Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/398704
Photos: Paul Winny F a l l 2 0 1 4 I V a n c o u v e r F o u n d a t i o n l p a g e 1 7 lawyer]," says Lam. "You get to be in a whole bunch of different people's 'movies'; they generally come to you in crisis and you learn about their business or event in excruciating detail. You help them solve the crisis, you exit out of the movie and they continue on. Hopefully you've done something that has changed things for the better for them." e drive to help, even in the complex and sometimes cutthroat corporate community, is what makes Lam stand out from the crowd. And she's been recognized for it, too. While still a law stu- dent at the University of British Columbia, she was named YWCA Young Woman of Distinction in 2001. In 2007, she received the Faculty of Law Outstanding Young Alumna Award from her alma mater. More recently, Lam was recognized as one of Business in Vancouver's "Forty Under 40" in 2013, and received the Association of Women in Finance PEAK "Rising Star" award in 2014. She's been recruited to a number of boards in the non-profit community – Vantage Point (formerly Volunteer Vancouver), United Way of the Lower Mainland and Imagine Canada, to name just a few. It was at Vantage Point that she honed the board governance skills that have since become her bailiwick. She laughs recalling her initial reaction when Vantage Point's then-CEO Colleen Kelly approached her to be a member of the board. "I didn't know what a board did at the time – I didn't have any experience. But I stayed with them for seven years and ultimately chaired the board." at experience eventually shaped Lam's vision of strong board governance as the underpinning of a sustainable and relevant non- profit community. And it also led her to take particular interest in the work and structure of community foundations. So when Vancouver Foundation came calling two years ago, she was excited by the opportunity. Since joining Vancouver Foundation's board in September 2012, Lam has become chair of the Education Advisory Committee (an assignment close to her heart, given her late mother's career as an educator), where she's been noted for her solid leadership skills and sharp assessment of issues at the table. She has also quickly grasped the workings of the community foundation movement, espousing the Foundation's unique ability to convene people on important issues. As one of the youngest members of the Foundation's board to date, Lam provides unique insight into the next generation of com- munity philanthropists. Despite the lack of optimism in the future cited by many 25- to 34-year-olds in the Foundation's Connections and Engagement Survey results, Lam sees an opportunity to engage a new and younger demographic of philanthropists. "We need to find places for young professionals to connect and give them that opportunity to make some sort of difference," she states. One of those places is the Foundation's Giving Well giving circle, which brings female donors together in support of projects that address challenges faced by women across B.C. As chair of the giving circle, Lam has made it a personal goal to introduce Vancouver Foundation to more corners of the community, and is palpably excited about the circle's growing success. "We're getting young women interested in the community foundation world and in inter- esting projects they would not have heard of otherwise," she says. "And they can see how powerful their impact can be when they combine their gift with others." Lam's commitment to community and civic engagement is rooted in the example set by her parents, who were regular volunteers in school, church and community activities. "It starts with home values," says Lam of the lessons taught by her parents' model of vol- unteerism. "You're part of something bigger, so you better do some- thing to make your corner of the world a little bit better." Lam aims to do just that. As a successful lawyer and active com- munity volunteer, she's proof that doing good feels good. And that good people can become good lawyers, and equally good, effective agents of change. Lawyer and sought-after speaker Miranda Lam puts her gift for the public gab to good use, speaking up for community issues and capturing the attention of a younger demographic.