Exploring Excellence with HaystackID: Laura Danielson
Editor’s Note: In the third installment of our Exploring Excellence with HaystackID, we shine a light on Laura Danielson, HaystackID’s Vice President of Sales Operations, Revenue Enablement, and HaystackID University. This article explores Laura’s journey in the legal field, marked by her unwavering commitment to mentorship and fostering gender equity. Recognized for her exceptional leadership, Laura ascended through the ranks at various companies within our industry. Read the article to learn how Laura, a dedicated mentor, has been instrumental in building diverse teams and actively supporting women in tech-focused roles, whether being one of three founding members of the Women in eDiscovery’s Minneapolis/St. Paul chapter or helping establish HaystackID University. Laura is a finalist for the 2024 Relativity Stellar Women Innovation Award, which recognizes a leader making her mark in tech and goes above and beyond her job description to make the industry equitable for all genders. Vote for Laura today for the Stellar Women Innovation Award!
By HaystackID Staff
Starting her journey as a litigation paralegal, Laura Danielson encountered a pivotal moment that shaped her mission to create a more inclusive legal tech industry. Her affinity for technology propelled her into a Project Manager role at a national litigation technology company. She had career progression discussions with a company leader, eager to make her mark.
“I was told that I was too talented in my current role and that a promotion wouldn’t benefit the company,” Laura recalled. “While this was a shock, it ignited a fire within me to dismantle such barriers for others. I realized I needed to climb higher to shatter the glass ceiling.”
And break that ceiling she did. Other leaders within the organization recognized Laura’s superior management and leadership skills, and she moved up within the company before moving on to other firms in legal tech. Currently serving as HaystackID’s Vice President of Sales Operations, Revenue Enablement, and HaystackID University, Laura is a finalist for Relativity’s Stellar Women Innovation Award, which recognizes a legal tech leader who goes above and beyond her job description to make the industry equitable for all genders.
Since embarking on her career in the 1990s, Laura has left an indelible mark in our industry, paving the way for others, both women and men, to excel, elevate their careers, and acquire valuable skills along the way.
Building a Legacy of eDiscovery ‘Ducklings’
A few years after leaving the national litigation company, Laura joined NightOwl and worked closely with executive leadership to build a Client Services group with a diverse representation of women and men. Laura worked hand-in-hand with other leaders to actively reach out to potential female candidates to get them into more tech-focused roles. Creating diversity in the team was critical; research shows that diverse teams are more innovative and yield better financial results.
“When working with talent, I ensured everyone felt supported in the entire process, from training to working on the job,” Laura said, adding that this proactive approach significantly shifted the gender balance. “We had an equal balance of women and men soon after we started this initiative, and I continue to work with leadership at HaystackID to make sure we have a strong representation of female talent.”
Laura’s work to elevate talent extends to the entire industry. She shared that she has a group of individuals, that she and her mentees refer to as “ducklings,” who have pursued successful careers. Whether catching up on exciting life updates or coaching them on a career move, Laura always makes time for her mentees, including her daughter, Amber, a Senior Discovery Consultant and Executive Client Services Liaison at HaystackID.
“I was a single mom for most of my career, often working (and still do) 15-plus-hour days,” said Laura. “I had to give a lot up—but seeing my daughter excel in a field to which I have dedicated my career makes it well worth it.”
Laura’s encouragement and passion for the legal industry ignited Amber’s interest in this field, prompting Amber to return to college for paralegal studies 18 years ago. Not only is she thriving in her role at HaystackID, but Amber has also given back to the greater legal tech community; she led the Women in eDiscovery’s Minneapolis / St. Paul chapter for a few years, a group that Laura founded alongside two co-founders in 2007.
“As long as I can remember, my mother has shown great determination, resilience, and stamina since I was very young,” Amber said. “I am extremely proud of her accomplishments as my mother, and I am even more honored to call her a colleague in the legal industry. She is an inspiration!”
Helping Talent Climb Their Career Ladders
Laura’s commitment to lifelong learning is deeply integrated into her professional ethos. She has been instrumental in establishing HaystackID University, which provides tailored training programs and hands-on experience for those eager to advance in technology-focused roles.
“We have candidates who join the company and may have wonderful IT or project management skillsets but lack eDiscovery experience. With HaystackID University, they get the on-demand and in-person training they need to enhance their skills and put them on the career path for the next level,” Laura said, adding that she has seen many individuals within our company accelerate their careers as a result of HaystackID University.
In addition to elevating talent within our industry, Laura has led CLE training for attorneys and paralegals nationwide.
“Whether I am working with internal talent with HaystackID University or speaking on a panel about how attorneys and paralegals can get value from different CLE programs, I find my work very rewarding,” said Laura. “I am passionate about helping people and sharing the knowledge that I’ve incurred over my lifetime of work.”
Assisted by GAI and LLM technologies.
Source: HaystackID