Dana Denis-Smith

Dana began as a journalist before joining the global law firm Linklaters. She now is a high-profile campaigner for helping women in the legal and other professions to balance professional and family life.

In 2010 Dana founded Obelisk Support, a business focussing on women in law, in particular those who have left their jobs to start families. Her model is simple: help parents work from home and keep using their skills. Her team find and bring work to those lawyers, allowing them to work remain economically active.

Obelisk Support has now grown into a multi-million-pound business working with over 1,000 lawyers across the world.

Dana has won numerous awards: FT Innovative Lawyer (2012); Legal Week’s Outstanding Legal Innovator (2015); and Legal Personality of the Year (2017).

Dana is the founder of the First 100 Years project that follows the journey of women in law since 1919 when British women were first allowed to practise law.

Dana draws on this rich history of pioneering women professionals and many contemporary examples to explain with energy and commitment how creative thinking about professional and family life can make a huge impact for the better.