Partner, Diversity Committee Chair Katia Bowman Named Among “Top Forty Under 40”

December 02, 2016

Click here to read article


Taylor Porter Partner and Diversity Committee Chair Katia Bowman was named among Baton Rouge Business Report’s “Top Forty Under 40.” The list was published on the BR Biz Report web site, and Bowman was honored Thursday night in a special evening awards ceremony at L’Auberge.

​Below is the article on Bowman.

Katia Bowman, 34
Partner at Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips

Born and raised in Haiti, Katia Bowman arrived in Baton Rouge in 2001 on a full academic scholarship to Southern University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a political science degree in 2005. She had the highest GPA in her department that year, which earned her a full scholarship to Southern University Law Center. In 2008 she graduated magna cum laude and began her career at Taylor Porter. She now leads the firm’s diversity committee and volunteers in the community with the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank, Volunteers in Public Schools and Cristo Rey Baton Rouge Franciscan High School. She’s also a board member of IDEA Public Schools Louisiana. In her free time, Bowman enjoys spending time with her husband and 2-year-old son.

NAME THREE MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

  1. I clerked, was hired and later became a partner at one of the premier and oldest law firms in Louisiana.
  2. My defense team and I obtained a 75% reduction in an attorneys’ fee award on behalf of a client in a major federal court case—from the requested $3 million to $345,000.
  3. My selection as one of the Forty Under 40 honorees in Business Report.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS AND INVOLVEMENT.

I serve on the board of directors of IDEA Public Schools Louisiana, Inc.; recently facilitated a presentation to female students at Cristo Rey; volunteered at the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank; chaired the flood relief committee at my law firm; coordinating presentations by lawyers at my law firm to high school seniors at the Mentorship Academy.

NAME ONE BOOK THAT HAS INSPIRED YOU PROFESSIONALLY.

John Grisham’s A Time to Kill.

WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GREW UP?

I could think of nothing else but to be a lawyer. My parents always told me as a child that I had a lawyer’s personality because I was always playing “devil’s advocate,” defending others who did not ask to be defended. When it came time for me to decide a career path, this seemed like the obvious choice.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, HOW OLD WERE YOU AND WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM IT?

I worked retail one summer at a boutique called Noveltex, selling perfume, cosmetics and jewelry back in my country, Haiti. I was 14 years old, I believe. I learned the discipline of getting out of bed every day to go to work, as opposed to somewhere fun. 

WHAT IS THE STRANGEST JOB YOU’VE EVER HAD?

I haven’t had a strange job.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PLACE FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH IN BATON ROUGE, AND WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DISH THERE?

It used to be the Camelot Club. I hope they will bring it (or something like it) back to the Chase building downtown. The setting, cuisine and customer service were exquisite. My favorite dish was the crab and brie soup.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?

My two year old son, Victor. Sounds cliché, I know. But I truly feel like he is the best thing I’ve done in my lifetime thus far.

HOW DO YOU GET PUMPED UP BEFORE A BIG MEETING, PRESENTATION OR PITCH?

Haha. My husband usually gives me a pep talk. From there, I repeat to myself: “Do it for me, God. Take control.”

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST FULFILLING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR?

Facilitating a discussion on workplace sexual harassment to 8th graders at Cristo Rey. 

WHAT IS YOUR BEST PRODUCTIVITY HACK?

Working on the weekend and/or through the night, as needed. I sometimes also work from home when I am working against a short deadline and need to minimize in-office interruptions.

WHAT ABOUT YOUR JOB WOULD SHOCK CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS IF THEY KNEW ABOUT IT?

English is not my first language — it is the third. I learned it by watching television. My first language is French. I also only recently became a U.S. citizen.

HOW DO YOU TYPICALLY DRESS FOR WORK — CASUAL? PROFESSIONAL? BUSINESS CASUAL? OTHER?

Business casual to professional.

WHAT PART OF YOUR JOB DO YOU LOVE? WHAT PART DO YOU HATE?

What I love most about my job are the amazing people I work with! There is nothing I hate about my job. 

WHAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT YOU’VE EVER GOTTEN FROM A COLLEAGUE OR BOSS?

“Your leadership and attention to detail were essential to the completion of this project. Thank you … This would not have happened without you.”

HOW MANY TEXTS DO YOU SEND ON AN AVERAGE DAY? HOW MANY EMAILS?

About 20 text messages, and 40 to 50 emails.

HOW LOW WILL YOU ALLOW YOUR REMAINING PHONE OR COMPUTER BATTERY LIFE GET IN % BEFORE YOU HAVE AN ANXIETY ATTACK?

7% on my computer battery. 10% on my phone.

HOW MANY UNREAD MESSAGES ARE IN YOUR INBOX RIGHT NOW?

