In our special column this month, we are pleased to host an interview with Ms. Lindsey Keeble, Managing Partner, Watson Farley & Williams LLP, who says that meeting new people and understand what makes them tick, especially in management roles, is never a waste of time.
SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?
Lindsey Keeble: I knew I wanted to be a lawyer at a young age, but also had a love of languages. At University, I taught myself Greek as I was in halls with lots of Greek students, so decided to apply to law firms with offices in Greece hoping my ability to speak Greek would get me an interview! Since then, I have not looked back and my love of the shipping industry was piqued from working in our Piraeus offices as a trainee. I loved the international nature of the work and the passion of working with family businesses.
S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?
L.K.: Having a management role, I do miss the thrill of structuring new deals and helping clients meet their goals. But now I get to work with our teams across the world and in all of our sectors – it has been really exciting to see the convergence of our leading maritime and energy experts working together to help the stakeholders in the maritime industry meet their decarbonisation goals. I also love the great variety people I get to work with.
S4S: Who is/was the most influential person/mentor to you & why?
L.K.: I have been really lucky to have worked for some fantastic partners throughout my time at the firm and I like to think I have sought to glean the best from each of them! One person who will always stand out to me is Mei Lin Goh who sadly lost her battle with cancer last year. I first met Mei when I was a junior lawyer in London. She was absolutely fabulous and didn’t take any nonsense from anyone. She taught me the importance both of being yourself at work and that you can be successful by showing your human side and understanding other people’s perspectives.
S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you’ve ever been given and why?
L.K.: Probably the best advice was being encouraged to move to our Paris office. I relocated there in 2008, just before the financial crisis and my experiences in those years were invaluable – both in terms of building and growing a team and the challenges of the banking and shipping markets. As to the worst advice, nothing springs to mind! But that’s because I probably didn’t listen to it…
S4S: What is the most worthwhile career investment (in energy, time, money) you’ve ever made?
L.K.: The most worthwhile investment has been being inquisitive and interested in people and what they can bring to the table. It has never been a waste of time to get to know people and understand makes them tick, especially in management roles.
S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?
L.K.: To have more fun as a student and to study a subject because you enjoy it. I chose the quickest route to becoming a lawyer and to get a job. I would tell myself to study longer and find a degree involving travel. As to the advice I should ignore – it would probably be “have more fun!”.
S4S: In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your business life?
L.K.: I have become more accepting of people who have a different approach to me and learnt to see that most people have a valuable contribution to make.
S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?
L.K.: I am interested in changing the image of the maritime industry outside of our sector. Shipping is often given a bad press and I think it is important to ensure that the importance of shipping to the global economy is understood. This is key to getting the support the industry needs to decarbonise but also highlighting what shipping means to local communities. Part of this also involves bringing to life the variety of skilled jobs that being in the shipping industry can offer.
S4S: What is your personal motto?
L.K.: Teamwork makes the dream work.
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.
