Tell us a bit about yourself
I’m a Tech Lawyer now working in-house at Morgan Stanley. I moved from the UK to Hong Kong eleven years ago. In my current role, I head up the Technology & Data Legal function across Asia. When I’m not in the office, I like to travel as much as possible (Sumba and King Island are recent highlights) but, when I’m in Hong Kong, I try to start every day with a workout and get out to the beaches and trails at the weekends.
What is your current role, and your participation within the diversity and inclusion initiatives?
I was appointed co-chair of Morgan Stanley’s Hong Kong Women’s Business Alliance (WBA) last autumn having served on the Committee for the previous five years. The WBA is a strategic, business-driven initiative to integrate, encourage and promote career development for women at Morgan Stanley. We aim to provide women with the advice and support to help maximise their potential, foster professional and business relationship building, and help the Firm retain and promote our best female talent.
I’ve also co-chaired the Legal & Compliance Division Diversity Committee for the last four years and helped launch and run the Morgan Stanley Asia Outside Counsel Diversity Awards – an annual initiative that recognizes law firms across the region making exceptional efforts to lead in the diversity and inclusion space.
What advice would you give to women who want to lead?
Don’t wait to be tapped on the shoulder. If you want to take a step-up from your current role, seek out opportunities to lead and gain management experience outside of your day-to-day role. Don’t feel confined to projects you’re assigned to within your area of expertise; look for ways you can use what you’re good at, or passionate about in new ways to help your organization. Whether that’s running a diversity or philanthropy initiative or mentoring a new joiner – you are never too junior to start honing the skills you’ll need when you’re the CEO!