Having joined the National Association of Women Business Owners back in 2013, I have experienced several different chairwomen for our national board of directors, and they all bring various skills and useful perspectives to help move the organization forward. However, watching Lisa Coppola lead us throughout the 2023-2024 term was truly inspirational. Her poise, professionalism, ability to concisely communicate impactful information in a digestible manner, empathy, care and commitment to protecting people whose rights or dignity have been threatened are all such powerful assets. As Molly Gimmel once said, “NAWBO gets the leader it needs at the time it needs her”, and we are all the better for Lisa’s service; yet, I’m also so honored by Lisa’s friendship. She truly cares about other human beings, whether members of her Coppola Firm team, clients, fellow NAWBO members, other business owners or anyone in her community, which is integral to the inspiring why behind starting her company and her nuggets of wisdom for others. Enjoy this peek inside the mind and heart of this absolute rock star!

**About Lisa Coppola**

**Lisa Coppola** is the founder and managing partner of the multi-million-dollar Coppola Law Firm in Buffalo, NY, a past chairwoman on the board of directors for the National Association of Women Business Owners in Washington, DC, and a longtime advocate for women as well as other small business owners. She currently serves on the board of directors for the SPCA Serving Erie County and is a frequent speaker on topics ranging from law to leadership.
Lisa’s company, The Coppola Firm, is a proudly woman-owned, New York State-based law firm that secures top-dollar results for individuals who have been catastrophically injured, counsels businesses on compliance with the law, and helps businesses start up and succeed. The practice also includes employment and labor guidance for employers, training for employers and employees (at coppolatrainings.com), commercial litigation, commercial real estate transactions, and representation of charter schools.

First Friday Female Founder Feature:

Lisa A. Coppola, Esq.

How would you describe the company you founded and its products?

The Coppola Firm is a woman-owned law firm based in New York State. We work with businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, professionals, and individuals.

Our work includes employment law, business counseling, litigation, dispute resolution, and personal injury matters. We also provide workplace training through CoppolaTrainings.com, including sexual harassment prevention, respectful workplace training, and training for managers and supervisors.

We’re serious about doing excellent legal work, but we also believe in speaking plainly. Clients usually come to us because something important is at stake. Our job is to give them clear advice, help them understand their options, and advocate for them when advocacy is needed.

Why did you start your company?

I wanted to build the kind of law firm where I would want to work and where I would feel comfortable sending someone I cared about.

I had practiced for many years and learned from some very good lawyers, but I wanted the freedom to create a firm that reflected my own values. I wanted excellent work, strong advocacy, honesty, kindness, and practical judgment to be part of the culture from the beginning.

I also wanted to prove that a woman-owned law firm in Buffalo, New York could grow, compete, and succeed without trying to imitate every traditional law firm that came before it.

What has been the most rewarding part of your journey in founding this company?

Watching people grow has been the most rewarding part.

I’ve seen lawyers become more confident, take on difficult matters, develop judgment, and become leaders. I’ve watched staff members stretch into new roles and become essential to the firm. I’ve also seen clients build stronger businesses and get through very difficult moments.

Starting a business is hard. There are plenty of days when the problems are all yours. But, then, you look around and realize you’ve helped create opportunities for people and built something that matters to clients. That makes it worthwhile.

About what are you most proud?

Personally, I’m most proud of my two daughters. Raising them as a single mother by choice has been the greatest privilege of my life. Watching them thrive as young adults is my greatest joy.

Professionally, I’m proud of the firm and the people who have helped build it. We have a very talented team. We work hard, tell clients the truth, and treat people decently, including when the circumstances are difficult.

I’m also proud that younger lawyers and women in business can see a woman owning and leading a successful law firm. I didn’t see much of that when I was starting out.

Are you naturally organized, was it a skill you learned or is it something with which you regularly struggle, and what tips or tools do you use to stay your most organized?

I’m fairly organized by nature, but running a business taught me that being personally organized isn’t enough. You need systems, and other people need to understand those systems too.

My calendar is probably my most important tool. If something matters, it goes on the calendar. I also keep lists and try to identify the few things that truly need my attention that day.

Delegating has been a learned skill, and I still work at it. Like many business owners, I used to think it was faster to do things myself. Sometimes, it’s faster in the moment, but it’s not a good way to build a strong organization. People need real responsibility and the chance to figure things out.

I also try not to handle the same item over and over. Read it, decide what needs to happen, and either do it, delegate it, schedule it, or get rid of it.

Who’s the one person who changed. your life and why?

I have to give two answers: my daughters.

Becoming their mother changed everything. It changed how I thought about love, responsibility, ambition, fear, and what it means to build a good life.

They also taught me that there’s rarely a perfect time to make a major decision. Sometimes, you decide what matters, take the leap, and work out the details along the way.

What words of wisdom would you have for someone who is overwhelmed with staying organized and / or productive?

Stop trying to fix everything at once. And, as my wise life coach, Nancy Rizzo, taught me: take three deep breaths once an hour.

Start by deciding what really matters. Not everything on your list is equally important, and some things probably don’t need to be on the list at all.

Then, pick the next actual step and do it. Not “work on the project.” Make the phone call. Send the email. Draft the first paragraph. Put the appointment on the calendar.

I’d also say that being busy isn’t the same thing as being productive. A packed day can still be a day spent avoiding the most important task.

Do you use technology to help stay productive or organized? If so, what’s your favorite program, app or tech tool?

