There are people whose stories unfold like a steady flame, never flashy, never loud, yet impossible to ignore. Shardé Skahan is one of those people. Her life has never hinged on a single dramatic moment, but on a long sequence of intentional steps, choices rooted in courage, curiosity, and a quiet momentum that has carried her forward.
Her story begins in Minnesota, where winters stretch long and crystalline, summers glow with possibility, and community is woven into the fabric of everyday life. She spent her childhood on Lake Minnetonka, a place that shaped her sense of joy and movement. When the weather warmed, she and her three siblings rode their bikes along tree-lined streets, fished off the dock, and spent long days boating, jet skiing, or tubing across the lake’s wide, sunlit surface. Some of her fondest memories are of cruising along the water while her parents’ favorite Motown music played, the soundtrack of a childhood rooted in warmth, rhythm, and the easy togetherness of a full house.
Shardé remembers her mom “joking that I’ve been organized since I was two” and a planner ever since.
“I had a typical 90s childhood, playing outside all day with my siblings and the freedom and independence to explore,” she recalls. “I was always a responsible kid, but I am thankful to have grown up in such a family-friendly place.”
Winter in Minnesota brought its own kind of magic. Bundled in layers, she and her siblings ran off their energy outside, ice skating or inventing any activity that kept them moving through the cold. Growing up in a big family with three siblings and a constellation of aunts and uncles meant her childhood was full of noise, laughter, and the kind of closeness that becomes a lifelong compass. That closeness shaped her, and it is something she now intentionally recreates with her own family. It is also a value she shares with her husband, who grew up in a similarly tight-knit household, full of gatherings and the comfort of a home that never felt empty.
Movement and creativity were always part of her identity. She grew up as a competitive dancer and a hurdler on her high school track team, even making it to the state championships in the 300-meter hurdles. She was also deeply artistic, a trait that has threaded itself through her life in subtle, enduring ways. Today, she sees those same sparks in her children. Her daughter loves to dance and create art, while her son seems powered by pure kinetic joy: running, playing, and embracing any sport placed in front of him.
Growing up, she learned early what it meant to work hard, to stay grounded, and to appreciate the opportunities her parents fought to give her. Their sacrifices shaped her sense of responsibility, and their example shaped her sense of purpose. She left Minnesota for Southern Methodist University in Dallas, then returned home for law school at the University of Minnesota. These two very different worlds broadened her perspective and sharpened her ambition.
Her boldest chapter began after graduation, when she packed her life into boxes and moved to Los Angeles. She arrived with no job and no professional network, only determination, a bar exam to study for, and a sister living near LMU. She settled into Playa Vista.
“It was a great way to get acclimated to a new city and get to spend time with my sister,” she recalls.
She now describes that risk with a mix of humility and pride. She spent long hours studying, longer hours networking, and made a cold call that would change everything. She reached out to the then-President of Black Women Lawyers Los Angeles, hoping only for guidance. Instead, she found a mentor who opened doors, introduced her to colleagues, and eventually became a friend. That single act of bravery became the foundation of her legal career, the first step on a path she had not yet imagined.
Her introduction to Seyfarth Shaw came through another kind of connection: friends who believed she would thrive at a firm known for excellence in employment law, her chosen practice area. Their encouragement nudged her to explore whether it could be the right home for her work. It was. Today, she is a Partner, a milestone that reflects both her expertise and her steady, purposeful ascent through the profession. Along the way, she continued to gather mentors, people who saw her potential, invested in her growth, and helped her navigate the complexities of the legal profession. Each relationship added a new layer of confidence and direction.
But the people who inspire her most are the ones waiting for her at home. Her parents, whose hard work and sacrifices paved her path. Her children, who remind her daily of the kind of person and mother she wants to be.
“I want to be a good example of a working mom,” she says. “Someone who works hard but is present. Someone who raises good people.”
Her proudest professional accomplishment reflects that same devotion. Shardé served as the 50th President of Black Women Lawyers of Los Angeles, Inc., a milestone she still speaks about with reverence. She joined the board as a young lawyer, simply hoping to meet people. She never imagined she would one day lead the organization. Her presidency focused on building the pipeline of future lawyers and honoring the organization’s legacy rooted in community, advocacy, and the belief that representation matters.
“It was meaningful,” she says. “I learned so much.”
A Love Story and a Life Built with Intention
Her personal life has its own beautiful origin story. She met her husband through a mutual friend before a scholarship dinner during their second year of law school. They soon realized they shared a couple of classes, and from there, everything unfolded naturally. She remembers the warmth of that first conversation, the easy humor, the spark of recognition that felt both surprising and familiar. They dated through the remainder of law school and into the early stages of their legal careers before getting married in the place where it all began, Minneapolis.
Her husband, who grew up in San Diego and attended UC Berkeley, loves hiking and camping and has carried their family into corners of California Shardé might never have discovered on her own. Their two young children are growing quickly, reminding them to savor the small moments. One of their favorite traditions is the family run, her husband pushing the stroller, their oldest biking alongside them, and all of them moving together in a rhythm that feels like joy.
When it came time to choose a place to raise their family, they found Westchester almost by accident. Neither of them knew the area well, but once they arrived, it felt like a secret worth keeping: quiet streets, friendly neighbors, and a sense of community that felt both rare and familiar.
“It’s a hidden gem,” she says. “A nice community in a convenient location.”
Her life is full with work, family, leadership, and community, yet she still finds space for the things that delight her. Concerts with her husband. Travel. Running. Crafting. Baking. Rediscovering old hobbies like tennis. She is known for boxing up homemade treats for her kids’ teachers or sending baked goods with her husband to his office. Friends sometimes place requests, which she happily fulfills because any excuse to bake is a welcome one. She also takes her family back to Minnesota often, giving her children the classic Midwest experiences that shaped her: lake days in the summer, ice skating and hot cocoa in the winter, and the kind of simple pleasures that root a person in belonging and memory.
A Life Shaped by Purpose, Gratitude, and Quiet Determination
This may be the clearest portrait of who Shardé is, someone who lives fully, gives generously, and keeps moving with purpose. Someone who took a risk, built a career, found a community, and created a life rooted in gratitude and possibility. Someone who reminds us that the most compelling stories often begin with someone’s faith in themselves and unfold beautifully from there.
In Westchester, she has found a place where her roots can deepen, where her children can grow, and where her family can run together beneath the wide California sky. In her work, she continues to open doors for others, just as others once opened doors for her.
By Sylvia Wilson