In the dynamic and often challenging world of law, female trailblazers continue to break barriers and pave the way for future generations. Among these inspiring figures in 2024 is Carmen Kiavila, an Attorney-at-Law at Kiavila Avocats.
Being a multifaceted professional, renowned as an entrepreneur and multi-award winner with a specialization in tax and tech law. Her passion for human and social sciences, encompassing law, economics, and finance, is evident in her impressive educational background. She graduated from the DJCE of Toulouse, the Bar School Training Center of Paris, Queen Mary University of London and holds a Master of Science degree in Financial Economics from the prestigious business school HEC Paris.
Carmen’s expertise extends across various sectors, working with large groups, small companies in France and Switzerland, as well as individuals involved in French-Swiss and international disputes. Known for her unwavering availability and reliability, Carmen Kiavila is dedicated to representing her clients with the utmost professionalism and commitment.
Journey from Business School to Legal Expertise
Carmen embarked on her journey with aspirations in business schools, never anticipating she would become an attorney-at-law. Her interest in business school was initially sparked by its interdisciplinary and international aspects. However, she found herself enrolling in law school, where she quickly realized her passion for independence and intellectual freedom aligned perfectly with the role of an attorney.
Drawn immediately to legal subject matter, Carmen experienced a revelation, wondering why she hadn’t encountered it earlier in her education. Throughout college, Carmen exhibited a strong sense of independence, adept at information retrieval and management—a skill that proved invaluable in her subsequent endeavors.
After several years of international travel and applying her education from HEC in auditing and consulting roles in Geneva, Carmen felt drawn back to law, which felt like home to her. Her experience as a consultant, particularly through a restructuring project, reignited her enthusiasm. It reminded her of the curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity that initially drew her to law, recognizing that her diverse experiences had aptly prepared her for this profession.
Entrepreneurial Odyssey
Carmen understood that starting her own business required significant effort; many dream of launching a firm but never take the leap, acknowledging it as a constant rollercoaster ride. Despite the challenges, her background as a lawyer and prior experience in Switzerland provided valuable support as a young entrepreneur.
Beginning with just one client in Geneva, Carmen initially encountered discomfort and faced skepticism from a couple of people who offered unhelpful advice, The people who truly believed in her were the ones who needed her: the clients. Focused on her business, she diligently crafted strategies, asked pertinent questions and remained open to learning without setting expectations of immediate success or recognition. Her primary goal was to reintegrate herself into the legal industry, confident that every experience would offer valuable lessons.
Navigating societal expectations and opinions about women’s roles and actions, Carmen consciously distanced herself from these constraints. Recognizing the inherent complexities of entrepreneurship, she prioritized focusing on what truly mattered, free from external judgments.
Icons of Inspiration
Reflecting on her humble journey, Carmen thinks that the significance of role models was overlooked.. It was through her work and reading of sociological studies that she firmly grasped the importance of these individuals in the lives of young people, especially young girls. Carmen realized that it is crucial to highlight influential women who have shaped her path. Her mother and sister, who is training to be a medical doctor, stand out as pivotal figures in her life. Carmen also recalls the profound impact of Marie-Agnès Gillot, from whom she took ballet classes long ago, an experience that left a lasting impression.
Among other influential women, Carmen admires Maggie Lena Walker, a pioneering black American banker whose work significantly contributed to the emancipation of African Americans in the USA. She also holds Gisele Halimi, a prominent lawyer, in high regard. Carmen vividly remembers reading Halimi’s “Fritna” at the age of 12, an experience that, though she never initially intended to become a lawyer, she believes may have unconsciously influenced her career path.
Lastly, Carmen acknowledges the remarkable achievements of Hedy Lamarr, a Hollywood actress known for her beauty and talent, who also made groundbreaking contributions to technology that later led to the development of WiFi.
Cultivating Integrity and Team Engagement
Carmen prioritizes integrity, ensuring that her team works with clients in a transparent and straightforward manner, always committed to honesty.
Another key priority for Carmen is engagement. She values fostering a work environment where team members develop strong, supportive relationships, akin to best friends, especially during challenging times. Carmen strives to build such a close-knit team that they occasionally forget her presence.
Recognizing that an entrepreneurial mindset is not typically taught in law firms, Carmen emphasizes the importance of cultivating these skills within her team. She ensures that each employee can effectively contribute to the firm’s activities at their level.
Carmen also values curiosity and embraces opportunities in foreign markets, maintaining an openness to working in other countries.
Building Resilient Teams
Carmen acknowledges that her background is quite unusual for a lawyer, and she often finds that the entrepreneurial aspect is missing when she recruits new team members. She conducts monthly reviews with her team to assess their progress and address any issues.
At times, Carmen encounters resistance when she shares her plans with her team. She believes that resistance and lack of engagement are the worst challenges an entrepreneur can face. When she addresses a team member whose performance needs improvement, she understands that this can lead to feelings of pressure, frustration, and anxiety.
To retain her team and enhance their performance, Carmen Kiavila experiments with new approaches, setting new goals, and incorporating more incentives and consequences. She has learned to be agile and recognizes that the traditional carrot-and-stick method doesn’t always work.
Carmen encourages her team to surface underlying concerns, manage their discomfort, and engage in open dialogues about exploring new approaches. She supports team members in advocating for new responses and seeking help in developing innovative ideas.
Tools for a Modern Law Firm
Carmen observes a shift in the traditional models within law firms, advocating for a broader perspective that values singularities rather than viewing them as threats. She believes that future generations should cultivate interests beyond just the law, embracing fields such as literature, philosophy, economics, mathematics, informatics, and social sciences. Carmen Kiavila emphasizes that focusing solely on law is not the best approach; being open to other disciplines is essential because lawyers are active participants in civil society and are deeply humanists.
In addition, Carmen stresses that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. She highlights the importance of fostering a culture of cybersecurity within the company to minimize digital vulnerability and enhance the ability to respond to cyberattacks effectively.
Carmen’s firm leverages AI for various purposes, including:
- Contract analysis
- Information retrieval
- Legal research
- Predictive analytics
Guide to Effective Leadership
Carmen Kiavila acknowledges that leadership is complex and nuanced, requiring adaptability to various circumstances. When she aims to foster collaboration within her team, she prioritizes building a consensus. She empowers her team members, encouraging them to voice their opinions and take an active role.
In times of uncertainty, Carmen Kiavila adopts an authoritative leadership style to ensure that the team stays focused and achieves their goals. This approach provides the necessary direction and stability during challenging periods.
In one-on-one discussions with team members, she emphasizes a coaching style of leadership and ensures that her team has the resources they need for their long-term careers.
When people think about innovation, they often focus on tech giants, but iterative innovations receive far less attention. Carmen views innovation as a long, collaborative journey aimed at achieving a competitive advantage.
She encourages her team to make connections and voice their ideas. Carmen Kiavila seeks out individuals who will contribute positively to the community, collaborate effectively, be supportive, and confidently express their opinions.
