“The main difficulty in my career has been overcoming biases and stereotypes”

Cecilia, tell us a bit about your journey to becoming the woman you are today.

I come from a family with Lebanese origins. My grandparents were born in Lebanon and migrated to Mexico when they were children. My father studied law but never practiced; he was a writer and theatre director. I grew up around theatre courses, plays, actors, backstage equipment, etc. I used to do my homework watching my father run a rehearsal and preparing the opening show or a premiere.

I never doubted my desire to study law, and my father encouraged me to pursue it by applying to Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) as that was his alma mater and according to him the best place to live and understand what makes Mexico tick and the needs of its people.

Although he died when I was just25, he was able to teach me how to face my fears, how to go from feeling nervous about something to feeling excited about it and how to believe in myself. It has not been easy, but in difficult moments, I always try to think, “What would dad have told me now? If he could recommend anything to me, what would it be?” He was a passionate man, intense, bon vivant, joyful; I think that living my life honoring his example and giving life to his ideals makes me the woman I am today.

Give us an example of a time in your career when you were treated differently because you are a woman.

I have several examples of such situations and they are all too frequent. Several years ago, for example, I was in a meeting with two male partners and a client, and every time I participated in the discussion providing a comment, one of the partners – the one that does not belong to my area of practice – asked the other partner – the one that belongs to my same area – for confirmation that what I was saying was correct.

Male lawyers are easily seen as litigators; women seem “weaker.”

In a few words how would you describe the professional environment for women in Mexico?

Extra challenging, exhausting, but super-rewarding.

Have you encountered career difficulties as a woman?                                                

The main difficulty in my career has been overcoming biases and stereotypes: “She is too young; she is too emotional and vehement; will she be able to fight and look after the client’s interest the same way a man would do so? She is too sweet; she is more a mediator; I would not see her as a litigator.”

As a female lawyer, what are the biggest obstacles to successfully juggling your private and professional lives?

The demands I put on myself. The feeling that if I don’t take the chance, the challenge, the job, if I dare to say, “Sorry, I can’t take charge of that; I am busy,” I will be replaced, forgotten about.

Let’s stop being gender obsessed and focus on our self-confidence and strengths to move things forward.

Do you have the same salary and benefits as similarly qualified and experienced male colleagues?                                                         

No. There are several reasons. The number and size of litigation cases that the male partners handle; but of course, male partners have more cases because of the bias and stereotype I mentioned. Male lawyers are easily seen as litigators; women seem “weaker.” The prevailing opinion is “When it comes to fighting, he is our guy; if you need to negotiate, she might be a good option.”

Lastly, what message would you like to send to women everywhere reading this article?

Let’s stop being gender obsessed and focus on our self-confidence and strengths to move things forward.