In this episode of Deal Talk with 7MA host Ariail Siggins talks with Amber Walsh, a partner at McGuire Woods. Amber discusses women in private equity, the impact of getting more women involved, compares how men and women network, and the way work-life balance has changed now that women have more control in the boardroom.

Amber leads a team of nearly 50 attorneys heading up McGuire Wood’s healthcare practice. During her career, Amber has primarily focused on private equity-backed health care; working for portfolio companies and investors. She also founded and leads McGuire Woods’ Women In Private Equity Initiative.

Amber starts this episode off with how she founded McGuire Wood’s Women In Private Equity Initiative and the importance of having more women involved in private equity. (3:03) Ariail and Amber then discuss studies talking about the differences in how men and women network. (11:17) After founding McGuire Wood’s Women In Private Equity Initiative, Amber talks about the change she would love to see come out of initiative over the next five years. (17:41)

Women’s role in private equity is changing. Amber discusses this change and talks about the most impactful relationships she’s developed in her career. (20:19) Amber then wraps up this episode with a discussion on the evolution of work-life balance over the past ten years as women have become increasingly involved in boardroom decision-making. (26:16)

For more information on the Women In Private Equity Initiative, visit https://www.mcguirewoods.com/services/industries/Private-Equity/Women-Private-Equity or email Amber at [email protected].

Quotes:

On the real difference in how men and women network:

“So men tend to make networks that are broader, but shallower, and more transactional focused… women, by contrast, tend to form longer, smaller, and deeper network that are based more on trust then on transaction, and often don't use them as effectively to accomplish goals.” (12:25)

On the importance of not overlooking men as possible mentors for women in the workplace:

“Men who actually care about elevating women, men who focus on working with their most talented colleagues in whatever way they need to work to get the job done and retain that talent, those are incredibly important mentors.” (23:16)

Links mentioned in this episode:

* Harvard Study on differences in how men and women network (https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/professional-networking-makes-people-feel-dirty)

* LeanIn.org (https://leanin.org/)

* Helen Fisher, Ph.D., biological anthropologist at Rutgers University (http://www.helenfisher.com/)

* Kellogg study about when women start to network like men (https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/successful-networking-men-women)

* Preqin 2019 Study on Women in Private Equity (https://www.preqin.com/insights/global-alternatives-reports/2019-preqin-global-private-equity-and-venture-capital-report/24905)

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