Legal and Risk celebrate International Women's Day 2022
This International Women’s Day we have asked the women of Legal and Risk Services to express what being a woman means to them in their legal role, in life, and beyond! We hope their words, poems and favourite inspirational quotes help you to feel empowered to Break the Bias
"A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Daniela Mahapatra, Deputy Director
"I’m Deputy Director of Legal & Risk Services and the Welsh Risk Pool. I could talk to you about my career journey, the obstacles I’ve overcome and those who have inspired me. But in light of world events, it doesn’t feel right. Yes I’ve worked hard to get here and like many of you, I’ve faced setbacks, disappointments and on occasion, discrimination. But I did not have to fight for my education. I did not have to leave my home during war. I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been held up and supported by friends, family and the strong, capable women who have come before me.
Perhaps now, more than ever, the message of #breakthebias is of paramount importance. We must work together for a world that is free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. We may feel a little helpless when looking at world news. But we can make a difference to those we make contact with, every day. And for me that includes helping the next generation of lawyers to realise their worth and to reach their potential. At Legal & Risk Services, we work hard to support and to train our staff. We are a values based organisation and care more about how you treat people than which university you went to. To #breakthebias I offer my experience, knowledge and guidance to anyone who might find it useful. Please get in touch via LinkedIn or Twitter and let’s have a coffee."
"Be You" by Rhiannon James, 12 years old - daughter of Pretty James, Secretary to the PI Team
You are beautiful.
You are strong, smart, bold,
You are unique
You're not worthless and not less
You're not that so-called 'cover girl', nobody is
You have a voice.
Never let society silence you
You know beauty goes deeper than the surface
You're not the you from the future
Nor the you from the past,
Life's short, so live it as you
Not the fake you.
"Be You" will be featured in the published book called Empowered - Immersed in Verse and a copy of this will remain in the National Archives of the British Library forever!
“Your dream, your vision belongs to you. See your setbacks not as the end, but as an opportunity to try again. The lesson wasn’t in how many times did I get knocked down, but in how did I get up.” - I. Stephanie Boyce, President of the Law Society
Liz Dawson, Betsi Cadwaladr Clinical Negligence Team Leader
“Unbelievably, I have been qualified 21 years this year which has gone in the blink of an eye. 21 years ago the profession was still very male dominant. Going for training contract interviews, often against people with whom I was at university, the males seemed to get snapped up much more quickly! I was then fortunate to secure a training contract with Welsh Health Legal Services as we were then. A well respected organisation with a forward thinking female in charge. Indeed, this organisation bucked the trends with a significant proportion of staff being female. Whilst that has changed and we are rightly so becoming a far more diverse organisation in all ways, L&R has always supported and encouraged female staff and ensures opportunities exist. Long may this continue as we expand further and embrace diversity and inclusivity in all forms. “
“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn't be that women are the exception." - Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Angharad Wynford Thomas, CILEx Litigator and Advocate
“It’s been over 102 years since women were given the legal right to practice as lawyers and progress has been made in this time, but men still hold the majority of senior positions in the profession despite women outnumbering men at entry level. I. Stephanie Boyce’s mission to leave the profession a more diverse and inclusive one than the one she entered should be adopted by us all if we want to see real, positive change for equality. There are many more glass ceilings for us to break.”
Sioned Eurig, Employment Team Leader
"“Dream big, stay focused and make it happen!” I don’t actually know who said that – but that’s how I try to live my life! And leading the NHS Wales Employment Team was certainly a big dream of mine. The opportunity came a bit sooner than I anticipated but I set my sights on that goal and worked as hard as I could to achieve it. I feel so fortunate to love my work and get to lead an amazing team of people and work with some fantastic clients. I get the opportunity to make a real difference and shape things for the better in the NHS in Wales – the work is exciting and the opportunities for influencing policy development is second to none. The hard work to get here was definitely worth it.
Whilst a successful and rewarding career has always been important to me, so has having a family. And I would strongly disagree with any notion that you can’t have both - they are not mutually exclusive as some would try and suggest. Indeed, my little ‘home’ team are very much a part of any success that I achieve professionally and we work together as family to ensure we strike the right balance. Legal & Risk Services also played a key role in supporting that. I still remember my first interview with L&R when I was told about the maternity leave and pay provisions – it was clear that this was an employer who was happy to support you in achieving goals in your personal life as well as in your professional life. It immediately felt like a great place to work and it hasn’t disappointed me since! I was able to take full maternity leave twice between 2016 and 2018, and despite feeling a bit like ‘the new girl’ again on my return, I was well-supported and encouraged to follow and progress my ambitions. So for me, it certainly hasn’t been a case of having to choose between a career or family – I successfully combine both (although like most working parents, I admit that there are times when a glass or two of wine does come in handy – not during working hours of course!)
If I was to give two pieces of advice to my younger self it would be to not have regrets! Don’t be afraid to speak up, don’t be afraid to rock the boat and challenge the views of others - doing so can only promote healthy change and a better culture for everyone. I can look back now and think of times when I was too nervous or worried about speaking out, but I have developed the confidence to step up and make sure I have my say. You will not only be respected by others for doing so but also feel a sense of self-empowerment. The second piece of advice is to think about the way you are coming across and to always challenge or speak up in a kind and compassionate manner. From experience this almost every time achieves a better result. Remember, that being passionate is a good thing!”
“We do look a bit different, we should look a bit different, we may sound a bit different and I think there are some cases where we may have a greater understanding of where people are coming from, possibly than most men would have.” - Lady Hale
Kara Bowen, Solicitor
"“Happiness is letting go of what you think your run is supposed to be like and celebrating that you ran today” I came across it when struggling to get out the door to go to Parkrun on Saturday and it was exactly what I needed to see! I posted it on my local runners page and a girl replied to say she’d seen it and was now tying up her shoelaces! She came along (after not having gone for months) and we ran (well plodded a bit and chatted if I’m honest haha) the whole way around together, it was fab and we both said at the end we couldn’t have done it without the other”
“Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” - Gloria Steinman
Heather Grimbaldeston, Primary Care Clinical Negligence Team Leader
“I was the first woman in my family to go to university and to pursue a career in law. I'm a Lancashire lass and I had no connections with the legal world. I was determined but I wondered sometimes if I would ever become a lawyer as it felt like such a competitive environment. I received many rejection letters before I landed my first job in London. From then on I've been inspired every day by women at work who have supported me and shown me how to develop and succeed. I worked as a Partner in private practice before moving to Wales with my young family to join Legal & Risk Services. I thoroughly enjoy working at Legal & Risk. Is there advice I would give to my younger self? Yes - be confident and embrace your differences. It's really all about building relationships with other people including colleagues and clients. It's far more interesting to just be yourself - quirks and all.”
Related Links:
Women in Law Cardiff Facebook Group – Managed by Angharad Wynford-Thomas https://m.facebook.com/groups/758818118415328/?refid=18&__tn__=C-R
Women in the Law UK https://www.womeninthelawuk.com/
Legal Women Magazine http://www.legalwomen.org.uk/