Her Story
About Ellie
Ellie Nam is a junior at Fordham University with about 3 years of professional experience in the legal industry. She serves as a Legal Intern at an estate planning law firm in Long Island, where she assists with guardianship and litigation matters, helps with file preparation, and shadows attorneys during court proceedings. She is also the president of Fordham's political consulting club. Through the club, she reaches out to local clients in the Bronx area, providing campaign research, donor research, and opposition research, as well as marketing efforts to engage young voters and political participants. Previously, she volunteered at Family Touch, a small immigration services non-profit in Little Fair, New Jersey, where she earned the Presidential Volunteer Award from AmeriCorps. Her experiences have cultivated a passion for using language and advocacy to provide tangible help to others. Her long-term plan is to become an attorney, preferably an international lawyer and/or criminal law, while staying closely connected to the people she represents.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ellie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would most definitely attribute my success to my mom and dad
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I asked one of my mentors if he would rather be feared or loved in the workplace. He told me he'd rather be feared—not necessarily out of fear of punishment, but because he wanted the people he worked with to care about earning his respect and not want to let him down. If people only work hard because someone is watching, the standard belongs to the leader. If they hold themselves to that standard when no one is watching, it becomes their own. It definitely makes me think about what kind of leader I want to be—in my club and in my personal life.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It can be uncomfortable trying to get your foot in the door, because you're often waiting for a feeling of readiness. In any case, you need to keep reminding yourself that being ready isn't a feeling, it's a decision. Sometimes what you need is to bite off more than you can chew, and learn how to chew it.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Curiosity is one of my strongest qualities; I'm not afraid to ask questions. I also place a great deal of value on loyalty, but I also believe loyalty coexists with honesty. I respect people who are willing to offer difficult truths over comforting ones. This, in turn, builds trust.
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