I launched a special blog series to honor and champion other women in business. This is a companion service to a podcast that launched in 2020.
My intention is to share insights of lessons learned by businesswomen and also elevate their services to the greater community. The goal is to inform and inspire other women with ideas in order to empower them to grow their own business ventures.
Jennifer Hoopis D’Ambra is an attorney based in Rhode Island and has been active in law for a couple of decades. She is a risk-taker who is also very connected with her family life.
1. What is your business?
My business is Hoopis and Hoopis attorneys at law. I am law partners with my father Harry J. Hoopis, Esquire. The focus of my practice is in the Family Court.
2. How many years have you been in business?
I have been in business for over 24 years
3. Why did you pick this trade in particular?
I was exposed to the practice of all my whole life. But, my interest in United States history, constitutional law and politics led to my initial decisions with regard to my college and law school education. Everything grew from there.
4. What are the top three reasons why a business owner should invest in your service/product?
I think that the three things that distinguish me from other Family Court attorneys:
1. Responsiveness
2. Knowledge and experience
3. My goal for my clients to maintain their dignity and have a true understanding of the details of their legal matter in Family Court
5. If you could go back to your younger self, what kind of advice would you give yourself about your pursuit to create your own business?
I would say don’t wait! You can always begin planting the seeds of your business even if you are engaged other career obligations to an employer. Start small by saving, planning, meeting people all the time.
6. If you could go 5 years in the future, what do you think your future self would share with you?
Not to sweat the small stuff
7. Who influenced you – professionally?
My father
8. When was your moment of realizing, “you know what, I got this!”?
A client said he saw a friend at court. His friend said to him… your lawyer has command of the courtroom.
9. How do you keep your momentum going to keep a healthy pace as a business owner?
Keep changing. Identifying what works and what doesn’t for me personally and for business revenue.
10. How do you celebrate your wins?
A nice meal with family. Usually to discuss a goal met or feeling good about a particular case) without breaking rules of confidentiality!)
11. What advice would you share with someone who is thinking about, or just beginning, managing their own business?
Treat it like a business. Keep good records. Make a business plan. Save money to invest in your business.
12. What surprised you the most as a business owner?
That it becomes part of whom you are. As opposed to being just a job.
13. How do you describe your entrepreneurial spirit?
Positive force with goal of growth simultaneous with constant improvements.
14. How do you feel about the word ambition?
I always thinking blind ambition when someone says ambition. Leaves me with a negative feeling. I like drive or goal oriented as adjectives over ambitious.
15. Are you more of a every little bit counts kind of person or an all-or-nothing kind of person?
All or nothing
16. Can you share a ‘messy middle’ story of us? A time when things were not looking or feeling good and how did you move through it?
Like Most mothers who are entrepreneurs I often felt I was leaving work to be with kids or leaving kids to go to work and neither felt right. I would cry in the parking lot at court before work. I talked to mother woman who were older with older kids. Gave me great perspective.
17. Using a scale of 1 (scardy cat) and 10 (*) as far as taking risks, where would you put yourself?
7.5
(*) Debbie Lawler – often called the ‘female version of Evel Knievel since she broke his motorcycle record: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debbie_Lawler
Debbie Lawler (born December 13, 1952) is an American motorcyclist. Lawler is most noted as the first female motorcyclist to beat Evel Knievel’s record.[1][2]
18. How much time do you devote to professional development/learning each week or month?
5 hours a week on average
19. Any suggestions on resources: books, podcasts, online learning, blogs + tools?
I usually recommend for my clients to ask their lawyer not a blog! For my Professional friends, I recommend reading more short articles all the time as opposed to having one book going at a time. Too busy to gather a range of information in depth. Then read books about what peaked your interest.
20. What is your personal / professional vision?
I hope to change with the times and be appealing to the family court clients who are parents of younger children who are now likely younger than me).
21. Five things to know about you:
What is your favorite flower? Peony
Coffee or tea? Coffee and tea
Tahiti or Paris? Paris
Are you an intention setter or goal setter? Goal getter
Favorite quote? God only gives you what you can handle.
Learn more about Jennifer at www.hoopisfamilylaw.com.
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