Katie Stevens has significantly shaped the healthcare finance sector through her legal expertise and leadership at Vedder Price, where she is as Shareholder and serves as Chair of the Health Care Finance Practice Group. Since joining the firm’s Chicago office in 1999, Stevens has guided clients through complex financing deals with a uniquely integrated approach. “I was among the first healthcare finance attorneys with a regulatory background,” she explains. “That allowed me to deliver seamless counsel without needing to bring in outside specialists.”

Her path to finance wasn’t immediate. “I remember nearly everything about my first healthcare finance deal — it was fast-paced and challenging, and I loved it,” Stevens recalls. “That’s when I realized I was a deal-lawyer at heart.”

Stevens’ leadership has built a nationally recognized practice from the ground up. She’s proud of the team she’s helped develop: “Our clients are among the best, and seeing junior attorneys grow into spectacular lawyers has been a gift.”

She also champions women in finance. “Often, I’m the only woman on a 10-person call. I had to find my own voice — both literally and figuratively.” Her focus on sponsorship goes beyond mentorship: “I make sure talented women get invited to high-stakes meetings, negotiations and speaking engagements.”

Her advice to aspiring women leaders? “Map your goals in two- to three-year increments, share what you know, and build your brand. If one opportunity isn’t a good fit, there will be others. Just keep moving forward.”

Stevens hopes her legacy will empower the next generation to chart their own paths. “The journey isn’t always linear. But with a solid plan and the confidence to pursue it, you can create your own success — and bring others along with you.”