A Linklaters partner has launched a project on social media to share the realities faced by working mothers.
Reem Alsayegh has set up ‘Lawyer, Boss, Mom’ on Instagram and TikTok to “juggle work, raise rockstars and ditch the guilt!”
The banking partner and mother-of-three plans to share her personal stories in short videos uploaded every Monday and Thursday.
Her videos so far have received thousands of likes and views across both platforms. In them she talks to the camera on topics which have so far included the importance of embracing femininity—your “superpower” at work—to what it means to be an Arab woman to the right time to have a baby.
Alsayegh is the first Emirati female partner at Linklaters and shared her career story in a far-reaching interview published today on Law Middle East.
“This is a real passion project of mine,” she said, adding:
“I am going to tell you what it is really like, because it is not glamorous and it is not easy—it is really hard work.”
“There is a disconnect between the younger generation and the older generation, and we see it in terms of how hard it is to attract talent, but also how hard it is to retain talent,” she continued. “How amazing is it if there was someone that was relatable to the younger generation who is on Instagram and TikTok, sharing their daily? People will think, ‘yeah, that can be me’.”
The project came about after she was frequently asked by female associates for advice on how she balances work and family life. It was important for her to share real and honest advice, and to normalise the struggles working mothers face.
“Firstly, I want to create a community for working moms and secondly, I want Arab women to see other Arab women who are a little bit different, and that is okay, they are being celebrated and rewarded,” she said. “Finally, I want young women who are considering a career in law to have an example.”
“And then, with all of that, the commitment of this firm, to raising diverse voices and bringing them into the partnership, because there is this genuine commitment to diversity, and it is homegrown,” said Alsayegh, who is based in the Magic Circle firm’s Dubai office. “The firm wants to create partners who are committed to a region, who are connected to a region, who are diverse in their own right, who have different perspectives and the unique business edge that gives us.”
On a personal level, she mentioned her two daughters, who she described as her cheerleaders, and how important it is for them to see her do something she is passionate about.
Alsayegh plans to upload more content in the hope that others will share their own experiences.
“I think some of my views might come across as unconventional but that is the whole point,” she teases. “That is the reality, right?”
