Women of Denver Member Feature: Teddi Ann Barry

by Joce Blake, Writer www.linktr.ee/joce_blake

Teddi Ann Barry is a true believer of Dhirubhai Ambani’s quote, “If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to help build theirs.” After her divorce experience, she decided to do everything she could to help her clients get through their divorce or other family law matters with the least amount of cost and emotional consequence possible. 


Divorce has become a sober reality. Statistics show that about 40-50 % of married couples in the United States choose to legally dissolve their marriages. This process can be heartbreaking, so having a phenomenal legal team is indispensable. That’s why this Women of Denver Member is a real life superhero. And the cape surpasses her career as she is also a single mother of two beautiful children. 


For the first time in 2001, Barry wanted to be her own boss and build for her instead of “them.” She said, “I joined a firm in 2009, thinking it was time to be a lawyer only -- not a business owner -- and focus on building a family instead. With small kids in 2012, I wanted to design a business that worked around me instead of me around it.” Barry humbly admits that she definitely does not work less but now she manages a schedule that she can create herself. 


The Creighton University graduate believes the Teddi Ann Barry, P.C practice is successful mainly because of her tribe. “The team members in the firm are genuinely committed to service and helping families out of divorce in the most time-efficient and cost-effective way possible. I’ve also taken an employee-friendly approach to our structure,” Barry said. They have three offices in the metro area, Thornton, Cherry Creek and Castle Rock, and two in the mountains -- Vail and Steamboat. These offices are all placed in growing areas to keep everyone working close to home to incorporate work into community life.

Of course with any business, there are peaks and valleys. One of Barry’s challenges has been the ability to walk away. This was especially difficult because she always dreamed of making partner at a large firm. Barry said, “A great friend once commented ‘you may always need the glass doors.’ I was the first female partner and left the same firm within three years of being there. It was a significant cost to walk away, but the emotional toll, working in ways that could possibly compromise my integrity and purpose was not worth any dollar amount.” In the end her valley was also her peak because taking the financial hit and giving up her title as “partner” to become “owner” lead to nothing but success and happiness for Barry.

This is why Women of Denver’s mission to connect and inspire women through progressive thought-leadership is what invigorates Teddi Ann Barry. “As a business owner, there are some taxing times, especially with trying to hold boundaries with friends and colleagues. There is always a sense and need to grow professionally and personally, and there are so many opportunities to connect with like-minded women because of WOD,” Barry said.

​ There’s so much magic happening within Women of Denver. Barry believes there are friends and opportunities waiting to happen leading to connections that can’t be undone. Barry said, “We live in a city that is growing so fast and needs more women in places of power in business and in government. Through the workshops, networking and all that WOD is doing, women are finding the opportunities to become leaders. There’s no reason to go it alone with this kind of network to support you.”