Fireside Chat with Angela Yadav

May 31, 2025

Angela Yadav

Deeply inspired by this heartfelt Fireside Chat, tonight, I choose presence over convenience, love over space, memories over sleep even if it means waking up to a tiny foot planted on my face...

There’s something magical about drifting off to sleep beside the little ones. It’s a reminder that these chaotic and endearing moments won’t last forever. One day, they won’t beg for you to stay just a little longer. One day, their tiny bodies won’t curl up next to yours seeking comfort in the dark. One day, the tiny voices will grow quieter, and the bedtime requests will fade.

Please join me in welcoming our most spectacular and down-to-earth guest, Angela Yadav, whose candid and genuine reflections remind us that there’s only so much time in the day, and the demands of work, family, and personal ambition can pull in different directions. But it’s not about "having it all" all at once, it’s about fluid choices and knowing when to lean into one part of life. And perhaps, in that choice, you find a fleeting yet profound equilibrium.

Without further ado, let’s get started!

“Wherever we're standing, I won't take you for granted

'Cause we'll never know when, when we'll run out of time

I'll make the most of the minutes and love with no regret” – Like I’m Gonna Lose You by Meghan Trainor

Part 1 - Introduction

Hi, my name is... Angela Yadav.

• Year of call to the Bar: 2003.

• Type of practice, your role, and where: Chief Legal Officer, Vancity (In House) – I am responsible for the Legal and Corporate Affairs Division which includes Legal Affairs, Corporate Real Estate & Facilities and Strategic Procurement.

• How many children do you have? 3 children: 2 boys (13 and 9) and 1 girl (7).

• What do you do for self-care or stress relief? I have my favourite Starbucks drink - a Grande Caramel Macchiato but just with one shot of espresso -  eat chocolate and binge watch tv shows! I also try to use my Bowflex Max Trainer whenever I have time. I also snuggle up with all of my kids taking in as many hugs and kisses as I can.

• What would you do for work if you weren’t in the legal profession? I would have been a journalist.

Part 2 - The first “Dual 10” Challenge: within the first 10 years post-license

Equilawbrium: Did you have a master plan for your career path? What was the driving force behind your career decisions? What are the important things to consider as you are figuring out your career path?

Angela: I thought I had a master plan but it didn’t work out the way I hoped. After I finished my articles at a prominent law firm in Vancouver, I really thought I would have been hired back as an associate. My involvement with the softwood lumber file sparked a deep interest in international trade law, which I found particularly intriguing due to its global nature. I really wanted to be a globe-trotting trade lawyer. However, securing a position within this specialized area proved challenging.

When I couldn’t find a job right away, I decided to further my education by attending the World Trade Institute in Berne, Switzerland, during the summer. When returned home, I eventually landed a position in Toronto that involved only a little bit of international trade law – it was primarily focused on competition law and general litigation.

Early in my career, it became evident that diversifying my experiences and not restricting myself to one particular field was crucial. Reflecting on my professional journey, maintaining an open mind has been imperative. A successful lawyer is characterized by their ability to acquire new skills, adapt to various businesses, and master different areas of law.

Equilawbrium: Please list one soft skill that contributed to where are you now and suggestions on how to cultivate it.

Angela: Build trusted relationships with colleagues by connecting personally and socially. Ask about their weekend, have coffee, and attend in-person meetings. Being approachable and engaging is crucial; clients and stakeholders prefer working with personable lawyers. You might be the smartest person in the room, but if you are not approachable and engaging, your clients and colleagues will not want to deal with you.

Equilawbrium: Please list one hard skill that contributed to where are you now and suggestions on how to cultivate it.

Angela: One key skill that has helped me in my role is the ability to provide legal advice in clear, practical terms. This means translating complex legal concepts into understandable, plain language for clients. To develop this skill, focus on deeply understanding legal principles, honing precision in writing, and practicing strategic thinking. Knowing your audience is crucial; as one of my former bosses Annelle Wilkins used to say when you came to her with a problem “Who cares? No, I am not playing silly bugger here, but who actually cares?” Provide concise legal guidance with a recommendation, ideally in three paragraphs or less.

Part 3 - The second “Dual 10” Challenge: have kids in their first 10 formative years

Equilawbrium: How did you juggle work/life responsibilities? Is it possible to have a family life and a work life simultaneously and harmoniously?

