Hi, I’m teresa cella.
After spending years as a practicing commercial real estate attorney and achieving what others might think of as success as a “big law” partner, I took a leap and am building the professional and personal life I want.
I’m here to help you create your own definition of success. As someone who climbed the ladder and eventually jumped off, I can relate to both the thrill of the ascent and the self-doubt that might be holding you back from taking risks and achieving your goals.
Whether it’s moving up or moving on, I encourage my clients to think critically about what it is they want and to learn to ignore the noise that can get in the way of finding career satisfaction.
When I was seven years old, I knew - I mean, I knew with a certainty that no seven year old should have - that I was going to be a lawyer.
When I went to law school, I absolutely knew that I was going to work at a big firm and make a bunch of money because, well, if you’re going to be a lawyer isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?
When I graduated from law school and joined that big law firm, I thrived as a commercial real estate lawyer. Even so, if you’d asked me when I started practicing if I would stay at the firm and eventually make partner, I would have laughed because I knew I was destined for an in-house counsel position. But partnership happened - partly because I’m ambitious, competitive, and driven; partly because I loved my clients and my colleagues; and partly because it was the next logical step - the expectation.
You know what it wasn’t? My dream.
As a member of the firm’s hiring committee, I remember vividly sharing with candidates during each interview how much I loved my job, and that if and when the day came that I didn’t feel that way anymore, I would stop.
…and so I did. Holy shit!
It’s funny what happens when everything you thought you "knew” for sure turns out just to be a learning opportunity along the way. Every time I have challenged myself to take the next step, gone for what excites me, or changed course, it has worked out for me. With each success, my confidence in myself has grown.
That’s the gift I want to share with you.
I want to challenge you to think about what you really want out of your professional life; sometimes that alone can be the hardest part. That’s where I come in. I know I can offer guidance because you know what…I’ve been where you are. Okay, not exactly. No one’s story is the same, but I can tell you that I’ve been on this journey of professional self-discovery. It’s not easy but it’s worth it, so I encourage you to reach out to learn more about how I can help you find the career satisfaction you deserve (and have earned!).