ICC Georgia interviewed Sopho Natroshvili – Head of Corporate Practice at BGI Legal.

First of all, please tell us about your success story, what stages you went through, what difficulties you faced and what stage you are at now?

Let me start from the beginning. My first independent achievement was being selected for participation in the US Government funded FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) Program. There was a very limited access to English language TV or movies back then. I remember isolating myself for a week to work on TOEFL tests. After many sleepless nights and 3 rounds of competition, I was selected as a finalist of the FLEX Program and had a chance to study in an American high school for a year. I lived with an amazing American host family. I think of them as my second family who had a major impact on me during my formative years. One thing that living and studying in the US taught me was to look at things from different angles and perspectives. This is when I decided to become a lawyer. I passed the exams and became a law student at Tbilisi State University the same summer I came back from the US. In 2008 I joined BGI, already a leading law firm in Georgia, as paralegal. As a second-year law student I struggled a lot at the beginning. It was a big challenge to work on major cross-border mandates with such a great team of professionals and, at the same time, manage university work. This is when I decided to focus on self-discipline and take my sense of responsibility to the next level. Of course, there were mistakes and heartbreaks along the way, but I persevered with the help of my colleagues, mentors and friends. I remember one of the significant cases in my career, which had gone sideways before coming to BGI. I had to “clean up the mess” and lead the team to success. I was an associate then, but that was my first step towards leadership, when I discovered a different version of myself – a person who could not only do certain work but was at the same time able to encourage and lead others.  To top it all, I was very young when I got married and had a child. So, I faced the biggest challenge all successful women face early on – how to balance family and work. If not for my husband’s and parents’ continued support, it would have been difficult, to say the least. I have had days when I did not have energy left for my kids or vice versa.  Then I realized that finding a perfect balance is impossible.  I try to be where I am needed the most. Sometimes it’s work, sometimes it’s family. That said, I am only able to do this because I have been fortunate to have support from my family and a friendly work environment with impeccable team culture.

As we know you are Head of Corporate Practice at “BGI Legal”. Tell us more about your work and your future plans.

I have been the Head of Corporate Practice at BGI Legal for more than a year now. Although I have been with this law firm years, assuming a new role in leadership was still challenging. I started looking at things from different angles, placing increased emphasis on work with my colleagues and building external ties. As a leader, I always try to remember my long journey to this point, what I needed when I was taking the first steps, support I got from my mentors… Having this in mind, I always try to make fair decisions.

Together with my team I generally work with major foreign companies and some of the biggest global corporations, help them start and develop business in Georgia, and provide ongoing legal support for their operations. The advantage of working in a leading law firm is that you receive various questions from clients usually in relation to completely different matters. Therefore, work never becomes a boring routine. Thus, one always remains in shape and continues to grow professionally. As such, I look forward to future challenges ahead and believe that there is a lot I can still learn as well as contribute to my firm and my profession.

What are the benefits to having women in leadership?

Generally, I do not agree with the differentiation of managers based on their gender. I don’t believe women must be in leadership because they are women. I believe in equal rights and equal opportunities for both men and women. This means managers must be elected solely based on merit – i.e., professionalism, skills, experience, etc. That said, it is also a fact that women undergo a more difficult and longer path to leadership compared to most men. This is due to many factors, including but not limited to cultural issues, the difficulty of raising kids while pursuing their careers, etc. At the same time, unfortunately, even in this time and age it seems that more is expected and demanded from women (especially women in leadership) than men. It may be a paradox, but such discriminatory approach often comes from women themselves, the ones who are already in positions of power and influence.

Considering that they have to overcome so many obstacles to reach their goals, women leaders are generally super productive high performers who inspire others. Women usually have unique vision / approach to many seemingly routine problems, which translate into new opportunities for business. Thus, having experienced women professionals in leadership is a great asset to any ambitions business or undertaking.

What’s the best piece of advice You’ve Ever Received?

I kept a diary when I was a kid. There was a separate section for wishes/advice from other people. I asked my dad to write a little advice for me. Obviously, he wished me happy life and all the standard wishes, but he continued: “Try to make even a very sad person smile. This way your happiness will be more complete. Dream big but stay realistic. Protect relationships with ones around you”. These were just the words when I was 15. The older I get, the more I realize how hard it is to follow this advice but how important each word truly is in personal as well as work life.

Finally, let’s wrap up with the traditional question, what would you advise aspiring professionals and young people who are now taking their first career steps?

I may sound a bit banal, but hey – self-discipline, determination, a sense of responsibility and hard work are essential for success, which cannot be supplemented by anything. I would tell young professionals to stop doubting and start believing in themselves. Don’t be afraid of  change at any stage of your life. You know better what is best for you. Also, as hard as it may seem, it is crucial to do any work with passion. Own what you do – the product which you deliver within a small team or a greater environment. Be sure to invest yourself in it fully. Be happy with what you do – this is what success is truly about.

Link to the original interview:

https://icc.ge/.../11/20/interview-with-sopho-natroshvili/