Angela: I balanced work and life by working from home as much as possible. When my kids were babies, I had flexible hours and worked late at night to stay on track. It was quiet time for me. Without remote work, I might not have had three children. My supportive network includes my stay-at-home husband and nearby parents. With the right support and flexible work options, having it all is possible. However, excelling at both lawyering and parenting isn't always feasible. Sometimes it's okay to be better at one than the other. We're humans, not robots.

Equilawbrium: Having walked the walk, what is the one parenting tip or trick that you wish you’d known?

Angela: Not so much a parenting trick, but I would just co-sleep with your kids (provided that you are following all safety protocols) right from the get go. Both you and the baby will sleep more. Sleep deprivation was the worst thing when my children were babies and toddlers. In fact, I still co-sleep with my 7 and 9 year old! 

Equilawbrium: What is your fondest memory of your kids at this age?

Angela: My fondest memory is when they learned to walk for the first time!

Part 4 - Achieving Equilawbrium: how to survive & rise from the “Dual 10” Challenges

"There is only so much time in the day, you can’t have it 'all' all the time but you can pick and choose when you want to focus on family and when you want to focus on work." – Angela Yadav

Equilawbrium: What was your biggest challenge going through the Dual 10 phase? Any advice for our readers who are living and breathing this phase and trying to survive and excel?

Angela: Sleep deprivation was unbearable with my first child. It improved with my second and third, but I felt sleep-deprived for years and still do. My advice: it won't last forever. Take naps during the day when they are babies, and ask for help because you can't do it all alone.

Equilawbrium: What is your take-home message for our readers who are trying to find their “equilawbrium”?

Angela: Sleep as much as you can, and don’t feel guilty about it. Sleep with your babies - enjoy every minute of it because they won’t be sleeping with you forever. And remember that you can’t always be the best at both work and family. It is okay to focus on one more than the other at different times. There is only so much time in the day, you can’t have it “all” all the time but you can pick and choose when you want to focus on family and when you want to focus on work. 

Equilawbrium: What is the one-word encouragement/support that you would want us to remember?

Angela: Resilience. Never give up.

<<End of Fireside Chat with Angela Yadav>>

Angela and her beautiful family glowing with joy and affection, captured in a heartwarming moment of love and togetherness!!

RESILIENCE

**A MILLION THANKS TO ANGELA!!**

<<Angela's Biography>>

Angela leads all of Vancity’s legal activities to protect its reputation and business interests and help ensure the credit union complies with all relevant laws and regulations.

This involves managing the legal landscape for Vancity Credit Union and its subsidiaries, tackling legal challenges, offering legal advice, leading the legal team, and overseeing vendor relationships, procurement, and real estate. Angela plays a pivotal role in modernizing Vancity’s operations and establishing Vancity as a financial services leader.

Angela is a dynamic litigation and regulatory enforcement counsel with over 20 years of experience, including more than 17 years as in-house counsel in the financial services sector. From 2007 and until its 2024 acquisition by RBC, Angela worked for HSBC Bank Canada, first as Senior Legal Counsel and then as Associate General Counsel. Following the acquisition, she served as Managing Counsel and Director at RBC. Joining Vancity’s Executive Leadership Team is something of a homecoming for Angela, who worked as an FSR at one of Vancity’s Community Branches for 3 years during and after her BA.

Angela has made remarkable strides in her legal career, earning recognition for her leadership and commitment to diversity. In 2023, she was awarded the Women in Law Leadership Stronger Together Award for British Columbia. In 2024, she was an Excellence Awardee in the Female Trailblazer of the Year category of the Canadian Law Awards, and a finalist for the Blakes Judy L. Wilson Diversity Award at the ZSA Canadian General Counsel Awards. In 2023, she was a finalist for the CCCA/Mondaq Action in Diversity & Inclusion Award at the Canadian In-House Counsel Celebration. She is also a past finalist of the Lexpert Rising Stars award, recognizing leading lawyers under 40.

In her free time, Angela has a keen interest in photography and is an avid hockey fan. She is a Founding Member & President of the New Westminster Minor Ball Hockey Association, and served as a Division Lead and governance volunteer with the Metro Minor Ball Hockey Association. A life-long vegetarian and passionate believer in animal welfare, Angela has served on the Board of Directors of the Vancouver Humane Society since 2017.

Disclaimer: Any views, information, and personal opinions expressed by the authors or guests are entirely their own and do not reflect or represent those of their employers or clients.