85 — all legal advertisement emails. I confess, at the risk of making my IT department cringe, that I do not typically delete emails … Sorry guys!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE APP AT THE MOMENT?

Pinterest — was that predictable?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT OF THE PAST DECADE?

Phone cameras and microphone feature on phones—I sometimes dictate sections of my legal briefs while driving.

WHAT TIME DO YOU GET UP ON WORKDAY MORNINGS?

7 a.m. I am a night owl and get work done through the night and early morning hours when everyone is sleeping and email traffic is minimal. I then get out of bed by 7 a.m. and start over.

BREAKFAST AT HOME? BREAKFAST ON THE GO? BREAKFAST AT YOUR DESK? NO BREAKFAST AT ALL?

Typically, at my desk.

THE SAYING GOES: “BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.” SPECIFICALLY, WHAT ARE YOU “BEING” TO MAKE BATON ROUGE BETTER?

I treat all people with respect and compassion without regard to racial, socio-economic, or cultural differences. 

WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU WERE “GROWN UP”?

When I closed on my house in June 2013.

WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION YOU HAVE EVER TAKEN?

Next to my honeymoon at Jade Mountain, St Lucia, our recent trip to the Canary Islands for a friend’s wedding.

FAVORITE GIFT YOU WERE GIVEN AS A CHILD?

I was spoiled as a kid. But what stands out to me the most, as I reflect on my childhood, were the values, life discipline, mutual respect, work ethic and love that were instilled in me through the examples of my late grandmother, mother and my aunts and uncles. How incredibly blessed I have been! 

WHICH TALENT OR SUPERPOWER WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE AND WHY?

The ability to get dressed and ready to leave my house (and dress the little one) at the snap of my finger. It would be great to also be able to telepathically move through the Baton Rouge traffic.

WHAT’S A NICKNAME YOUR FRIENDS OR FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE FOR YOU?

“Kat” and “Katoutou” — don’t laugh at the second one, it is very French and just fine with me. 

WHAT ARE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS ABOUT?

Our loved ones who have left us and passed on are still with us.

WHO FASCINATES YOU?

Great orators and (knowledgeable) motivational speakers. One of the best of our time, as far as I am concerned, is our current president, Barack Obama. 

FAVORITE DRINK?

I am not a big drinker but my husband’s Malibu, pineapple juice and grenadine concoction is one of my favorites. I also enjoy Moscato D’Asti, and a Haitian drink called Cremas.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BAND OR SONG?

No one band or song. I love Haitian konpa, Reggaeton, Caribbean music, and I love Adele, Ed Sheeran and Charlie Puth, and I can appreciate music across genres.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE?

I have a few: The Last Samurai; A Beautiful Mind; Gladiator; The Notebook; A Few Good Men; and The Pursuit of Happiness.

WHAT SCARED YOU AS A CHILD, AND WHAT SCARES YOU NOW?

Cockroaches, then and now!

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18-YEAR-OLD SELF?

This, too, shall pass. The best is yet to come.

PETS?

No. My toddler is fully capable of making enough mess on his own. Truth is, we probably will get one or more pets eventually, although I am not sure which one(s).

HAVE YOU HAD ANY MEMORABLE CELEBRITY ENCOUNTERS? WHAT HAPPENED?

Nothing especially memorable. I’ve met a few celebrities and looked at, and treated, them like regular people. I’ve just never been star-struck.

TELL US ABOUT A MOMENT THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE.

My child’s birth.

WHAT’S THE NEXT BIG PERSONAL OR CAREER CHALLENGE YOU PLAN TO TAKE ON?

I actually have a project in the works currently. I don’t want to speak prematurely … What I will say is that the long-term plan is to continue to strive to become my better self in all aspects of my life.

WHAT CONCERNS YOU MOST ABOUT THE FUTURE?

That some issues which have decimating effects on certain groups/cultures in this country are so easily excused, minimized or altogether ignored. As this worsens, the social impact on our children’s children could be devastating.

WHAT GIVES YOU THE MOST HOPE ABOUT THE FUTURE?

Most people are inherently good.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE FOR FUTURE FORTY UNDER 40 HONOREES?

I don’t know that I am qualified to give folks advice. But I will share what has worked for me: Hard work does pay off. So keep working as hard as you can. 

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST HOPE FOR BATON ROUGE?

My hope for Baton Rouge (and society at large) is that we will, one day, truly be able to treat each other as we would want our own children to be treated. Overcoming the natural tendency to prejudge others, to me, is the key to breaking down those progress-slowing barriers, restoring confidence in human nature, and reaching meaningful socio-economic prosperity.

Read our Case Studies

See how we can help. Contact us today

  • Disclaimer
  • © Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips L.L.P. All rights reserved.