As an Inspirational Woman, tell us a bit about yourself, background and what you do currently.
I am a partner working at Reed Smith specialising in media law, IT and investigation work. I am passionate about diversity in all its forms and am fortunate enough to work for a firm which doesn’t just pay lip service to diversity but actively encourages its partners and employees to be architects of change.
I was brought up in Wales as one of five sisters who are at least the third generation of very strong and determined women in our family. My grandmother and her sisters lived in council houses in Glasgow but were amongst the very few women who went to university at that time. My mother is nearly 70 but still teaches and runs her own small business. It is because of the amazing women who came before us that it has honestly never occurred to me or any of my sisters that we are not capable of achieving at least the same as men.
Did you ever sit down and plan your career?
I always knew that I wanted to do something involving writing and/or the media, so for me it was either media law or journalism. There is a fairly structured career path for a private practice lawyer so once I had decided that was what I wanted to do, it was a case of planning how to build a business to get to partnership. Planning and setting targets for yourself is absolutely key to success.
Have you faced any challenges along the way and if so, how did you deal with them?
Without doubt, balancing motherhood and a career is the biggest challenge I have faced. The key to achieving a good balance is being as flexible as you can be, having a sense of humour when things don’t go as intended (sometimes you just have to embrace the chaos) and prioritising the right things at the right time. Having a supportive and understanding partner helps a lot too!
What advice would you give someone who wishes to move in to a leadership position for the first time?
You have to be seen to be a leader before anyone will make you one. Volunteer to take the lead on things that interest you and make sure that your efforts do not go unnoticed. Putting your head above the parapet is scary for most of us but it really is doing the things that scare you which give you the most satisfaction in the end.
When faced with two equally-qualified candidates, how would you decide who should have the role? I would always choose the person who seemed to want the role the most. People who are the most engaged do the best job.
How do you manage your own boss?
My advice would be that if you disagree with your boss, you should not be afraid to say so – as a very wise senior woman I once worked for said to me: “I need the people who work with me to challenge me – they aren’t any use to me if they don’t”. However, you should always offer your view respectfully and tactfully and choose your battles wisely.
On a typical workday, how do you start your day and how does it end?
My day starts around 6 am when one of my three little human alarm clocks wakes me up. I check my e mails and then devote myself to making sure everyone has what they need for the day ahead (PE kits, guitars, snacks etc) before leaving for work. I usually get home around 8.30 pm, read a bed time story to my children and finally put my feet up at about 9.30 pm once the children are all asleep. After that I can generally be found on the sofa with my laptop on one knee and a magazine (and a cat!) on the other watching whatever is on Channel 4 with my husband until far later than I should.
What advice can you give to our members about raising their profiles within their own organisations?
I cannot put it any better than by repeating a fantastic piece of advice that I heard a woman I admire give: be brave – don’t be afraid to speak up and give your opinion in meetings and other forums. Yes, it’s a risk but it is more of a risk to stay quiet and go unnoticed.
Have you benefited from coaching or mentoring?
I benefit every day from the advice I have been given by both professional coaches and colleagues. One of my colleagues in particular (she knows who she is!) has given me huge amounts of time over the years and has never hesitated to be direct with me when I needed it. I owe her a huge debt.
Do you think networking is important and if so, what 3 tips would you give to a newbee networker?
Networking is not just important, it is essential. My three tips would be 1. Network with the people you like. They are more likely to want to support you and help you. 2. Connecting people in your network with others who are helpful to them is both satisfying and likely to be reciprocated. 3. It is never too early to start networking and to build for your career in the future – one day the junior people in your network will be the ones in charge.
What does the future hold for you?
I love my job – the opportunities I have had have exceeded all my expectations professionally as well as allowing me the chance, I hope, to provide opportunities for others that they might not otherwise have had. So I hope to continue working at Reed Smith until I retire.
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