Her Story
About Margaret
Margaret Brown is a seasoned attorney with 35 years of experience, focusing her practice on estate planning. By training, she is a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan and a specialized notary, holding membership in the Michigan Bar Association and the National Notary Association. Her professional journey includes serving as the executive director of three nonprofits and working with the state of Michigan in real estate, where she collaborated with developers and contractors to establish programs promoting women-owned and minority-owned businesses. After retiring, she became an author in 2022 with the publication of her memoir and has pursued her passion as a visual artist and painter, with her work featured in exhibitions. She is self-taught in areas such as real estate, probate law, EEO, Fair Housing, affirmative action, civil rights law, and painting, in addition to her Juris Doctor degree. As a three-time breast cancer survivor, she volunteers extensively with Gilda's Club.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Margaret
01What do you attribute your success to?
The sheer need to survive with unshakable determination while maintaining integrity, even when facing temptations and difficult circumstances after losing my mother young and raising myself.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Always do the work to the best of your ability because you never know who's watching you. Opportunities came from people observing me when I didn't know I was being watched, leading to promotions and mentorship.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Begin with the end in mind. When young, focus on the here and now but also dream and plan 10 or 20 years down the line. Analyze how decisions now will impact you possibly 20 years from now.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Coming out of retirement to correct widespread misinformation about estate planning, asset management, and related topics spread on social media and the internet, helping consumers understand actual current law rather than what they think it should be.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, loyalty, integrity, and fun. These values are built into my professional identity and the integrity between what I believe and how I behave.
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