EmpowerHer: CEO Edition, Christina’s Experience at the ALSA UK Event

Christina

I recently attended an event held by ALSA UK in the heart of London. The atmosphere was friendly and very inviting from the very start. On an empowering Friday afternoon, women from different walks of life gathered at an event held by ALSA UK for a celebration of strength, resilience, and unity. The energy in the room was electric, as each speaker brought their unique experiences and achievements to the forefront.

I chose to attend ALSA’s event as I was interested in hearing first hand from women who have reached their independence in their careers, how they have achieved that and how they dealt with challenges and difficulties.

ALSA’s mission in this event was to inspire, uplift, and empower women to take charge of their futures and embrace their voices. I saw this being accomplished through speeches and powerful storytelling. The event emphasized the importance of women reaching for their goals, creating a career that suits their own lives and desires, and improving all other aspects of life. Listening to the stories of Rita, Arta, Dea, and Angjelina was incredibly enlightening and empowering, and I wish to share some of the moments that stood out to me.

The Journey of Success

All of the speakers demonstrated, through their different stories and trajectories of life and careers, that success does not come easy, but the journey requires tough decisions to be made. Arta mentioned quitting her job when she had no other backup plan, yet it proved to be the best decision for her. It reminded me that one can only grow professionally and personally if one steps out of their comfort zone and takes more risks, which usually happens when one realises that there is nothing more they can gain from the environment they are in. Working in the legal sector for several years now, I have certainly done that, and I continue to do so as I progress in my career. It has proven to be essential and beneficial, although it is always terrifying in the beginning.

Battling Imposter Syndrome

‘The bar isn’t that high, a lot of it is in your head.’- Arta

All women spoke of imposter syndrome and how to get over it; by doing more of the things you are afraid of will, slowly but surely, boost your confidence. You learn a lot from failure, even when the situation does not seem optimistic. This made me realise that you do not need to have all the answers figured out. Instead, what is needed is persistence and finding strength in the face of adversity. Rita had an experience where she was the only young woman in a room full of men in a male-dominated sector. To paraphrase her message, she spoke about how, if she was in that room, she was there for a reason and to ‘get to business.’

We all go through that phase, especially at the beginning of our career, as have I in my career in law. In the legal field, perfectionism is often expected. Being a perfectionist by nature made me think that I had to have everything figured out, to deliver flawless work, and meet all the expectations (which are often unrealistic) leading me to question my abilities. However, over the years I have understood that perfectionism is a barrier to growth. Having worked with different Solicitors, Barristers, and now Judges, I have understood that perfection is hardly ever achieved. By accepting and learning from mistakes and, most importantly, moving on without being harsh on myself, I have overcome my imposter syndrome, which many people struggle with.

Balancing your work life with your personal one

‘Listen to your body to know when to take that time out.’ – Dea

Dea touched on the importance of keeping a balance between work and life. It’s important to maintain mental and physical health while you struggle to reach for higher inspirations. Dea reminded me of those long days in the office and long nights when working from home. It was difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance when the demands of my job and role left no room for personal time. This past year I have focused on maintaining a healthy balance between the two, as I would love to continue my career in law, but not at the expense of my personal and family time. I certainly do not want to end up hating what I do. I have set a balanced schedule that includes time for exercise, work, personal activities and spending time with my family. Listening to Dea and Rita, I felt comforted that other women have been through this, and I felt less guilty of the time I have deprived myself of.

Dea also talked about the importance of doing what you love so that it never feels like work, as the motivation will be endless. Although I am already doing what I love, I still look for an opportunity that aligns more closely with my values, goals and aspirations, and provides the financial stability and freedom I am striving for in this next phase of my life.

Angjelina, having an online business, shared with us the importance of not reading negative comments, which translates to having a healthy mindset of not focusing on negative thoughts of your own or others. Focus on the main goal and purpose you are trying to achieve through what you are doing.

Career Changes

All of the speakers shared that their career shifts came during the global pandemic, this gave me the strong message that through tough times, tougher people and leaders are born, and in this instance, ‘tougher’ women leaders. It is good to remind ourselves that difficult moments shape us into stronger individuals, and that difficult times guide us towards our true potential. So, do not be afraid of those failures you may be facing, or you may face in the future. The first thing to do is to accept the failures and learn from them, but do not remain focused on those. Keep moving forward and you may build a new career and a new self that you would have not discovered without failing or without going through difficulties.

Networking

The networking afterwards was rewarding. The event was very well organised and provided a platform for meaningful connections and discussions. I left the event feeling motivated for my own individual journey, both in my current role as judicial support and in my long-term goals. I would recommend attending future events, as it is a great opportunity for personal and professional growth, as well as a great opportunity to network.

I hope this blog inspires others to get involved and attend future ALSA’s events, as there is so much you can gain through attending and networking.