On her Linkedin profile, Meyling “Mey” Ly Ortiz describes herself as a “practical legal adviser, trusted problem-solver, master inclusionist, mentoring enthusiast, and leadership geek.” It’s a start at conveying the corporate attorney’s passions. Ortiz, who shares insights and lessons learned on her site, themeybe.com, has been with Toyota since 2016 after working in labor and employment at Littler Mendelson. Her first job was at her parents’ convenience store, where she learned how powerful it can be to let others know they are seen. “Making eye contact, listening with empathy and remembering their stories, and giving a genuine smile may not change the world, but they have the ability to change someone’s day,” she says.
Education
Southern Methodist University (JD), Texas A&M University (BA)
Birthplace
San Jose, California
Best Advice
“Anyone can point out a problem, but not everyone can come up with a solution. Be the person with multiple possible solutions.”
Destination of Choice
“A place that restores my soul is Todos Santos, Mexico. There’s just something about the serenity of both the mountains and the beach in one place.”
Hobby/Passion
“Reading fiction. I love the little escape I get from getting lost in a new plot or from getting to know a new character.”
Local Fare
“My favorite restaurant is Tei Tei Robata Bar. My husband and I always start with the sashimi special and order uni, if it is available.”
Go-to Adviser
“Thear Suzuki, a partner at EY. The relationship started through a shared heritage; she and her family, like my parents, are refugees from Cambodia. She is a great sounding board for career, philanthropy, and motherhood—the trifecta.”
Proud Moment
“In 2021, seven other Asian American women lawyers and I founded The Podium, a nonprofit organization. We began meeting in the summer of 2020 with only a vision, and over the past 12 months, the brand and membership have grown exponentially. It’s exciting to see our experiment working.”
Guilty Pleasure
“Cotton candy. Even the smell of the airy, sugary clouds can take me to sweeter, simpler times. Whether it is remembering how safe I felt seeing my parents at each turn of the carousel as a child or memories of dates at the Texas State Fair with my now husband, cotton candy can take me there.”
Must-read
“I recommend Think Again by Adam Grant. In the current environment of division, I love the call to think again and be open-minded to possibilities. It’s less about being right and more about being intellectually curious enough to hear other perspectives.”
Alternate Reality
“If not for my current career, I’d be a journalist or a professor. A journalist because I love to learn about people’s stories and share them. A professor because I love to teach and mentor.”
Key Strategies
“The first is empathy. Whether it is to understand your team members’ needs so you can help them be successful or understand another party’s motivations, it all starts with having empathy. The second is communication, even overcommunicating. It’s better than letting others fill in the blanks of what hasn’t been said. Lastly, having a learner’s mindset and being open to thinking again, especially after engaging in ‘genchi genbutsu’ which is the Japanese principle to ‘go and see’ instead of relying on second-hand information.”
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