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OUR MEMBERS

WOF is a movement focused on collaboration and kindness in the workplace, galvanising a community of women to work together as a new generation of talent across multiple sectors and industries. Learn more about the inspiring and high-achieving women who are part of our community.

Member of the month

Vidisha Joshi

Managing Partner, Hodge Jones & Allen LLP

What is the best part of your job?

The best part of my job is seeing the results of hard work. Whether this be an initiative or project we have done internally or seeing the conclusion of a big case and talking with our client. I spend quite a lot of time in meetings and working on strategy within the firm so these are the times I can sit back and enjoy the hard work which has got us to that point.

There is nothing I take more pride in than when I receive a letter from a client or a member of their family to say how much we have helped and what we have been able to do to better someone’s life. It is a cliché but those are the things which really count in the end.

If you could give one piece of advice to yourself at the start of your career what would it be?

I couldn’t just give myself one piece it would have to be three!

Don’t give up
Take time to reflect
Don’t worry when things don’t go to plan

There are points in your career when the goals seem very far away and the task ahead is impossible. The easiest thing to do would be to give up but it is so much better when you keep going reach it in the end.

Being a lawyer can be quite stressful and sometime you can lose sight of what you are trying to achieve. Taking time out to reflect on what you’re doing and why is very important and helps you focus.

Finally things don’t always go to plan, learn from the mistakes and don’t get too down when it happens. Use it to make you better at what you do.

What is an act of kindness that you will remember forever?

I can’t single out one act but since taking on this role I have been supported by so many incredible women, who have achieved so much and are so incredibly busy yet will always somehow find time to offer me support and guidance which has been such an enormous help this last 12 months.

What is your favourite quote?

It is a quote from Rosa Parks which I think is very true. “Knowing what must be done does away with fear”. It comes back to understanding the plan and preparing for what needs to happen and taking out as many unknowns as possible. As a lawyer and managing partner this is very important.

If you could invite two people to dinner (dead or alive!) who would they be and why?

My grandmother who I recently lost to cancer and I miss her dearly. She was a woman who grew up in relative poverty in India, married at 17 and moved to Kenya. At mealtimes which were often just the two us, I learned so many important lessons that have shaped me as an individual like always acting with kindness and compassion, that success is always borne out of hard work and most importantly to be resilient. Although she was a traditional matriarch and deeply religious, she was very forward thinking when it came to women and their roles in the home and society. She was always so encouraging especially when it came to education and was probably prouder of me than my parents. I will always remember her telling me to never settle for the stars because I deserved the moon.

Michelle Obama is a feminist icon, an advocate of women standing up for themselves and each other I will never forget a line in one of her speeches “There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish”. She carries herself with such grace and dignity. Her message of solidarity and equality is one which really resonates with me. My note to self reads “be more like Michelle Obama” oh and she can rap along to Missy Elliot which is ideal for post dinner karaoke.