Spotlight on Sue McLean
Sue McLean is a partner in the IT/Commercial Practice Group at Baker McKenzie. She has been named in the Women in FinTech Power List for three years and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Digital Banking. Get the inside scoop from Sue as she shares her career insights and tips.
What attracted you to specialising in working with clients in the technology/digital space?
It certainly wasn’t planned. I wasn’t focused on STEM at school and my tech knowledge was pretty limited. In the late 90's, I found myself working on a strategic IT outsourcing deal for the government, plus various e-commerce projects and I found the work fascinating. This was the beginning of the Internet age and I knew I wanted to be part of it.
What inspired you to join the CWN?
I joined CWN a few years ago. I was keen to network with other senior women in business and after a quick internet search came across CWN. I went along to an event at Mansion House. I signed up and within a few weeks found myself on the organising committee for the annual conference. It was great fun working with a really, terrific group of women.
Which achievement are you most proud of in your professional life and what are your top tips for our members looking to succeed in a similar way?
I'm most proud of becoming a partner in one of the world's leading law firms. Partnership came late for me. I worked a reduced hours schedule for 8 years after having my family. Life was comfortable, but I was frustrated and felt I wasn't achieving my potential. So, I pushed myself outside my comfort zone and it led me here. Sometimes to move up you have to move on.
What motivates you to develop women in the workplace?
To be the mentor that I didn’t have. I feel strongly that all senior women in business have a responsibility to 'lift as we rise'. I mentor some really fantastic young women. I've also got so much out of their "reverse mentoring".
You have a strong following on Twitter, what benefits have you seen from using social media and any guidance for those of us who haven’t taken the plunge?
I joined Twitter about 5 years ago, because I was advising clients on their use of social media and I thought I really needed to be ‘walking the walk’. I then got the bug. I've found Twitter to be a terrific tool for business. It's the first place for news. It's also a great place to network and raise your profile. I'd encourage everyone to give it a whirl. Follow key people in your sector, follow CWN, share interesting articles; get the feel for how it works. And don't be afraid to show your personality.
What career advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself "Face the fear and do it anyway. Be more comfortable with being uncomfortable." One of my key takeaways from reading "Lean In" a few years ago was the Facebook mantra that Sandberg mentions: "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" I love the sentiment behind this. I have been so much more successful since I started to embrace the fear – fear of networking, public speaking, change. When I started saying yes, and worrying later, it boosted my profile and my opportunities. I wish I had started earlier.