Meet Malgorzata (Gosia) Rzepiak-Xhelilaj, our General Counsel for 蜜豆视频 Poland. Gosia started as a Legal Specialist in the Marketing Team at Credit Suisse in 2011, and now advises senior management and clients on key legal matters.

Gosia, please tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in Wroc艂aw, Poland, where I am currently based. During my studies, I had the opportunity to spend a year abroad in Graz, Austria. Growing up, I was very active in sports and music, and at one point, I thought I might focus on those areas professionally. I鈥檝e been married since 2012 (fun fact: I married the same man three times in three different places, year after year!) and I鈥檓 a proud mother of two wonderful sons.

Throughout your career as a lawyer, what has been the most pivotal moment that shaped your perspective of the profession?

There have been several. I鈥檇 highlight studying in Austria, which gave me valuable practical experience, transitioning from a deployed function to the local legal team, the integration of Credit Suisse and 蜜豆视频, and becoming General Counsel for Poland. However, I believe the most pivotal moment was becoming a mother. It not only transformed my personal life but also helped me set clear priorities and become more organized.

What inspired you to pursue a career in law?聽

Honestly, I never dreamt of becoming a lawyer. If my parents had allowed me to move to another city as a teenager, to continue ballet school, I might have pursued a career in dance. Legal studies in Poland seemed too theoretical and lacking in practical application. Until the last moment, I wasn鈥檛 sure which path to choose, so studying law was more of a pragmatic decision than a passionate one. However, becoming an in-house lawyer and working closely with international businesses completely changed my view of the legal profession.

Being recognized as one of the top 25 Women Lawyers in Business by Forbes is an incredible achievement. Did you ever envision such recognition?

As for being featured in Forbes, it felt completely out of reach. When a friend suggested I apply, my initial thought was, 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 for me鈥. But after reviewing the past rankings and comparing them to my achievements, I decided to give it a try. My motto is, 鈥淎t least I tried鈥, and that鈥檚 exactly how I felt when I sent in my application. Even if I wasn鈥檛 selected, I knew I could work on my goals and apply again next year. I was truly delighted to be recognized amongst such a talented group of women.

How do you sustain balance between your work and personal life?

For me, work-life balance doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean working just 8 hours a day. It鈥檚 about understanding that there will be times when my professional life needs more attention, and other times when my personal life will take priority. Setting clear priorities and being kind to myself has been crucial in finding the right balance.

I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without the support of my family and friends. Once I realized that asking for support doesn鈥檛 diminish me, and that people are usually eager to help, everything became easier. I also can鈥檛 overstate the importance of my managers, who have always been incredibly supportive.

What advice would you give to other women aspiring to enter the legal field or who are at the beginning of their career in law, especially when it comes to overcoming challenges or navigating this industry?

  • Find a female mentor who can guide you through the legal landscape and provide pragmatic advice.
  • Consistently build your network, both within your organization and with other lawyers.
  • Take every opportunity to speak up, advocate for your position, and trust in your knowledge. Believe in yourself!