Yes, constantly. Our firm uses Google Workspace, Clio, Zoom, and a number of other tools.

Google Calendar is probably the one I rely on most. It’s simple, but it keeps my life from coming apart.

How do you feel about work / life efficiency or integration in your life, including any tips or challenges for managing the personal and professional commitments in your life?

I don’t think there’s a perfect work-life balance, especially when you own a business. Some weeks the firm takes more of you. Other times, family or life has to come first.

I think integration is more realistic than balance. My work is important to me, but it isn’t all of me. I’m also a mom, a friend, a traveler, a gardener, a dog owner, and someone who occasionally needs to be left alone with a book or a view of the water.

One thing I try to remember is that you have to protect time for the people and things that matter. There will always be another email, another problem, and another item on the list.

About what causes are you most passionate?

I care deeply about the rule of law, democracy, equal access to justice, and protecting people whose rights or dignity are under threat. You’ll see me at rallies holding my “silence is not an option” sign.

I’m also passionate about supporting women business owners and creating opportunities for women in law and business. My work with the National Association of Women Business Owners [NAWBO] showed me just how much women entrepreneurs contribute to their employees, families, communities, and the economy.

I also care about mentoring newer lawyers, the SPCA Serving Erie County, and supporting Roswell Park through platelet donations.

Those causes may seem different, but the common thread is responsibility. I believe we should use our experience, influence, and resources to help other people – and animals – when we can.

What have you found to be the most effective way to relax after a long day or super long week?

Water helps. I’m fortunate to have a small place on Lake Ontario, one of our amazing Great Lakes, and being there changes my perspective almost immediately.

I also love working in the garden, walking my black lab, Luca, traveling, and having a good meal with my daughters or friends.

And, although I don’t always succeed, putting my phone and laptop somewhere out of reach helps, too.

What is your favorite author / book?

One book that has stayed with me is Brené Brown’s Daring Greatly. Her central message, that vulnerability is not weakness but a form of courage, resonated deeply with me. It was the first book I’d highlighted since law school. And I return to it again and again.

That idea about vulnerability applies to leadership, business, relationships, and life. It takes courage to make difficult decisions, admit when you don’t know something, ask for help, take a risk, and allow yourself to be fully seen. The book is a good reminder that meaningful work and real connection require us to step into uncertainty rather than wait until we feel completely safe or perfectly prepared.

What are your favorite inspirational quote?

“We’re all just walking each other home,” a quote often attributed to Ram Dass. To me, it’s a reminder that we’re all human, we’re all carrying something, and none of us gets through life entirely on our own.

At our firm, we have a saying: “Just like you, except with a law degree.” That matters to us. Being a lawyer may give us knowledge and experience, but it doesn’t place us above the people we serve. Our job is to meet people where they are, help them navigate difficult moments, and walk alongside them for part of the journey.

What is your go-to accessory?

Bracelets. I almost always have several stacked on my wrist. Some are simply beautiful, while others have personal meaning or remind me of a particular person, place, or moment. Together, they feel like part of me.

What are the fundamentals of your beauty routine?

Sunscreen, moisturizer, a little makeup, and lipstick. I admire people with elaborate routines, but I’m not one of them.

What is your favorite food?

Italian food. Good olive oil, crusty bread, some cheese, and a glass of wine are hard to beat.

What movie could you watch on endless loop?

Letters to Juliet. It’s romantic without taking itself too seriously, and I love the idea that it’s never too late to go back, take a chance, or find the life you were meant to have. The beautiful Italian scenery doesn’t hurt either.

What is your favorite place that you have visited?

Italy. It’s hard to choose one place, but Florence and Tuscany are especially meaningful to me.

I love the history, art, food, landscape, and pace of life. There’s something wonderful about the way beauty is part of ordinary daily life there.

Becoming an Italian citizen has made that connection even more personal.

Of the locally-owned and -operated establishments in the place you currently live, which are your top 3 favorites and why?

Cup of Communitea because I love tea and can happily spend far too long smelling my way through its wall of loose-leaf varieties. It’s friendly, knowledgeable, and a wonderful example of the kind of locally-owned business that gives a community its personality.

Farmers & Artisans in Snyder because it brings together so many things I value: local food, small producers, quality, and community. It’s the kind of place that reminds you how much talent and hard work exist right here in Western New York.

And Symposium Wine Bar in Lancaster is a newer favorite. It’s comfortable and unpretentious, with interesting wines, terrific small plates, and the kind of atmosphere that makes it easy to settle in and enjoy the people you’re with.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

Teleportation. I’d love to have dinner in Florence and still make it home to Buffalo that night.

A more serious answer would be the ability to make people truly listen to one another, and put their phones down. That would solve a surprising number of problems in law, business, government, and families.

What advice would you give your 21-year old self?

Trust your instincts sooner.

Stop waiting until you feel completely ready, because you probably never will. Don’t mistake someone else’s confidence for greater ability. Ask for opportunities. Take some calculated risks. Save and invest earlier.

Pay attention to the people who are generous with their knowledge, and don’t waste too much energy trying to win over people who have already decided not to see your value.

Most of all, build a life that reflects your own values. Treat people well, work hard, and be willing to change direction when something no longer fits.

If you could have lunch with anyone (living or deceased), who would it be and why?

Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

I’d want to ask her about persistence, institutional change, the advancement of women in law, and how she maintained meaningful relationships with people whose views were very different from her own. Do you know she was besties with Antonin Scalia despite being ideological opposites on the Court?

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