Ep#26 Beyond the Legal Path: Hannah Ellwood's Journey to Company Secretary of Barclays Group

This episode aims to inspire lawyers to consider diverse career opportunities within the legal and corporate sectors beyond being an in-house or private practice lawyer.  Erica is joined by Hannah Ellwood, the Company Secretary for Barclays Group, to discuss her unique career journey, including her former role as chief of staff and and current role as company secretary to a FTSE 100 company. Hannah elaborates on her day-to-day responsibilities, from advising on corporate governance to organising board meetings and dealing with senior board members and provides insights into how to move into a company secretarial role and the skill set required to be successful. She also shares her personal journey from a senior associate at Clifford Chance to her current position, offering advice on navigating career changes, building resilience, and effectively dealing with senior stakeholders.

Chapters

00:59 Role of a Company Secretary

05:27 Annual General Meetings (AGMs)

12:58 Pathways to Becoming a Company Secretary

17:48 Hannah's Career Journey

23:36 Choosing a Career Path in Law

29:43 Building Resilience and Handling Stress

34:26 Recognising and Leveraging Your Strengths

38:54 Advice to My Younger Self