IWD: Interview with Leila Chalk
Leila’s story is part of our International Women’s Day series, where we’re celebrating women’s achievements in the small/medium business space.
Today I sat down with Leila Chalk, the Founder and Managing Partner at Forty Four Degrees, to learn more about her top career accomplishments and how she is teaching her daughter about the importance of International Women’s Day.
Her key message? Everyone’s journey through life is unique, and we should embrace each other’s differences.
1. Tell us a little about yourself and your background
Leila: I am many things to many people; I’m a lawyer, mother and writer to name a few. My early life was complicated – I grew up in Bosnia during the war and was exposed to a lot of negative things. It was a completely different world, and I was an asylum seeker until my family and I settled in Australia in 1997.
After we settled, I attended school and university, before opening my own law firm in 2015. Since 2021, we now have a new business partner, and the firm has grown with over nine lawyers and a supportive administrative team.
Because of my upbringing, I really try to focus on appreciating the simple things in life that I’m passionate about – photography, travel, food and writing.
2. Take us through your career to date – what has been some of the biggest accomplishments you’ve had in your career? What are you particularly proud of?
Leila: Something I am particularly proud of is participating in a business that benefits others.
At Forty Four Degrees, we actively support charities and provide legal advice for clients with a cause. I really enjoy taking part in these partnerships and seeing how our services benefit other people.
The firm was also a finalist for ‘Diversity Law Firm of the Year’, which was such an inspirational and important moment for me and everyone at the firm.
3. Have you ever felt career barriers or witnessed bias in the workplace due to being a female?
Leila: Absolutely, and I believe there are even more complications for women from ethnic minorities.
I have been asked all sorts of questions that showed bias – including someone asking me if my family participates in honour killings. I have also experienced this in the courtroom, where a judge refused to pronounce my name and address me.
Having said that, I have tried to rise above these incidents, and do believe that we are making changes in all the right directions. It’s important that we continue to have these conversations and discuss these sometimes-uncomfortable issues.
4. How can we inspire other women to pursue growth and leadership positions in their career?
Leila: I think the biggest thing we can do is take ownership of other people’s experiences and try to make environments feel safe for those that may be different from us.
For example, I am a very loud and extroverted person, however not everyone shares those traits. In the same way, not everyone likes the same movies, or reads the same books. But if we can make safe environments where people - no matter who they are - feel welcomed and comfortable, then we give people room to grow.
And when we give people room to grow, I find this naturally inspires them to take on leadership qualities.
“I think the biggest thing we can do to inspire other women is to actively make safe spaces for each individual to truly be themselves.”
5. Do you have any female role models that you look up to?
Leila: I am lucky enough to have an inspirational mother that I look up to. Someone who really taught me how to appreciate all aspects of life.
She was supportive in my career, showed me how to be a loving family member, and taught me the importance of playing an active role in the community.
Not only would she communicate these values to me, but actively teach me how to live out these values in daily life.
6. What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Leila: I grew up in Europe where International Women’s Day is a big celebration. We would buy flowers and gifts for all the important females in our lives – teachers, colleagues, family members. In a way, it was celebrated very similarly to Mother’s Day.
I love that it is now something that is being celebrated more and more, right around the world. These are important conversations that we need to be having, and it should extend beyond the workplace and into our personal relationships too. We should be celebrating our achievements, but also reflect on the cause and the values it stands for.
7. What is your #BreakTheBias pledge for this International Women’s Day?
Leila: This year, my pledge is focused on my 4-year-old daughter.
I want to teach her to focus on herself and her own needs; to instil values of ownership and self confidence that will follow her as she goes through life.
This is not about other people; this is about teaching her how to be self-assured and be aware of what she needs.
8. What is a key message or piece of advice you’d like to leave us with?
Leila: One key piece of advice I’d like to leave is that everyone’s journey is different and needs to be respected.
Whether your journey is career related, motherhood, community focused – whatever it is, it is your own journey and it’s okay if your journey is different to anyone else’s.
Leila Chalk is the Managing Partner of Forty Four Degrees.
More information about International Women’s Day can be found here.