Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendalyn Edwards.
Hi Brendalyn, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised on the island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and that upbringing laid the foundation for much of who I am today.
There were no lawyers or other professionals in my family, but there was a clear understanding of hard work, sacrifice, and faith. My grandmother immigrated to St. Croix from the island of Dominica and spent decades cleaning for other people. My mother had me at a young age, and many of her own dreams were deferred as a result. Still, she made sure I understood that my potential was something to be nurtured, protected, and used with purpose.
That perspective is a large part of what led me to the law. I had an early interest, and was fortunate that a local attorney, Lee Rohn, gave me an opportunity to work at her firm. I was so eager to learn that I offered to work there for free in any position she had available. She ultimately hired me on as a (paid) file clerk, and I worked at her firm in various roles every summer until I graduated high school.
That experience stayed with me as I worked to put myself through college at George Washington University and law school at Florida State University College of Law.
After graduating from law school, I began building a career in public service, first as a Law Clerk/Staff Attorney in the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida in Panama City, and then as Assistant General Counsel for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit in Miami. In 2015, I had the opportunity to return home to work in the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Justice as Acting Director of Gaming Enforcement, overseeing the division responsible for enforcing the casino and gambling laws of the territory.
Those roles pushed me to grow quickly and taught me how to lead, communicate clearly, and make decisions in high-stakes environments.
In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated the U.S. Virgin Islands. They struck St. Croix just weeks apart with Category 5 intensity, leaving much of the island without electricity and other basic necessities for months. In the aftermath, I made the difficult decision to return to Florida.
A few months after returning to Florida, I transitioned to an in-house role at Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company. Over time, I’ve grown into the role where I now serve as Deputy General Counsel of Operations, sitting at the intersection of law, leadership, and strategy. The role requires not just legal expertise, but the ability to guide people, make sound decisons under pressure, and think several steps ahead.
Guided by Charles Hamilton Houston’s reminder that “a lawyer’s either a social engineer or he’s a parasite on society,” I’ve stayed deeply committed to service. I’ve served on the boards of several organizations, participated in committees within The Florida Bar, and had the honor of serving as President of the Gwen S. Cherry Black Women Lawyers Association. I currently serve as President of the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association (“VHFCNBA”), an organization committed to expanding access to justice and increasing economic parity. Some of my non-legal civic work includes serving on the City of Coral Springs’ Affordable Housing Advisory Committee.
All of this—where I’m from, the mentors who invested in me, and the work I feel called to do now—has reinforced the same purpose: to keep clearing the path toward equity and opportunity for others. Through initiatives like VHFCBA’s upcoming Community Empowerment Legal Clinic, I get to help create opportunities to provide direct legal support and resources to those who need it most, while also giving attorneys a meaningful way to serve.
For me, this work has never just been about building a career. It’s about using the law as a tool to make a tangible difference.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would not call it a smooth road. One of the earliest challenges I faced was navigating a profession that I had very little exposure to growing up. Even though I was fortunate to have an early opportunity to work for a local attorney, that experience also highlighted how much I didn’t yet know. She didn’t look like me, and at the time, I didn’t fully have the confidence or the language to ask her the questions I needed to ask about how to truly make my way in the profession that I had chosen.
I was capable, and I was eager, but I was also learning in real time how to find my voice in spaces that felt very unfamiliar. That lack of exposure showed up as hesitation, being quieter than I should have been, observing more than engaging, but it pushed me to grow.
There have also been moments that required difficult decisions. Returning home to the U.S. Virgin Islands to serve was incredibly meaningful, but leaving after the hurricanes—without another job lined up—was an extremely difficult decision. It was a reminder that sometimes resilience isn’t just about staying, it’s about knowing when to pivot and trusting that your path can continue, even when circumstances force you to change direction.
There have also been personal challenges that shaped me in quieter ways. My journey to motherhood was very difficult, and navigating that while building a career required a level of resiliency I hadn’t fully anticipated. For years, I carried that experience privately while continuing to show up in every other way.
Fielding questions from family, friends, and strangers alike gave me a deeper awareness of how often we make assumptions about women’s lives without stopping to consider their lived experiences. There is often an assumption that a woman over 30 without children has made a choice, when the reality for many is that the journey is far more complex, especially for Black women.
Today, I’m more open about my experiences, not for sympathy, but to create a greater sense of awareness and compassion for others. My hope is that we approach one another with more thoughtfulness and grace around this topic.
As my career has progressed, challenges have evolved. Leadership brings its own set of pressures, whether it’s balancing high expectations, making difficult and unpopular decisions, or showing up consistently for others while also maintaining a sense of balance in my own life. In each aspect of my life, I’ve had to be intentional about how I manage my time, my energy, and my priorities.
But each of these challenges has shaped how I show up in the world today. They’ve taught me to be adaptable, to lead with clarity, and to create space for others who may be navigating unseen challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Much of my work right now is centered around leadership, both within my professional role and through my service in the legal community.
I currently serve as President of the Virgil Hawkins Florida Chapter of the National Bar Association, an organization committed to expanding access to justice, strengthening the pipeline of Black lawyers, and advancing equity within the profession. Our work is grounded in the belief that the legal profession should reflect and serve the communities around us, and that meaningful change requires both strategy and sustained commitment.
This year, our focus is on “Strengthening Our Power Through Unity.” That means deepening collaboration across organizations and the broader community, investing in the next generation through mentorship and scholarships, centering mental health and professional sustainability, and ensuring that Black lawyers are supported at every stage of their careers. It is about building something that lasts and making sure no one has to navigate this profession alone.
Alongside that work, I serve as Deputy General Counsel of Operations at Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company, where I oversee litigation strategy and help lead teams across a large portfolio. My work sits at the intersection of law, leadership, and operations. It requires not only legal expertise, but also the ability to make sound decisions, manage risk, and guide people through complex challenges.
What I am most proud of is the ability to bridge both spaces. I operate at a high level professionally while remaining deeply committed to service and community. I have always believed that the law is not just a profession, but a tool, and how we use that tool matters.
At the end of the day, my work, whether in a conference room or in the community, is about creating access, building pathways, and leaving the profession stronger than I found it.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that you don’t have to have everything figured out to move forward. Early in my career, I thought I had to have all the answers. Over time, I learned that sometimes you also just have to be willing to step into the moment, trust in the core skills you’ve developed, and grow through the experience.
I’ve also learned that no one gets anywhere alone. Every opportunity I’ve had is connected to someone who opened a door, offered guidance, or saw something in me before I fully saw it in myself. That has shaped how I lead. I try to be intentional about creating space for others, because I understand how powerful that can be.
And finally, I’ve learned that success is not just about what you achieve, but what you make possible for others. If I’m doing it right, I’m not just building a career. I’m helping to clear the path so those coming behind me can walk a little taller and run a little faster, without being impeded by the same obstacles I faced.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://virgilhawkinsnba.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vhfcnba
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virgilhawkinsfcnba
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virgilhawkinsfcnba/
Image Credits
Darren Howell, Jean Bayard
