I had a successful surgery and recovery, and I returned the next year to start law school and continue the pursuit to have a legal career.”
A Step Ahead
In the future, Nadolny hopes to be someone who inspires other attorneys. She wants them to see someone who was never afraid to pursue their dream but also wasn’t holding back from living their life.
She adds, “We are too often told that “you can’t do it all,” but I wholeheartedly disagree. I hope that I can be a mentor and inspiration for other attorneys who want a career and a fulfilled life in whatever method they define that to be.”
Nadolny’s Word for the Wise
In order to be a leader in the legal industry, you have to be a really good lawyer first. It’s the foundation of any growth in the profession and sometimes gets glossed over when people focus on the end game. Ensure you are excellent first and THEN work on your leadership skills. Surround yourself with people who set good examples of how to be a great lawyer and have led you to do that.