We were lucky to catch up with Jodie Shihadeh recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jodie, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
After being a partner at another entertainment law firm for 9 years, it became time for me to start a new professional chapter, so I started my own firm in 2020 at the height of the global pandemic. This was certainly the biggest professional risk to date in my career, but I knew this was the right step by trusting my intuition. I trusted my strong relationships with my clients, I trusted the value and strength of my work, and I trusted that I had the temerity and vision to start and run a modern new law firm. It was the most anxiety-ridden time of my life, but also the most rewarding because all of my biggest clients came with me to the new firm.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a music entertainment lawyer and represent artists, producers, influencers, models, and other talent in the entertainment industry along with various record labels and media companies. I founded and run an entertainment law firm called Shihadeh Law P.C., which I started at the peak of the pandemic in 2020 after practicing for years as a partner at another entertainment law firm.
In my work, I am extremely passionate about growing our clients’ businesses both as talent and as entrepreneurs. I encourage my clients to “think big” when it comes to how they view the trajectory of their careers. Once the goals are established, we focus on pursuing opportunities and entering deals in the short term that establish the foundation to meet the goals set for the long term. I’m very focused on helping our clients to accumulate wealth from multi-layered revenue streams. The vast majority of my clients are members of minority groups, so I’m extremely mindful of the importance and long-term effect of building multi-generational wealth with them.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1) Persistence – Don’t take “no” for an answer – it might be a “no” for right now but don’t let that deter you. If it’s something you really want, keep focused on it, and plot the right path to achieve it, which might ultimately require a lot of regrouping and re-strategizing along the way.
2) Know the market and apply your skillset – A key element to making my business profitable from day one was knowing and understanding the quickly changing market and expectations of lawyers at the time I started my firm. I knew that established entertainment law firms were either significantly downsizing their office space or getting rid of it entirely, and this was quickly becoming acceptable to clients. No one was traveling for meetings and networking events were virtual. As a result, the capital needed to start my new firm was next to nothing and I was able to take advantage of that during the first year as I built my business. I used my previous experience as a managing partner to make decisions for my own business that laid the groundwork for growth. I now have both a macro and micro understanding of how the business runs and can make certain decisions to ensure it runs efficiently while scaling.
3) Become an expert in your craft – The entertainment industry is booming and constantly changing. As an entertainment attorney, I need to stay up to date with all of the developments occurring throughout the industry so that I can more powerfully and artfully advocate for my clients. I conscientiously look at a standard contract with new eyes while keeping in mind the current changes in the industry. This requires knowing what terms are typically standard, understanding my client’s contributions and bargaining power, and being up to date on new trends in the business so that I can incorporate all of it into my negotiations.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
At this particular time in my life, I’m managing a fast-growing law firm that’s dedicated to servicing its clients’ needs at the highest level, while also personally embarking on a new chapter of parenthood. Within the first year of starting my business, I gave birth to my first child. Being a new mother with an infant, while also running a quickly growing business (in a pandemic) and dealing with the throes of postpartum recovery have all been challenges that few of my competitors (if any) have faced. I write this currently pregnant with our second child and facing all of the same challenges (if not more due to the growth of the firm’s team and clientele) of how to run a business, service clients, while pregnant, and then navigating the physical and emotional recovery of giving birth. As both an entrepreneur and a parent, the traditional “9-5” day doesn’t exist. The work shift and parenting shift have to oscillate – I structure my day so that I can achieve everything I need and want to, both professionally and personally.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shihadehlaw.com
- Instagram: @shihadehlaw
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shihadeh-law-p-c
