For International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, LaToya Robinson, Senior Pro Bono and Social Impact Advisor at Clyde & Co, tells us which modern-day woman she admires and why.

What is your role and what does it involve?
I am a Senior Pro Bono and Social Impact Advisor at Clyde & Co, a global law firm. Although I’m based at our Manchester office, my role is regional and I support colleagues across all of our 13 UK offices. My role involves coordinating new and existing Pro Bono and Social Impact activities in the UK, working in partnership with a wide range of internal stakeholders across the UK firm to maintain relationships with external charitable and community partners, collating data, and coordinating our UK Champions Network and associated internal volunteer groups.

Three words to describe yourself
Impact-driven. Organised. Fitness-fanatic!

How do you mentor or support other women in the workplace?
I’ve come across a lot of women in the workplace who experience self‑doubt or imposter feelings when working in corporate settings. I try to help by reflecting back their strengths, for example saying “here’s what I see you doing exceptionally well…”, encouraging them to take stretch assignments where appropriate (challenging, time-bound projects that push people beyond their current skills to foster professional growth), and helping them to frame accomplishments for performance reviews. I also value the importance of small gestures like celebrating their wins (big or small), checking in during stressful periods, or sharing advice with kindness and honesty.

What advice would you give to women entering the industry?
My biggest piece of advice to women entering the legal profession (and the advice I wish I had received) would be to believe in yourself and your capabilities! Trust that you belong in the room. The legal profession can be intimidating, especially early on. You’ll encounter people with louder voices, more years of experience, or more confidence than you feel. But none of that diminishes your right to be there. Your background, your perspective, and your lived experience all add value. Never shrink yourself to fit the room, grow into it confidently. I would also say build a support system that reflects your worth. Believe that you deserve mentors, sponsors and allies. Seek out people who see your potential and will champion your growth, and remember that asking for support is not a weakness.

Which historical or modern-day woman do you admire the most, and why?
As cliché as this sounds, I would say my Mum. When I was growing up, I remember the start of my Mum’s career journey – balancing studying for her undergraduate degree whilst raising a young family, then going on to start her career once she graduated and not only having a full-time job but also taking on additional work for income purposes and to gain further work experience. She went on to do a postgraduate master’s degree, whilst balancing a full-time job with raising a family and ensuring our needs were always met. Her strength, determination and resilience are all qualities that I have always admired, never taken for granted, and have myself adopted to ensure that I could be just as success in my career as she has been in hers.

Tell us one thing that people may not know about you
I have a secret love for classical music and recently started learning how to play the violin. Starting violin from scratch has reminded me how essential a growth mindset is. It has helped me to empathise with others who are learning new skills at work and has encouraged me to take on unfamiliar challenges at work.

Complete this sentence ‘The absolute best thing about volunteering is…’
…seeing how small contributions can create meaningful, positive change for individuals and communities. Being able to use what you have, i.e. your time, skills or empathy, to create real impact. This fits especially well for skilled volunteers like lawyers, but it applies broadly too.