How Human Design Impacts Career Success feat. Sheila M. Wilkinson (Part II)

Sheila M. Wilkinson is a lawyer, social worker, consultant, and career transition coach. Sheila also talks about her mission to help lawyers make aligned decisions, set boundaries, and focus on what they truly want to do rather than what they think they should do. She believes in reconnecting the intellectual self with the emotional self and offers guidance to lawyers in this process.

LISTEN TO LEARN

  • About Human Design as a tool for aligning one’s energy with their natural design
  • The importance of holistic approaches in coaching and social work
  • The impact of addressing and working through personal shadows and fears

WE ALSO DISCUSS

  • The importance of not judging oneself for emotions that arise
  • Prioritizing self-care and sleep for optimal functioning
  • The tendency of lawyers to overanalyze and overthink

Too busy to start a podcast?

Skip the boring stuff! Work with KD Creative to launch a podcast in one month and get your business in the ears of your ideal customers. Visit skiptheboringstuff.com to create your podcast today.

How Human Design Impacts Career Success feat. Sheila M. Wilkinson (Part II)

<iframe width="100%" height="180" frameborder="no" scrolling="no" seamless="" src="https://share.transistor.fm/e/a2395bb1"></iframe>

How Human Design Impacts Career Success feat. Sheila M. Wilkinson (Part II)How Human Design Impacts Career Success feat. Sheila M. Wilkinson (Part II)

About This Episode

Sheila M. Wilkinson’s Background

Sheila M. Wilkinson founded a coaching business that focuses on helping lawyers create a joyful and thriving life. Through her holistic approach, she combines her background in social work with human design principles to guide her clients in aligning their energy and making decisions that are true to their authentic selves. Sheila believes that lawyers often find themselves stuck in a cycle of overthinking and burnout, and she aims to break this pattern by helping them tap into their true passions and desires. She understands lawyers' unique challenges and provides practical tools and strategies to help them navigate their careers with more fulfillment and balance.

"If you're just doing all the things that you think you should be doing, or that somebody told you that you were good at, or you've been on this road, but you've got a little pull, pull, pull, urge, urge, urge inside you desire to do something else," shares Sheila M. Wilkinson on You Are A Lawyer.

In this episode, Sheila discuss the creative side of lawyers and the importance of acknowledging and expressing emotions. She emphasizes the need to let emotions flow freely and not judge oneself for feeling a certain way. She also highlights the interconnectedness of different aspects of the law and how personal experiences can shape legal arguments.

Why Law School

Sheila chose law school because she wanted to make a difference and affect change within the legal system. As an indigenous girl from South Louisiana, she recognized the need for representation and advocacy for marginalized communities. She saw becoming a lawyer as a means to have a voice and create meaningful impact within the legal field.

"The better way for me to do that wasn't from the social work perspective, but to do it from the legal perspective, because then I could actually be inside the system that I want to affect change in," reflects Sheila M. Wilkinson on Episode 126 of You Are a Lawyer.

Furthermore, Sheila's decision to pursue law was also influenced by her desire for security and self-sufficiency. Growing up with a strong work ethic instilled in her, she wanted to ensure her own financial stability and independence. By choosing law school, Sheila aimed to combine her passion for social justice with the practicality of a stable career.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/x49AVxCuVvo?si=7Ry6EVv_Lq9CFm85" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

What is Human Design?

Human Design is a paradigm and tool that helps individuals align their energy in a way that is unique to their design. It combines various paradigms to provide a holistic approach to understanding oneself. In the episode, Sheila M. Wilkinson explains how Human Design allows individuals to embrace their emotions without judgment. 

"We are shooting ourselves, we are judging ourselves for the emotion that's coming up.," explains Sheila M. Wilkinson, on this episode of You Are a Lawyer.

By recognizing and accepting our emotions, Human Design enables individuals to have conversations and make decisions that are in alignment with their true selves. Sheila emphasizes the importance of understanding one's Human Design in making decisions and living a joyful and thriving life. She believes that following one's unique design leads to a quicker path towards personal fulfillment. Human Design provides individuals with the tools to make decisions that are in alignment with their authentic selves, allowing them to live a life that is true to their desires and aspirations.

Lawyer Side Hustles

Sheila's coaching business focuses on helping lawyers create a joyful and thriving life. Through her holistic approach, she combines her background in social work with human design principles to guide her clients in aligning their energy and making decisions that are true to their authentic selves. Sheila believes that lawyers often find themselves stuck in a cycle of overthinking and burnout, and she aims to break this pattern by helping them tap into their true passions and desires. She understands the unique challenges that lawyers face and provides practical tools and strategies to help them navigate their careers with more fulfillment and balance.

“The sooner you understand the distinction and … how we are designed to make decisions … you give yourself permission to follow that quicker … you will get to where you want to be,” shares Sheila M. Wilkinson in Episode 126 of You Are a Lawyer.

Sheila's approach combines her background as a licensed social worker with her legal expertise, allowing her to guide her clients through the emotional and intellectual aspects of their careers. She encourages her clients to reflect on their experiences and goals, providing them with the support and guidance they need to navigate the challenges of the legal profession.

Join the FREE mailing list!

Get behind-the-scenes content from You Are A Lawyer. 

1) Visit www.youarealawyer.com

2) Add your email address to the Subscribe pop-up box OR

3) Enter your email address on the right side of the screen

4) Get emails from me (I won't fill your inbox with junk)!

Contact Sheila M. Wilkinson

Sheila M. Wilkinson is licensed to practice law in the state of Louisiana.

