"COVID-19 has presented the world with many challenges, but it has also proven the value of inclusive, collaborative leadership, as evidenced by the fact that female-led countries have proven more successful in fighting the pandemic. This has reset the benchmark for competent leadership at a global scale. This realisation has the potential to turn the tide in our industry as well, if only we let it. I feel that the shared experiences and teachings of these female leaders and trailblazers are a stepping stone which will enable us to increase our impact, especially now", says Petra Zijp, explaining NautaDutilh's initiative.
The questions to be addressed include:
- How can the new, industry-wide acceptance of flextime help women reach the top?
- Which success metrics can be used to obtain funding and maintain support for diversity and inclusion initiatives, especially in the post COVID-19 era?
- Which other initiatives could be helpful in overcoming structural barriers and helping women thrive at law firms (e.g. alternative career paths, access to powerful, informal networks, etc.)?
Dr Floor Blindenbach will moderate the conversation. Floor has over 20 years' experience addressing the innovation challenges of professional service firms, as a practitioner, an academic and now the founder of Organizing4Innovation.
Other participants in the roundtable include: Rachel Eng, Managing Director of Eng law firm; Maria-Pia Hope, CEO and Managing Partner of Vinge; Justine Markovitz, Chairperson of Withersworldwide; Orla O'Connor, Chair of Arthur Cox; Tamara Box, Managing Partner of Reed Smith (Europe & Middle East); Annette Kimmitt, CEO and Managing Partner of MinterEllison; Kathleen Russ, Senior Partner at Travers Smith; Andrea Gritsch, Member of the Management Board and the Banking & Finance Team at Wolff Theiss; Elizabeth van Schilfgaarde, Managing Partner of NautaDutilh’s New York office; Laura Rogers, Partner at Walkers (Singapore office); and Rebecca Silli, Partner at Tiang & Partners (Hong Kong).