BIV is recognizing Alexandra Mitretodis, partner at Fasken, and 39 other exceptional business leaders as part of the 2023 Forty Under 40 Awards cohort.
Longer Q&As with each recipient are included in BIV's annual Forty Under 40 Magazine (out in print Dec. 11). Award winners will be celebrated at an awards gala Feb. 7, 2024.
This profile may have been edited for length and clarity.
What career highlight are you most proud of?
Making partner at Fasken in the commercial litigation department was a huge career milestone for me since I respect and admire the partners I work with a tremendous amount.
What was your toughest business or professional decision?
Deciding what city to make home. I am from Toronto but decided to do my summer articles at Fasken in Vancouver because I wanted to try living on the West Coast, and I wanted to work with some international arbitrators based in Vancouver. I continued choosing to live and work in Vancouver until eventually it became home for me, but it was not an easy decision to decide to live far away from my family and friends.
How do you lead?
Leaders are most effective when the people they are leading become successful. The book Radical Candor by Kim Scott embodies the leadership style I strive to embody: Create a culture of compassionate candor; build a cohesive team; and achieve results collaboratively. I try to strike a balance between caring about the individuals I work with personally while also challenging them directly to help them grow. An ideal workplace for me is where we do great work and we enjoy doing that work together.
What is the biggest lesson you've learned in business?
Be open to feedback. People who consistently take feedback better are more successful in their lives and work. Being open to feedback allows for learning and growth. Being resistant to it allows problems to fester and escalate, and can ultimately destroy relationships.
Best piece of advice ever received?
Your career is a marathon, not a sprint, so you need to pace yourself and ride out the tougher moments.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Courage is the root of change. Do not hold yourself back and do not subscribe to others' opinions of what you can and cannot achieve. Design your own future.
What's left to accomplish?
So much! I want to keep growing my class action and commercial arbitration practice until I am recognized as a leader in those fields. I also have aspirations of taking on more leadership positions inside and outside of the firm.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or acknowledge?
I am grateful to the senior partners I work with at Fasken who have coached and championed me over my career. I am also thankful to the lawyers at other firms and independent arbitrators who have mentored me and recommended me for opportunities. Finally, I have been extremely lucky to work with clients who trust me and make the work rewarding.
Read Q&As with all 40 award recipients here. Tickets to the 2023 Forty Under 40 Awards gala on Feb. 7 are now available.
