50 Women to Watch: Sue Pellegrino

Sue Pellegrino, Owner, President and CFO, Everest Discovery

From restoring classic cars to serving as an accounting executive and entrepreneur in eDiscovery, Sue Pellegrino has challenged the status quo around what a woman leader can be her whole life. Sue has spent her career managing organizations' finances, ranging from publicly traded companies to regional enterprises and small businesses. Now, she runs Everest Discovery, taking the business to new heights.

The humble beginnings in the mailroom at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, began Sue Pellegrino's journey to the top, which is a testament to her determination and work ethic. She steadily climbed the corporate ladder, eventually becoming an Accounts Payable Supervisor overseeing all vendors' accounts. Her career then led her to the role of CFO at Copy Secure, a regional paper and eDiscovery solutions company. Here, she led the accounting, human resources, investor relations, and tax departments, playing a pivotal role in growing the company to seven-figure revenues before its acquisition by KLDiscovery.

With over 25 years of experience in accounting and business administration, and a decade in eDiscovery, Sue Pellegrino is a seasoned leader. She now leads a dedicated team of litigation support specialists at Everest Discovery, ensuring the company provides the highest quality and most cost-effective solutions to its clients. Under her guidance, Everest's revenue has soared by 42%, and its reach has expanded across the country and even South America.

As a female business owner, Sue is a diversity, equity, and inclusion champion, proud to devote her time and resources to organizations that advocate for marginalized and underrepresented groups. She is the Director of the Philadelphia Chapter of Women in eDiscovery, serves on the Philadelphia Regional Steering Committee of Women Owned Law, and is an active member of the National Association of Women Business Owners' Philadelphia Chapter. In addition, for 10+ years, Sue has been a vocal fundraiser and volunteer for Camp Achieve, a summer camp for youth with epilepsy.

Sue is also a classic car enthusiast who learned to work on cars with her dad from a young age. She recently rebuilt a custom 1966 Fastback Mustang, an accomplishment that resulted in first-place trophies at car shows and was featured in MotorTrend magazine. In recognition of her outstanding achievements, Sue was honored as a 2024 Enterprising Women of the Year. And, of course, her bulldog Louie is never far from her side.

CCBJ asked each of our candidates to pass it forward with a few words of wisdom for the next generation.

What advice would you offer your younger self?
Life’s journey is full of twists and turns, and it’s important to embrace the messy. Success rarely comes on the first attempt. Expect a lot of ups and downs, but don’t feel defeated. Keep pushing forward, take more risks, and remember—the bigger the fear, the greater the reward.

Please describe your proudest individual or team achievement.
Even though I served as CFO of a discovery company before acquiring Everest, my background was in paper discovery, so eDiscovery was a whole new world and language for me to learn. In addition to being a novice as it related to eDiscovery, I also struggled with being taken seriously in such a male-dominated industry. Those two factors compounded so that I was not speaking up or putting myself out there as owner of the company because I didn’t feel confident talking about the ins and outs of eDiscovery, while also being one of the few women represented. In the beginning, I was merely another face in the business and not the forward-facing leader that I truly know myself to be. I dove headfirst into studying and learning all things eDiscovery. I was on the EDRM site every night learning and reaching out to colleagues to point me in the right direction. I also watched A LOT of webinars by Relativity, the leading eDiscovery software provider. Through this crash course, I could now understand what my project managers were saying on calls and in emails. The pieces were finally coming together, and I gained the confidence to talk to others about the nitty-gritty of the business and industry. I registered for conferences, stood at the table, and just started interacting with people. I would smile in my head when I gave my pitch or answered a question someone asked, and eventually, through those experiences, I became the face of Everest! People started to notice me, remember me, and tell me they saw me online. Now, Sue no longer hides behind the Everest name, Sue is Everest! Despite the challenges I’ve faced, I’m proud to say that Everest’s revenue has increased by 42% since I took over the business six years ago and its footprint has expanded to clients across the country and even in South America.

Kindly share the most influential piece of advice (professional or personal) you have received?
This will sound so simple, but someone once said to me, "Go big or go home." It has stuck with me for over 25 years and every time I want to step back or back down, I look in the mirror say it to myself.

Where would you see the legal profession in 10+ years?
In the next 10+ years, the legal profession will likely see a significant transformation driven by technological advancements, particularly AI, automation, and data analytics. These innovations will streamline legal research, document review, and case management, making legal services more efficient and accessible. Law firms will likely continue adopting remote work and flexible service models while prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion to reflect societal values better.

What are your favorite books, professional sports, entertainment and/or extracurricular activities?
During the summer months, I gravitate towards romance novels, reading them while sitting on the beach. Other times throughout the year, I like reading fiction and entrepreneurial and self-healing books. I’m a huge Phillies and Eagles fan, even when they aren’t playing well! I’m a classic car enthusiast and learned to work on cars with my dad from a young age. I recently rebuilt a custom 1966 Fastback Mustang, a first-place trophy winner at car shows and featured in MotorTrend magazine. I am currently building another car, a 1968 Fastback Mustang. And I’m always with my bulldog Louie, taking him everywhere.

Please include a quote that inspires you.
"When you learn, teach. When you get, give."
- Maya Angelou

Click here to view our 2024 list of 50 Women to Watch.