Team size: Ten

Based on your experience, what is the key to collaborating successfully with business partners?

The key to collaborating successfully with business partners lies in fostering open communication, building trust and confidence, and being approachable.

Open communication is the foundation of any successful partnership. It involves not only sharing information transparently but also actively listening to your business partners and understanding their points of view and commercial goals. This level of understanding is critical to reaching a collaborative solution that not only works legally, but also achieves business goals.

Building trust and confidence is equally crucial. Trust is earned through consistent actions and reliability. By consistently working with teams to find and design commercial solutions you create a dependable relationship where partners feel confident in your collaboration. I was recently awarded the APAC Year End prize for being “The Fixer”. This is a great demonstration of our business partners’ trust and confidence in the team and our track record of finding innovative solutions and optimisation.

An approachable and calm attitude also encourages others to share their thoughts and bring the legal team into matters without judgment and at an early stage. This openness is crucial in order to showcase the value that the legal team can bring to a business or any project.

In addition to these key elements, flexibility and adaptability are important. Business environments are dynamic, and the ability to adjust strategies and approaches as needed can strengthen the partnership. By being open to change and willing to collaborate on finding solutions, you can maintain a resilient and productive partnership.

Ultimately, successful collaboration with business partners is about creating a relationship built on communication, trust, and shared goals, supported by a flexible and adaptive approach.

What is a cause, business-related or otherwise, that you are passionate about, and why?

As a lawyer, I am deeply passionate about the advancement, training, and retention of women in the professional sphere. This commitment is reflected in my role as Chair of our Apollo APAC Women’s Empowerment Group.

In this capacity, I have spearheaded the formation of a networking group that brings together women from asset management firms across Hong Kong and Singapore. This initiative aims to foster a supportive community where women can network, share experiences, and support each other’s professional growth.

Additionally, we have initiated training events for our women’s group, focusing on essential skills such as personal branding, networking and career development and have set up a Mentorship programme for all women in the APAC Women’s Empowerment Group. These sessions are designed to empower women with the tools they need to advance their careers confidently.

Understanding the importance of early exposure and mentorship, we have also held sessions for young women studying finance at university. We invite them into our firm for a morning, providing them with the opportunity to hear from speakers about the diverse aspects of our work and how women at Apollo have successfully navigated their careers. This initiative aims to inspire and guide the next generation of women in finance, helping them to envision and achieve their professional goals. Through these efforts, I strive to create an environment where women feel empowered, supported, and equipped to achieve their professional goals.