Learn more about Sheila: SheilaWilkinson.com

Interact with You Are A Lawyer

Kyla Denanyoh hosts the You Are A Lawyer podcast. 

Follow the podcast:

YouTube: youtube.com/@youarealawyer

Instagram: instagram.com/youarealawyer

Twitter:  twitter.com/YouAreA_Lawyer

Website: youarealawyer.com

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vQEFFBO78is?si=2hoYwXS7YkRdxCIE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Recent Episodes

Authenticity Is Your Strategy: Marketing Lessons for Lawyers

Chelsea Jones is the founder of Chelsea Anne Media, a social media marketing agency that helps lawyers build personal brands that feel genuine, not forced. In this episode, she shares how one Upwork client turned into a thriving niche, why Instagram remains the most powerful platform for lawyers, and how authenticity can turn online visibility into real relationships.
Read and listen here

Tax Attorney Shares When You Really Need Help

Stephen Weisberg is a Detroit-based tax attorney who helps individuals and business owners resolve IRS controversies and tax-debt issues. In this episode, he shares how the 2008 recession launched him from corporate bankruptcy work into tax law, why most people wait too long to seek help, and what every lawyer (and taxpayer) should know before they get that letter from the IRS.
Read and listen here

Why Authenticity Matters for Lawyers

Sergio Gregorio is a lawyer, podcast host, and creative who’s redefining what it means to have a legal career. In this conversation, he shares how growing up in Brooklyn, studying journalism, and working in federal service shaped his storytelling instincts, and why today’s lawyers must balance visibility, authenticity, and creativity in the digital world.
Read and listen here

Redefining Success and Alignment in Law

Arivee Vargas is a first-generation Latina lawyer who went from Big Law litigation to in-house corporate leadership, all before pivoting to become an author, executive coach, and speaker. She shares the raw story of her identity crisis after having her first child and how that led her to develop the framework for her book, Your Time to Rise, focusing on aligning your career with your deepest values. This conversation is essential for any high-achieving lawyer ready to stop checking boxes and start building a life of true purpose.
Read and listen here

Solo Firm Autonomy: Escaping the Partnership Trap

Yladrea Drummond went from being “team no care about the law" to becoming a highly successful trial attorney and solo firm owner in Maryland and DC. She openly shares the grit required to get barred after a seven-year journey, how she transitioned her practice from family law to dominating criminal defense, and the non-negotiable value of complete autonomy that running her own firm provides. This conversation is a raw, honest look at the transition from legal disappointment to becoming a respected "big dog in court" who is truly building a legacy
Read and listen here

How Hiring a Case Manager Will Transform Your Law Practice

Rob Levine is the founder of a multi-state law firm and an advocate for operational efficiency in legal practices. In this episode, he breaks down the vital role of case managers in improving law firm operations, building better client relationships, and increasing profitability. Whether you're a solo attorney or managing a growing team, this conversation will change how you think about delegation and workflow.
Read and listen here

Reinventing Your Legal Career Through Coaching

Elise Holtzman left Big Law to raise her children, without a clear roadmap for what came next. Now she’s a leadership coach and founder of The Lawyer’s Edge, helping lawyers build confidence, develop business skills, and grow professionally. In this episode, Elise shares the mindset shifts that led her from practicing law to coaching those still in the field.
Read and listen here

Building a Legal Tech Startup from Law School

Lamia Rahman is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, TEDx speaker, and co-founder of SEEKR, a tech startup creating wearable AI devices for the blind. In this inspiring episode, Lamia shares her journey from law school in Hong Kong to the front lines of legal tech, accessibility, and advocacy.
Read and listen here

How To Grow a Thriving Multi-Practice Law Firm feat. Daniel Rosenberg

Daniel Rosenberg is a seasoned trial lawyer and the co-founder of a thriving civil litigation firm. With roots in criminal defense and a career built in courtrooms, Daniel shares how he went from retail entrepreneur to legal leader and why flexibility, grit, and courtroom instinct are the skills that drive his success. This episode is all about staying ready, even when your office is your car.
Read and listen here

How to Find New Purpose After a Legal Career feat. A.X. Foster

A.X. Foster is a former prosecutor and defense attorney turned novelist who’s turning real-life courtroom experience into gripping legal thrillers. In this episode, he shares how his background in acting and law helped him build a successful writing career, why COVID was the creative catalyst he needed, and how his novels teach readers about the legal system, without getting lost in legalese.
Read and listen here

How to Take the Leap from Big Law to Solo Practice feat. Gary Martoccio

Gary Martoccio is an employment lawyer and solo practitioner who left a large firm after 12 years to build his own plaintiffs-side practice. In this episode, Gary shares what it’s like to advocate for employees, run your own firm, and earn multiple state licenses through bar exams and reciprocity. If you’re curious about employment law or considering going solo, this episode gives a real-world perspective you won’t find in law school.
Read and listen here

How to Balance Law, Life, and Leadership feat. Rhonda Coleman Wandel

Rhonda Coleman Wandel is a commercial attorney, podcast host, and founder of RCW Strategies LLC, a legal consulting firm serving visionary companies and legal teams. In this episode, she shares her bold transition from education to law, her path through in-house legal roles, and why she recently stepped into entrepreneurship after years at companies like Accenture and Google. From Memphis to Chicago, single motherhood to legal leadership, Rhonda’s story is about clarity, courage, and walking your own path.
Read and listen here

©2025 You Are A Lawyer LLC.
All rights reserved.