7 minute read
From President to Student
Photos by Paul Patton/Wilmington University
BBB’s Christine Sauers shares how it’s never too late to take a bold career transformation journey
Changing course mid-career can be both daunting and exhilarating. It requires courage to step away from a successful trajectory and dive into uncharted territory. Christine Sauers, who has dedicated more than two decades as the president of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Delaware, is a prime example of how embracing a new challenge can lead to profound personal and professional growth. We sat down with Christine to learn about the new role she’s leaning in to—law student.
You’ve been successfully running the Better Business Bureau Serving Delaware (BBB) for 22 years. What inspired you to go back to school and pursue a law degree? Have you always had an interest?
Law school was always something that I thought I would do. My major in college was political science. When I got out of school, I had some great career opportunities presented to me that lead me to becoming president of the BBB at age 27. It was a challenging few first years—learning how to run an organization, manage people, work with a board, and fundraise—all on top of starting a family. But it’s been a great fit. It allowed me to learn and grow as a leader.
And it’s important to note that my decision to go to law school isn’t a result of being unhappy in my current job. Much to the contrary. I love the mission of BBB and the Delaware business community. It’s because of my job and community that I feel like I can do this.
Can you share a specific moment or event that made you decide the time is now to fulfill this dream?
It was a culmination of events and stage of life. In a post-COVID world, I think we all realized that we can be more flexible and adaptive than we ever dreamed. Embracing a new way to work let me believe that I could be successful in a virtual environment.
My kids are older and I had already started wondering what my next 20 “career years” would look like. When Wilmington University announced they were starting a law school, it was a “now or never” moment for me. Wilmington University is already associated with educating students at all phases of their lives—their law school would probably align with the same philosophy. Sure enough, they presented a part-time option at an affordable cost. It’s the best of both worlds for me—some in person and some virtual learning.
Were there any individuals who encouraged you to apply to law school?
My husband, Dave, has been my number one champion. He gave me the courage to take the leap and reassured me that everything would be under control at home.
After I felt good about letting go of many of my “mom duties,” my next step was meeting with attorneys that I respect for advice. My first call was to David Stratton. David is a prominent bankruptcy litigator and was on the search committee that hired me at BBB in 2002. He and I have remained friends over the years, and I have often gone to David for advice and guidance. David was candid with me and wanted me to be prepared for some of the challenges I may face. But more than anything, he was supportive and continues to be a resource that I lean on.
What has been the most surprising aspect of law school so far?
I’m surprised at how excited I am to go to class every night. The workload is intense, but it’s interesting and challenging work. I never dread class or the assignments. I can’t wait for the next term to begin.
How do you balance the demands of law school while still running the BBB?
Discipline. That’s the only word that can describe it. I am a planner by nature, but balancing BBB, law school, and my family has taken my scheduling skills to a new level. I am learning how to be very efficient and deliberate with my time. When I’m at the BBB, I am only focused on BBB. When it’s time to go to school, I turn off the work part of my brain and shift over to school mode. It’s not quite as easy as flipping a switch, but I am getting better at it.
I am lucky to have a wonderful team at BBB and supportive Board of Directors. My team has been with BBB for decades, so they are professionals. I have a tremendous amount of confidence in them. I’m not shocked by their dedication, but I am appreciative of it.
I’m fairly rigid with my schedule these days, which doesn’t allow for many impromptu meetings or after work events. It also doesn’t allow for much flexibility on weekends. The weekend is my time to study and be with my family.
This summer, you completed an internship at the Court of Chancery. Tell us about that experience and what you gained from it.
My friends and family all got big smiles when I shared that I was going to “intern” this summer. The idea of interning conjures up images of a young, new grad with little to no experience.
I have a full-time job and I didn’t think it would be possible for me to intern this summer like most first year (1L) law school students. I was worried that I would miss out if I didn’t try to intern. Wilmington University really worked with me. The BBB is closed on Fridays in the summertime. This gives me one day a week that I could intern in person.
Wilmington University reached out to the Court of Chancery. Delaware’s Court of Chancery is widely recognized as the nation's preeminent forum for disputes involving hundreds of thousands of Delaware corporations and other business entities. It was an incredible opportunity.
Magistrate Loren Mitchell was open to having me in person one day a week. This schedule allows me to attend hearings and meet with her and other attorneys in person on Fridays—while completing the research and briefs on the weekends and at night.
I’ve had the chance to research and brief active cases and help draft bench rulings for Magistrate Mitchell. Most of the cases have been trust and estate, fiduciary, or property disputes. It’s real-world experience and critical to understanding the complexities of practicing law.
How do you plan to integrate your business background with your impending law degree?
I enjoy working with business owners and helping understand the challenges they face. I’ve spent the past 25 years working with business owners in the state to figure out how to help them succeed. What I do now at BBB involves dispute resolution between consumers and businesses. I’ve learned that many disputes come down to a breakdown of communication and failure to set clear expectations from the beginning. I am able to take my professional experience and apply the legal principles that they are teaching in class. Practicing business law is a logical step.
What advice would you give to someone considering a major career shift later in life?
Make a plan. Figure out what support and resources you would need in order to make a change. Find a person, or persons, that are going to cheer you on when things get tough. Then, work the plan.
Any final words?
This isn’t something I did lightly. I had many conversations with my husband and professional connections. I had to take into consideration my family, and how this time and financial investment would impact them. In the end, it made sense for us. There have been plenty of tears and moments of doubt, but I have incredible people in my corner.
My kids are my continued inspiration. I want them to see it’s never too late to make a change. They have buoyed me along when I’ve had rough days. They hug me and tell me they are proud of me.
