Panelists

Jana Balik FitzGerald is an attorney at FitzGerald & Mulé LLP, where she advises and defends employers in all areas of California labor and employment law. Her practice includes class and representative/PAGA actions, single‑plaintiff litigation, and strategic counseling on compliance and organizational health. Jana’s experience spans federal and state anti‑discrimination and equal pay laws; and wage‑and‑hour regulations. Jana previously practiced at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP and Paul Hastings LLP.  She earned her B.A. from UC Berkeley, her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and a management certificate from the Wharton School. Prior to law school, she worked in journalism and publishing in New York City. Jana serves on the Executive Committee of the California Lawyers Association’s Labor & Employment Section as well as CLA’s Health & Wellness Committee and previously served for three years on CLA’s Diversity, Inclusion & Outreach Committee, contributing to statewide efforts to expand representation and belonging in the profession. She was named to the 2025 and 2026 Southern California Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers. She also serves on the Board of the Palm Springs Parks Foundation, supporting thriving public park systems.  Jana is passionate about championing women in the legal field; and reimagining how lawyers thrive. https://www.linkedin.com/in/janafitzgerald/

Ruth Pearce: I know what it is like – to burnout – publicly and embarrassingly – having ignored the warning signs. A chronic overachiever and perfectionist, I set my standards for myself so high they were bound to be unreachable. And yet, for a long time I reached goal after goal. * Going to law school while working full time? Got it. * Passing the (the 3-day) California Bar Exam first time? No problem. * Continuing to push forward on an IT project that I suspected could not be completed? Of course.* Author a book in six months (not once but twice). On it! Always doing more, working longer, sleeping less, and giving up other things in my life – just to make the impossible possible. That burnout experience changed my life, my direction and revealed my calling – providing resources early and often that can help others avoid my journey. A journey that took SIX years to come back from. Now I help lawyers, law firms, and professional organizations perform at a high level without burning out their people. I work with firms, law schools and other organizations that want more than surface-level conversations about well-being. They want practical, evidence-informed ways to improve culture, support retention, develop stronger leaders, and help people do excellent work without sacrificing themselves in the process. My work draws on experience in law, coaching, project management, behavioral science, VIA Character Strengths, and the extraordinary work of the Human System Operating System (HOSA) from Shannon Eastman et al. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruth-pearce/