The Power of Reinvention: How the Executive In Women Leadership Programme Accelerated a General Counsel’s Career

Fiona Johnston’s career is not a story of linear progression, but of deliberate reinvention. From international beginnings to her role as General Counsel at Baillie Gifford, her journey reflects the value of breadth, adaptability, and the catalytic impact of the Executive Women In Leadership Programme.

After studying law at Oxford, she entered the legal profession in London with a focus on debt finance. While successful, she quickly recognised the risks of early specialisation and made a strategic move into corporate law to broaden her experience.

 “After a couple of years, I realised that it was potentially a very long career in very narrow specialism. Broadening one’s experience, this is a sort of a systemic challenge in the legal profession” Fiona reflects.

A return to Scotland ahead of the financial crisis brought both challenge and opportunity. As the legal market contracted, Fiona transitioned in-house to Baillie Gifford, an environment where her generalist skillset became a distinct advantage. Fiona worked across product, regulation, and commercial matters, building a reputation for versatility and sound judgement.

Yet like many professionals navigating non-linear careers, Fiona reached a point where progression felt uncertain

“As a lawyer in an in-house team, you can feel that you reach a dead end quite quickly. I wanted to do more, but there wasn’t an obvious trajectory” she explained.

It was at this stage that she joined the Executive Women In Leadership Programme, an experience that proved pivotal.

Fiona explains “when you feel stuck, I think it’s important to do small changes to try and unlock the next step, even though you don’t know where it may lead.”

The programme provided more than development, it delivered perspective.

“It was a good blend of real life stories and just enough technical stuff to get your teeth into”.

The exposure to senior women leaders reframed Fiona’s understanding of career progression, reinforcing that success is rarely straightforward.

“One of the things that I really like about the network is the fact that members come from different industries. So you get that really broad perspective”.

Just as importantly, it expanded her network and created a space for honest reflection.

Crucially, the programme translated insight into action. Fiona began to approach her career more intentionally, strengthening senior relationships, increasing her visibility across the business, and stepping into new areas of responsibility. She moved beyond technical excellence to focus on influence and organisational impact.

These shifts accelerated her progression. By broadening her internal network and aligning more closely with business priorities, she enhanced both her profile and her contribution, ultimately leading to her appointment as General Counsel.

Fiona’s story highlights a critical truth: capability alone is not always enough to unlock advancement. The Executive Women In Leadership Programme enabled her to fully leverage her experience, turning a strong, non-linear career into a strategic advantage.

Her journey is a compelling example of how targeted leadership development can provide the clarity, confidence, and connections needed to move from potential to senior leadership.

Executive Women in Leadership Alumni Spotlight Series

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Zeina Sawaya-Melville for her valuable assistance in the development and writing of this article.

This article forms part of our Executive Women in Leadership Alumni Spotlight Series, celebrating the 10th anniversary of the EWLP programme in September 2026, and has been developed collaboratively with the support of Judy Wagner, Director of FWB Ltd and Prof Susan Murphy of The University of Edinburgh Business School, (who co-founded the EWLP), the EWIL Advisory Board, programme contributors, and interview participants.

The EWLP has since evolved into the Executive Leadership Programme (ELP), delivered in partnership with the University of Edinburgh Business School and open to leaders of all genders across the private, public and third sectors.

For more information about joining the 2026 cohort, please contact elp@fwbltd.com.