Tell us about your time at MinterEllison — what stands out most?   
I look back on my time at ME with a lot of gratitude. I worked in the Corporate team across M&A, Projects, and later, Funds. While the day to day experience was world-class, what always stands out are the people and their genuine interest in your growth and development. Some of the folks I worked alongside there are still people I call on today. ME taught me that collaboration and relationships are what actually carry a career, not just the work product. 

What has your career journey looked like since leaving the firm?  
It's been a wild ride. I moved to New York to work at Kirkland & Ellis in their PE Secondaries team where I worked with some of the biggest PE sponsors globally. After a lot of thought, I ended up leaving practice to start my own recruitment and talent advisory firm, GPS Advisory, based in Hudson Yards. 

Which skills or experiences have proved most valuable along the way? 
New York is the biggest legal market in the world and you're dealing with everyone from billionaire sponsors to celebrity-backed funds like Kim Kardashian's and even pro bono clients. ME instilled excellence and curiosity and gave endless client-facing opportunities, which gave me the confidence to walk into any room and add value -- from negotiations to strategy and even knowing when to say nothing.

What does your current role involve day-to-day? 
I speak with senior private capital attorneys and Partners all over the world about their career strategy; with firms on practice build-outs; and with journalists commenting on the market. It can range from being in my office on the phone all day, to back-to-back meetings and pitches, or traveling internationally.

What's your favourite New York ritual or weekend activity? 
A walk in Central Park with my dog Mack or a weekend out East. 

What has surprised you most about working in New York compared with Australia? 
The pace of how quickly life moves here wasn't a surprise, I expected that; but amongst the hustle, everyone is so friendly and helpful!