From Boyle Heights to Law Firm Partner: Sam Hernandez Ortega’s Story of Grit, Grace, & Perseverance

03/06/2025 35 min

Listen "From Boyle Heights to Law Firm Partner: Sam Hernandez Ortega’s Story of Grit, Grace, & Perseverance"

Episode Synopsis

In this episode of  @empoweredwithgina  Gina Zapanta sits down with Sam Hernandez Ortega — fellow partner at Alder Law, and Latina attorney who defied every expectation.Born and raised in Boyle Heights to parents who never finished high school, Sam didn’t know a single lawyer growing up. But after watching the OJ trial as a child, she decided she was going to be one—no matter what. Sam opens up about failing the bar exam, overcoming a traumatic brain injury in college, and navigating the legal world as a woman of color with zero connections.Gina and Sam also get real about what it meant to be promoted to partner while pregnant—and the backlash they heard from other women. This conversation is a masterclass in grit, leadership, and rewriting the rules for what success looks like in law—and in life.For every woman who’s ever been underestimated, this episode is for you.Interested in joining Empowered with Gina as a member? Check out membership opportunities here:https://www.empoweredwithgina.com/empowered-collective-membership Follow Gina on Social: IG: https://www.instagram.com/ginazapanta_/?hl=enTT: https://www.tiktok.com/@gina.zapanta

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