Roxane Polidora Named Among Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business

This is the second year that Polidora has been honored. The awards recognize the region’s highest-achieving women – all outstanding leaders in their businesses and community.

In addition, the publication named former Pillsbury Chair and Retired Senior Partner Mary Cranston with its Inspire Award, as presented by the University of San Francisco School of Management. These “trailblazing honorees are extraordinary leaders who generously share their wisdom and experience with others,” according to the Business Times.

Polidora and Cranston will be honored at a gala awards dinner at June 5 at the Hilton San Francisco.

In a Q&A about her career, Polidora said that she is  grateful for the opportunities that she has had, including representing clients in significant antitrust and competition cases and having served as one of the youngest women appointed as Chair of the Antitrust and Unfair Competition section of the California State Bar.

Polidora also offered her advice to women who want to advance in their careers. “Find true mentors and colleagues that inspire you, and continue to do so throughout your career.”

The Business Times reported that Cranston was the first woman to lead a global 100 law firm as CEO. She was also the first woman to be named a litigation partner at Pillsbury and the first to lead the firm’s litigation department. Since stepping down as Chair in 2006, she has devoted herself to board service. She is now a director at Visa, CSAA, MyoKardia and Chemours, among others.

While the needle hasn’t moved as dramatically as it needs to be moved, Cranston said, “diversity is really an imperative for business now and one of the things that I’m encouraged about.”

She added, “Today people do understand that diversity matters and it matters in terms of bottom-line results and that’s made a big difference.”