In-House Counsel

The Honey Badger Approach To Leadership

How do you deal with gender inequities in the JAG Corps? You fight, just like the honey badger.

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“Since high school I have been proudly wearing uniforms. It is my identity. It is deeply ingrained in everything I do and love,” says Claire Huffstetler, Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). Although Huffstetler, an ex-college cheerleader, may not seem like a typical fit for military service, she takes true pride in her Navy role. She is especially proud of her experience with gender equity as a JAG.

Recently, Huffstetler found herself talking to a few civilian technology attorneys about the legal profession’s gender divide, “I am in the Navy. We have a pretty good thing going.” She explained, “Every few years I get a new, challenging job. We are all paid the same. We are almost 50/50 in the JAG. We have great models of women in leadership. The government is pretty good about gender equality for the most part.”

However, Huffstetler admits that her military experience hasn’t been entirely free from gender bias. How did she overcome this bias? Huffstetler credits her self-described “Honey Badger Don’t Care” attitude.

No, that isn’t a military term! “Honey Badger Don’t Care” is a viral video that first appeared on YouTube in 2011. The video features commentary by an enthusiastic, sarcastic, New York-accented narrator, dubbed over pre-existing National Geographic footage of “the crazy honey badger.” The narrator, lampooning typical nature documentaries, points out the animal’s “I don’t care” attitude.

The video brought the honey badger to public attention, but Huffstetler has identified with this animal since the beginning of her career. Nothing scares a honey badger. Honey badgers eat king cobras and demolish rival animals. If a honey badger is attacked by a venomous animal, the damage is only temporary. The honey badger just gets up again and continues down its original path. Huffstetler identifies with the honey badger because of her relentless persistence, her willingness to be on the front lines, and her refusal to back down from a fight. These traits helped her succeed on an unlikely path, despite experiencing gender inequity.

Huffstetler’s “Honey Badger” History

In 2002, Huffstetler was commissioned as a naval officer, and served as a Surface Warrior Officer (SWO) in a variety of operational roles until 2007. She was one of only four women on board. Although she was an unlikely candidate, it was her dream job and she was thrilled to fulfill it. As a gunnery officer, she was in charge of all weaponry and ammunition, as well as a team of 25 men who maintained and discharged the weapons.

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Being a gunnery officer also historically meant that she was supposed to lead visit board search and seizure (VBSS). This position included the responsibility to board potential warships to enforce UN sanctions. As this was right before the second invasion of Baghdad, the job was, of course, no joke. The duties included boarding hostile warships in tactical gear, conducting searches, and dealing with individuals who could be terrorists. Huffstetler was thrilled with this responsibility.

For her, this job was “the definition of being on the tip of the spear and having impact.” She wanted to be on the front lines and involved in the fullest VBSS officer capacity. But one of the men on board suggested that she should consider staying behind and let someone “bigger and more masculine” handle the VBSS officer duties. He suggested that instead of taking on her responsibilities as a gunnery officer, she should just “do admin stuff.”

Honey Badger Don’t Back Down

Huffstetler was shocked. In that moment, she says, “It felt like the earth just stopped moving.” Huffstetler had never experienced this level of gender inequity before. “I had heard about it and read about it, but it was the first time someone told me that I could not do something because I am a female,” she says. “I was in shock. I could not believe that after working so hard, this would happen to me.” In this very intense moment, Huffstetler asked herself: If honey badgers don’t care, why should I? She decided to continue being the persistent, front-line fighter she identified as.

Following normal military decorum, she told the officer, “This sounds like something Navy Times would want to hear about.” In typical honey badger fashion, Huffstetler refused to back down. Later, with the support of other senior staff, she fought to be included in normal VBSS officer duties. “I realized that no one can take away my duties. I wanted to fight and that is why I boarded this ship,” she says. “In fact, fighting was part of my duties. That is why I joined the military — to make decisions on the ground and in the water. I am not here just writing paperwork. I am here to wear tactical gear and be the head of the spear.” Eventually, Huffstetler’s duties were restored. And just like her inspiration, the honey badger, she continued on her path.

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Honey Badger Prevails

Now more senior in rank, Huffstetler says that fewer people question her fitness due to her gender. “I am glad to have had this experience,” she says. “I now understand what it is like to be told you can’t do something.” This experience has also informed her view on leadership. “These biases exist whether we mean them or not.

They have a huge impact on numerous lives, and we need to be mindful of bias when we make leadership decisions,” Huffstetler explains. She adds, “Everyone, especially senior leaders, needs to watch for this.” And while I no longer feel like I have to fight everyone, I also don’t want to be complacent. I now have a little honey badger inside of me that I can pull out at any time to protect myself, my clients, and those around me.”

Now that Huffstetler has, for the most part, overcome gender inequity on her path to success, is she still a “crazy honey badger”? Huffstetler says she’s channeled her inner honey badger to be a fearless, persistent, front-lines advocate. “While I no longer feel like I have to fight everyone, I also don’t want to be complacent,” she says. “I know I have a little honey badger inside of me that I can let loose to protect myself, my clients, and those around me.” That little bit of honey badger is enough to keep her fighting past any obstacle in her way.

Olga V. Mack and Katia Bloom are startup enthusiasts who embrace the current disruption to the legal profession. Long gone are the days when in-house legal departments simply manage outside counsel or provide services. Today’s legal department is a sophisticated business unit that co-manages the company’s bottom line, embraces technology, and analyzes risks constructively. Mack and Bloom love this change and are dedicated to improving and shaping the future of the legal profession. Together they passionately collect and share inspiring stories of legal leaders who are thriving through the ongoing tectonic shift. Mack and Bloom are convinced that the legal profession will emerge from this revolution even stronger, more resilient, and inclusive than before. They are currently co-authoring a manual of the skills and traits lawyers need to succeed in — and even enjoy — today’s rapidly evolving in-house legal departments. You can reach them at olga@olgamack.com and katia@katiabloom.com or @olgavmack and @bloomkatia on Twitter.

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