There's no right time, only "your time." Life throws curve balls, but you can reach your goals at 25 or 55. As Miley Cyrus said, "It's the climb."
Noelia Smith, CAP · In Her Own Words
In Conversation
Noelia Smith for Bold. Brilliant. Unstoppable.
Read the transcript
Noelia Smith, CAP: Speaker: Noelia Smith, Administration and Operations ManagerWhat does being an Influential Woman mean to you?Noelia Smith: What does being an influential woman mean to me? Well, it's very important to me for lots of reasons. The first most important reason would be my two daughters. I have two daughters that I want to set an example for. And as cliche as it may sound, hard work. Dedication is the way to go. Not everybody has the money for a top-notch education. Not everybody has the means to get there. But one thing that everyone does have is the and the determination. I want my daughters to realize that whatever they want to be in life, if they put in the hard work, And, do what they need to do to get there. They can reach their goals, and there's nothing that would stop in their way. They can have it all. They can have the American dream, as they say. They can have the children, the career, the vacation, and the life that they want, whatever makes them happy. Being a woman today means that we can get out there in the men's world and we can do better, and we can create jobs and opportunities for more women in the workplace. The world isn't a male dominated place anymore, and it's because of women like myself and all the wonderful women that share this platform with me.What's one piece of advice you would give to younger women chasing their dreams?Noelia Smith: Hi, my name is Noelia Smith, and I'm the administration operations manager at Michael Best. What piece of advice would I give to younger women chasing their dreams? As cliche as it sounds, don't stop. Don't give up. Unfortunately, I feel that a lot of people, especially in this generation, they want the quick scheme, the quick dream, the quick money, everything fast, immediate gratification, if you will. I think, unfortunately, social media and our instant pictures and everything makes it where we want everything right now. We want it yesterday. There's no more waiting for those pictures to be developed 3 weeks at the pharmacy when you pick them up to see what you look like. And I would say the same thing with your dreams. Nothing is overnight. Unless you win the lottery, it's not gonna happen. You have to put in the hard work. Whether that means going to school, whether that, whether that means just working in your trade and in your field, starting at the bottom and working your way up, putting in the long hours, putting in the grind, putting in the tough. Times that you need to do. And knowing that while you're climbing this corporate ladder, as they say, or whatever ladder that is for your career, you're gonna fall off the ladder. You're gonna fall off the ladder, you're gonna get scuffed up, you're gonna get hurt, and guess what, you gotta get up and you gotta get back on that ladder again. Because the one way to not have your dreams is definitely to stop. So, chasing your dreams is definitely something that just has to happen. And you have to continue to chase that dream, even once you reach the dream, cause once you get there, guess what? You've got to keep it. In order to keep it, you gotta keep putting in the hard work. It gets a little easier. Your life will get a little easier, a little simpler, maybe not as hard, maybe not sweating as Much to do it, but you still have to continue to chase that dream on a consistent basis or it will slip away. So that is probably the best piece of advice that I would give any young woman trying to achieve her goals and the same advice that I gave to my two daughters whom I love and want them to achieve, achieve their goals that they're chasing.
