Episode 4: Breaking Barriers: Dr. Manuela Rauch on Thriving as a Female Leader in Law
Guest: Dr. Manuela Rauch, Partner at Eversheds Sutherland, Germany
About Manuela: Dr. Manuela Rauch is a Partner in the International Labor Law practice group at Eversheds Sutherland in Munich.
She is an experienced lawyer for labour law since 2011. Manuela advises and represents national and international companies in all areas of individual and collective labour law both in and out of court.
Manuela has specialised in providing labour law advice on transactions, including cross-border projects, as well as reorganisations and restructuring measures. Moreover, she regularly provides German labour law advice in cross-border transactions. Manuela also focuses on advice regarding secondments.
Together, with her international colleagues, she manages the Eversheds Sutherland Global Mobility Legal Blog, and she is an author for Hamburger Fern-Hochschule (HFH).
Chambers Europe repeatedly recommended Manuela as "Up and Coming"; she is also recognised for Labour and Employment Law by Best Lawyers, WirtschaftsWoche, JUVE Handbook and The Legal 500.
Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with Manuela Rauch, a partner at Eversheds Sutherland, to discuss the challenges faced by women in the legal industry and how to overcome them.
Manuela shares her personal experiences, insights on work-life balance, and advice for organisations aiming to promote and retain women in leadership roles.
Key Topics Discussed with Time Stamps:
01:19- 04:45: Balancing family and career in the legal profession
04:52-05:18: Addressing the mental load faced by working mothers
05:19- 07:22: Flexible work arrangements and their impact on career progression
07:26-12:10: Advice for law firms to elevate their women talent
12:11-13.46: Ideas to change legal industry to reduce barriers for women
13:56- 21:22: Overcoming setbacks and using feedback for personal growth
21:23- 23:18: Understanding how conditioning has influenced Manuela’s career
23:20-25.13: Advice to existing and future lawyer leaders to progress their careers
25:14- 27:31: Advice to corporates about advancing more women into leadership
Notable Quotes:
"I think the biggest struggle is still juggling family and work."
"It's really about flexibility that works very well."
"Just take a second. If somebody else has a different background, a different situation and can do it the same way."
"If you're getting feedback from somebody, just take it and think about it, not fire back immediately."
Manuela's Advice for Organisations:
1. Maintain women's networks for peer support
2. Focus on individual career development plans
3. Offer mentoring, training, and external coaching opportunities
Personal Insights:
- Manuela shares her experience of being temporarily removed from the partnership track and how it ultimately strengthened her resolve
- She discusses the importance of staying authentic while adapting to male-dominated environments
Actionable Takeaways for Listeners:
- Embrace flexibility in your work arrangements
- Seek feedback and use it for personal growth
- Stay true to your values and authenticity
- Build a support network of peers and mentors
Connect with us: For more information on women in leadership and career development, follow our podcast and connect with Manuela Rauch.
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