Welcome to our WBE Spotlight Series! Today, we’re thrilled to shine the spotlight on Kristen Prinz, Founder and Managing Partner of The Prinz Law Firm. Join us as we delve into Kristen’s entrepreneurial journey and uncover the driving force behind her success in the legal industry.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I started my firm out of my home office, with the belief that my work should always be consistent with my values. I have experienced the toxic culture that can come with some of the larger firms. I didn’t like that environment, so I created a firm where everyone feels supported and has opportunities to learn and grow.
Looking back, I see I was naïve enough to think I could be a better boss and provide a better service than where I worked in the past. The service part was easier given my background, but I thought I knew how to be good because I had experienced so much bad. I have learned over the years that being a good leader means continuously working on being a better person and treating your employees as if they are your best clients (which should include all of your clients).
What is a business milestone or achievement that you are most proud of?
The firm just recently celebrated 15 years and I am incredibly proud of how far we have come in that amount of time. Unlike many firms, we have the privilege of never hurting for clients and we enjoy a consistent pipeline of referrals. The early and persistent business development I engaged in has enabled me to build a multi-million dollar business that is continuing to expand our service offerings. Our team has built a steady workplace investigations and culture audit practice that helps businesses avoid liability and create healthy working environments.
What challenges have you faced as a woman business owner, and how did you overcome them?
A lot of what I have to overcome is everything that comes with being a woman in law. Being a woman in law means being consistently under-estimated and having to work harder than your male colleagues to be heard and respected. But being underestimated is the greatest gift an attorney can receive. We yield power through bias. When we get fierce it’s shocking. When we call out bad behavior, it’s even more so. I am constantly fighting this battle and I do so by stepping up to the plate and speaking out against this kind of behavior. Change can only happen if we push forward.
What advice would you give to aspiring women entrepreneurs?
I once listened to a speaker who said “we overestimate what we can do in a year but we underestimate what we can do in 5 years.” It really stuck with me. I think the best advice I can give is to set achievable goals for yourself. You can’t get somewhere if you don’t know where you’re going.
The Prinz Law Firm
For over 15 years, the Prinz Law Firm is an employment law practice serving both employees and employers. They handle everything from negotiating equity agreements and severance packages to litigating harassment and discrimination claims to training businesses on workplace policies. The Prinz law Firm stands out from other firms in that they conduct workplace investigations for businesses and help them form positive workplace cultures through their unique culture audits. Their experienced attorneys are dedicated to tenacious representation every step of the way, and take pride in cultivating client relationships marked by trust, professionalism, creativity, and flexibility.
Set achievable goals for yourself. You can’t get somewhere if you don’t know where you’re going.