Giorgia Elsie Rasolohery: Empowering Change through Leadership & Futuristic Vision

Women leaders in Mauritius have played a crucial role in driving change across various sectors, including politics, business, education, and social development. Despite facing deeply ingrained cultural and societal challenges, many women have risen to prominent positions and have become powerful advocates for gender equality. Their contributions have not only inspired other women to pursue leadership roles but have also helped challenge traditional gender norms, opening up opportunities for the next generation of female leaders. These women have shown resilience, strength, and determination, ensuring that their voices are heard, while simultaneously fostering positive change in their respective fields. Their work continues to empower other women and push for greater inclusion in decision-making processes.

Giorgia Elsie Rasolohery, Director of GEO Lawyers, stands as a prominent example of female leadership in Mauritius. As an inspiring figure in the legal industry, Elsie has been breaking through traditional gender barriers and advocating for inclusivity and progress. Under her leadership, GEO Lawyers transforms the legal landscape, redefining the firm’s approach to the legal profession. With a strong focus on innovation and forward-thinking strategies, Elsie has set a new standard for law firms in Mauritius and beyond. Through her example, she has demonstrated the power of leadership that is rooted in empowerment, encouraging other women to take on leadership roles and champion change in their own industries. By leading with integrity and vision, Elsie and her firm are paving the way for a more inclusive, diverse, and progressive legal industry.

In a close interview, Elsie shed light on her educational background, challenges and women’s role in country development.

Could you share some details about your educational background and the subjects you have studied?

I began my professional journey in France, where I pursued a postgraduate degree that provided the foundation for my career in business and corporate law. This education paved the way for my initial role as a corporate legal advisor, where I gained expertise in various aspects of business law in the Malagasy, French, Mauritian and other jurisdictions. One of the most significant milestones of my career came in 2003 when I pioneered the internal legal outsourcing of a leading global technology and outsourcing company. This groundbreaking initiative involved developing a business model for legal operations that was successfully replicated across multiple jurisdictions, making Mauritius the first country to implement a system that transformed legal operations. 

This role not only solidified my experience in supervising teams of lawyers and managing legal advice across countries but also ignited my passion for innovation in the legal sector. In the years that followed, I further honed my expertise by joining the oldest law firm on Mauritius Island, soon after it became a Pan- African law firm, where I took on a leadership role in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and data protection, advising major Mauritian conglomerates. My work encompassed a wide array of industries, and I developed a deep understanding of corporate, contract, banking, and technology laws, and regulatory & compliance matters. Throughout my career, I led teams of over 25 lawyers, helping businesses navigate the intricacies of the global market, and striving to make a difference in managing complex legal matters. Driven by a desire to support clients beyond traditional legal services, I also founded DS Privacy Consulting, which focuses on providing tailored data protection compliance solutions.

In addition to my legal expertise, I applied project management principles to support clients' growth strategies. In 2021, I co-founded the Indian Ocean Islands Foundation is dedicated to fostering an integrated approach to artistic, cultural, environmental, and scientific initiatives across the Indoceanic region. This work allowed me to combine my passion for law, innovation, and community development, making a lasting impact on both the legal and broader social landscape.

Passion is the driving force that helps me navigate through any roadblocks

What inspired you to create GEO Lawyers? Can you explain what the firm does, its core focus, and what your key responsibilities are as the Director of GEO Lawyers?

With a team combining 20 years of experience as in-house legal counsel in a global environment, GEO Lawyers were created with the ambition to provide strategic legal solutions and advisory services to businesses operating across the Indoceanic region. It forms a strong partnership based on trust, transparency and teamwork, and a shared vision for the future. As a Director at GEO Lawyers, my responsibilities include overseeing the firm’s expansion, ensuring its recognition in the market, and maintaining ethical standards. We are currently expanding within the Indian Ocean region, with plans to enter Africa. Our goal is not to compete with larger law firms, but to carve out our niche by leveraging our unique experience as former in-house counsel, which sets us apart in how we advise clients.

What are the main areas you focus on to drive growth?

The key focus areas for driving growth at GEO Lawyers revolve around three main expertise. First, I have a strong background in alternative legal services, which a distinct from traditional legal counselling and advisory services. Our second focus is leveraging our in-house counsel experience to provide tailored innovative, forward-thinking, and results-driven solutions for organizations. Lastly, as someone with ties to the Indian Ocean region, I aim to expand GEO Lawyers' presence in this area, while also collaborating with the best local lawyers in regions where we don’t yet have a direct presence.

Can you share some of the major obstacles you face in your current role and how you navigate through them?

In my current role, I face multiple challenges, as we are a young firm. As a director, I'm also responsible for legal advising, business development, management, recruitment, and training, wearing many hats. These are the challenges that any entrepreneur encounters, regardless of gender, especially when starting a business. Despite being experienced in the field, it is a subtle exercise to balance strategic, management and operational roles simultaneously. To overcome this, I rely on hard work, and my passion for everything I do, transforming mistakes and setbacks into stepping stones. I believe that with passion, faith, and dedication, success follows. I teach my son to work diligently, and tell him that rewards will come. If you're no longer enjoying something, stay true to yourself and even if it seems hard, move on.

What have been the most significant achievements in your professional journey, and what is your success philosophy as a leader?

One of my biggest achievements was pioneering the in-house legal outsourcing model. In the late 90s, while there were few external service providers, so we created an internal legal home service centre that supported 250 lawyers globally. We started small, but the scope of our operations grew significantly, expanding in terms of matters, geography, and languages. This model proved successful because it was sustainable and easy to replicate in different countries, adapting to local business needs and languages like Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, and various European languages. My success philosophy is to be grateful towards my mentors and all the people who surrounded me and still support me during my professional journey. I always make sure to build a legacy for future generations, trying to make a difference in my day-to-day life.

How do you envision the future of Mauritius’s business environment? What role are women contributing to the country’s economic development?

The Indianoceanic islands, made of Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, and Réunion should strive together to create a unique identity and strengthen their economic ties, as their skills are complementary, and their growth is interdependent. By steadily working together, they can form a unified economic presence that thrives amidst global challenges. My goal is to contribute to the promotion of regional integration and self-sufficiency, as well as the positioning of the Indian Oceanic area as a collective force in Africa and the Indian Ocean. On women’s roles, I advocate for equality. Both women and men should collaborate, highlighting our shared humanity beyond gender, origin, or religion. Vision and emotions, which set us apart from AI, should remain central to our human experience.

Giorgia Elsie Rasolohery, Director, GEO Lawyers

Giorgia Elsie Rasolohery combines her legal expertise with a passion for innovation, aiming to make a forward-thinking firm that embraces diversity and excellence. Her leadership is characterized by a commitment to challenging gender norms and empowering others to break through barriers in their professional journeys.