I have spent many years in leadership positions within the people functions and have seen how culture, inclusivity, and diversity can shape an organization.
In the past, the law was a field that was dominated by men. At rradar we do things differently. We have built a legal firm that is flexible and focused on prevention law, with a different structure. We’ve built a team of over 250 professionals, including more than half women, by doing this.
As a woman board member, I am proud to foster a culture that encourages talent, no matter what the background. I’m going to share with you how we are breaking down barriers and reshaping law by putting people first.
My career journey
I began my career in financial services and worked my way up through HR, before moving into international work. I worked for Provident Financial’s global division in Eastern Europe, Central Europe and Mexico. The Financial sector was experiencing a lot change at the time. This included frequent restructurings and reshapings of the HR agenda. It presented me with endless opportunities for development, and I took advantage of each one, thanks to the support and encouragement of a strong woman mentor.
My priorities changed after my daughter was delivered. After having a child at home, international travel became less appealing. However, I was still looking for roles that offered the same variety and drive. I chose outsourcing because it was dynamic and agile. I worked in recruitment, learning and development and led a team consisting of 50 professionals.
After that I worked in an outsourced HR business, and then as a generalist director of people in the insurance industry before joining rradar 2020. My career has been marked by a passion for speed, dynamism and transformation. I have led transformational programs, managed large multi-country team and supported businesses to achieve significant revenue and profitability targets by focusing on people.
Set an example to others
It’s important for me to show my daughter how I achieved my goals and help her achieve hers. I have always prioritized being there for my daughter, despite juggling a career and a home life. This includes helping her through the big life-changing events and the smaller ones, such as crises, and self-doubt. These moments are what helped her become the strong, independent, and confident young lady she is today.
This connection with women fuels my commitment in supporting and empowering them at rradar. I want to ensure they have the confidence and opportunities to thrive. I want to create an environment where people can thrive and aspiration to leadership.
As a female leader, I have learned to be confident in my abilities and to not be afraid of expressing my opinions, even when I hold a strong opinion. Effective leadership involves having high standards, supporting and empowering those around you, and being able recognise what really matters in an environment where multiple plates are constantly spinning.
The journey is as important as our destination. These qualities were essential to my success, and they are also important for any leader who is navigating fast-growing industries.
Challenge the status quo
The model of rradar is unique and allows it to redefine its talent pool in comparison to traditional law firms. The business was granted Alternative Business Structure status. This was a game changer because the business now had access to a variety of expertise: marketing, technology, and others. I was able to sit on the Board of Directors despite my lack of legal experience.
In traditional companies, the role of people is seen more as a supporting function than a strategic one. I was attracted to rradar because of the chance to have a greater impact on the business and to be able to wear many hats. This is something you wouldn’t find in a large corporation where you are pigeonholed in service deliverables.
Gary Gallen’s ambition and determination to take on the market also attracted me to rradar. He didn’t want to follow the traditional model of law; he was looking to transform it.
For me, the people function is about transformation–about building a business through the capability of its people. At rradar, my role is to drive business forward by bringing together people, engaging them and helping them perform their best.
Recruitment and development of talent in dynamic businesses
We at rradar embrace the challenges and the opportunities that come with recruiting, developing talent and encouraging growth within the company. My diverse experience has been an important enabler to bring fresh perspectives on how we shape the business and its employees.
In a dynamic, growing business, a change in mentality is required to recruit and develop talent. It is not only about attracting motivated, young individuals to a company that takes a proactive approach in comparison to more traditional business models. We can also tap into skills in legal, marketing and technology.
It is equally important to nurture talent within. Growth can take many forms. It may be through new roles or knowledge in new areas. The people function plays a crucial role in matching these opportunities to the right individuals. We cultivate innovative and entrepreneurial professionals to ensure they are prepared to drive forward the business, whether it is in the role for which they originally came to us, or something entirely different.
Flexibility and work-life harmony are also important aspects of nurturing talent. ABS is flexible, allowing us to accommodate different work-life schedules. This flexibility is crucial for employees who have caring responsibilities. I am a working mother. I have been working full-time ever since my daughter was 9 months old. I understand the stress of having to leave your child at nursery while trying to balance long hours and commitment. I believe in the importance of flexibility and finding the right balance.
Prioritizing people in all decisions
A people-first approach is essential for a business that has a clear purpose. As a leader of people, I must figure out how to connect this overarching purpose at an individual level and ensure everyone is working toward the same goal. Our business requires a strong management and leadership capability.
It’s the daily interactions that create a sense of purpose and drive in people. What motivates people to be passionate about our work and why we do it. It’s not enough to send messages out into the business. We focus instead on making sure that our leadership and management teams live out this purpose.
We will continue to create a business structure that is creative and allow our employees to grow in order to meet the needs of the company. That’s part of the excitement and challenge for me – combining all the ingredients to achieve business goals.
Even if the future skills do not exist yet, our people function can help individuals to recognise their potential. This gives them the confidence they need to succeed and grow in their new roles.
