Episode Details

In this episode of If You Ask Me, Hannah and Sarah speak with Aoife McDonagh, Partner in the Funds & Investment Management Group at Maples Group, about building a successful legal career while navigating motherhood, ambition, leadership and career change.

 Aoife reflects on beginning her career during the global financial crisis, securing a training contract at a time when opportunities were scarce and how the relationships and team culture she experienced early on continue to shape her approach to leadership today. She also discusses the impact of AI and innovation on legal practice and what firms must do to attract and retain talent, particularly women.

The conversation explores the "squiggly moments" that often define women's careers in law, including Aoife's decision to leave her long-term firm while expecting her second child and join the Maples Group with a clear ambition to make partner. She speaks candidly about the pressure women place on themselves, the importance of being vocal about your own career goals and why simply "keeping your head down" is rarely enough.

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