Her Story
About Noelia
Noelia Smith, CAP, is a seasoned legal operations and administration professional based in Denver, Colorado, with over 25 years of experience in law firm management. She currently serves as Administration and Operations Manager at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, where she oversees the daily operations of the Denver and Broomfield offices. Her leadership ensures consistency, efficiency, and coordination across multiple locations while supporting attorneys and legal staff in delivering high-quality client service. Noelia is also an active member of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA), reflecting her deep commitment to professional excellence in legal management. Her career began at the ground level of the legal field, starting as a receptionist and file clerk before advancing into roles as a legal assistant and certified paralegal. Over time, she built a comprehensive understanding of law firm operations by working across nearly every non-attorney position in the industry. This hands-on experience shaped her practical, people-centered leadership style and gave her a strong foundation in workflow optimization, team coordination, and office administration. She has held key leadership roles in firms across Florida, including managing multi-office operations in Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville which eventually led her to Denver. Noelia’s professional philosophy is rooted in collaboration, adaptability, and servant leadership. She is known for stepping into any role necessary to support her teams and maintain smooth operations, whether assisting with administrative tasks or guiding strategic office initiatives. She holds certifications including the Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) designation and a legal assistant certification from Florida International University. Recognized by colleagues for her fairness, discipline, and ability to build strong workplace culture, Noelia continues to contribute significantly to the legal field through both operational leadership and mentorship.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Noelia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mother. She's 90 years old right now, and she came here from Cuba with a 4th grade education and built her business from the ground up. She instilled in us that if you want something that's there, you just have to work for it and get it. Don't let anything stand in your way, and that's exactly what I did. She taught me early on that you just have to work for it. That's how I got to where I am now - being in Denver managing a multi-state firm is where I wanted to be. I've always wanted to manage a multi-state firm, and my goal would be to eventually manage a global or national firm that has offices in other countries, but for right now, I'm really happy, and if I retire here, I will be very happy with my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received is to make sure you're not the smartest one in the room. If you are, then you're in the wrong room. As cliche as it sounds, it is true. These situations should be opportunities to learn. I've been in different types of meetings, heard unfamiliar words, and acted like I understood everything. No one would be the wiser. That's one of the things I try to tell people all the time. You don't ever have to say no, or I don't know how to do this, or what is it? Just say, okay, you know what, I don't have that information, let me get right back to you, and go figure it out. With all the technology at our fingertips now, Google, AI, Copilot, and everything else, just figure it out. This literally just happened to me a couple weeks ago when I was reviewing evaluations for a legal assistant position. One of the attorneys said the woman was a polyglot, and I had no idea what it meant. I had to look it up - it's somebody who knows multiple languages. Now I know the word, now I'll be able to use it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say don't be afraid to start from the bottom. Unfortunately, we all know that college degrees are important, education is very important, and I would never steer anybody away from it. But, it's not for everyone, and let's just be honest, education is expensive. So, I would say you've got to get your foot in the door somehow, and that means sometimes starting at the bottom. Maybe you don't necessarily want to be the receptionist, a file clerk, or a runner, but if you're trying to break in, and not just in my field, but I think in any field, then you have to be ready and willing to put in the work, and just know that at the end of that, you'll get your reward, you'll reach that goal. Unfortunately, I think sometimes people want to come in at the top already, without experience, without the knowledge, without putting in the work, and sometimes that's just a little harder. You can't always do that. Most of the time, that's not the way it works.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity in my field is growth. The legal profession offers a strong career path for those looking to build a stable and rewarding career, even without a traditional four-year degree. It provides opportunities to learn, gain experience, and take on new challenges without requiring extensive hours outside of work. Success often depends on choosing the right environment—one that offers room to grow and develop. Larger firms may provide more structured advancement paths, but even starting in a smaller firm can be a valuable stepping stone. The experience gained can open doors to broader opportunities over time.
The biggest challenge in my field right now is achieving a sustainable work-life balance. It’s about finding an approach that supports both the needs of the business and the well-being of staff. Expectations around flexibility have evolved, especially with remote work and newer workplace trends, which makes it important to stay thoughtful and adaptable in how we support our teams.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Balance is the most important value to me. I come from a time when the expectation was to always be working, no matter what. Over time, I’ve learned that approach isn’t sustainable, especially when you’re responsible for both your work and your life outside of it. My experience as a single parent, working multiple jobs to support my family, reinforced how critical it is to take care of yourself. You have to be in the right headspace to show up effectively for others.
In my role, I support a team of almost 100 people across two offices. That requires more than managing work, it requires empathy. People bring different challenges, responsibilities, and pressures with them every day. Understanding that, and treating people as individuals, is essential to leading well.
One of the most meaningful compliments I’ve received was from an assistant who said she felt seen and valued as a person, not just an employee. That’s what I strive for. When people feel understood and supported, they’re more engaged, more motivated, and better able to do their best work.
Empathy isn’t separate from performance; it’s a key part of it.
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