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Rachel Paris - Source: ONE News -
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If there is one thing in life Rachel Paris shies away from, it is being pigeon-holed.
The 32-year-old Aucklander is not only a partner at leading Auckland law firm Bell Gully, but a Harvard graduate, a mother, a screenwriter, and most recently, the recipient of a Sir Peter Blake emerging leadership award.
Paris was among six recipients of this year's award given to those who embody the qualities of the late, legendary sailor - determination, integrity and a belief in achieving extraordinary things.
Paris is thrilled at the award but says she does not consider herself a leader in the traditional sense, having neither a large team to lead, nor the sort of authority that would come with such a role.
That said she believes leadership comes in many forms. No matter a person's job or formal education, or lack thereof, she says leadership is more about thinking outside the box and encouraging others to do the same.
"I'd like to think that if I'm a leader it's because I don't allow people to box me in. I've always been true to myself and not been afraid to take a risk and do the right thing, even if it challenges the status quo or the conventional approach," she says.
This attitude has served her well, from her reformist Harvard thesis which was later picked up by a Wall Street editorial, to becoming Bell Gully's first part-time partner.
The latter, Paris says, is a radical departure from the traditional partnership model in the legal sector - typically a seven-day-a-week role.
"Law firms are often perceived to be the dinosaurs of the corporate world because it's inherent to our profession to be conservative.
"They've been slower than other business to embrace flexible working because we're in client service. As things get more competitive, we have to overcompensate - that means being available around the clock for our clients in different time-zones," she says.
Paris was a new mum and freshly returned from maternity leave when she was invited to be a partner, and the decision was not easy. She knew the demands of a full time partnership role would tax both her and her family.
"I really battled with how I was going to manage it, so I went back to them and said 'look I don't want to walk away from my career here, I've worked hard...but I can't do it on the usual terms'."
The proposal took some careful consideration from her colleagues but it was well received and she is now an 80% partner - roughly a four-day working week, which gives her more time with her two-year-old son.
The modest, yet determined Paris is also helping effect lifestyle balance for her colleagues via changes in the legal business model, which typically associates revenue and profit as a function of hours worked.
Part of this is encouraging flexible working, such as the ability to leave work on time and log on from home later if needed, as well as time off for employees who have pulled extraordinary amounts of overtime.
THE CAREER VS FAMILY JUNCTION
And what of those women who are facing similar crossroads that Paris has had in her career?
Paris says 60% of law graduates are women. Many, after working hard to gain tenure in their 20s, suddenly find themselves having to choose between their career and having a family.
"I think (Bell Gully) has taken the view that what's the point of bringing these women through if they get to their early 30s and want kids, and then we say it's seven days a week or nothing at all? It's an ongoing struggle but I think there's this real willingness to make it work."
She says the choice to go back to work when children are young is an incredibly personal one - and one which is dictated by circumstance.
In her case, Paris says she would not be able to do what she does now without the support of her husband, as well as her parents and siblings who are actively involved with caring for her son.
CHASING DREAMS
It was during her year of maternity leave that she teamed up with her sister to write a feature length screenplay - realising a dream she had always had to write.
"It was a massive challenge because my son never slept!" she says.
But, she reasoned it was an opportune time to do it, knowing that her life would only get more hectic once she returned to work.
That, and her desire not to reflect later in life on the 'what-ifs'.
"It's just about being stubborn and thinking 'I will see something through to the end', and I think that is where so many people give up," she says.
Though she and her sister, as novice writers, were warned not to get their hopes up, six weeks later South Pacific Pictures was in touch.
Their work became the first ever original screenplay South Pacific Pictures optioned and is expected to go into production next year.
Despite her energy and commitment to every endeavour, she admits it is not always easy. But she says the constant juggling act suits her temperament.
"I do feel like this precarious balance is actually working for me. I'm in equilibrium."
But, she laughs, just try throwing another child into the mix!
ABOUT THE AWARDS
Each year, the Sir Peter Blake Trust - which was formed in honour of the late ocean-going adventurer and environmental campaigner Sir Peter Blake - awards one Blake medallist and up to six emerging leaders in recognition of the extraordinary achievements of New Zealanders.
This years Blake Medallist is Oxford University vice-chancellor, Dr John Hood.
The six emerging leaders are: Bell Gully partner Rachel Paris, Royal New Zealand Air Force Wing Commander Russell Mardon, Synlait CEO and managing director John Penno, The Icehouse CEO Andrew Hamilton, pastor Alfred Ngaro, and the principal of One Tree Hill College Iva Ropati.
To read more about the awards, CLICK here
To see Alison Mau's chat with Rachel Paris on TV ONE's Breakfast show, click on the WATCH tab.
