Olga Ayers

Whenever we partner with new founders and companies it’s the beginning of a long partnership. It’s important for me to ensure that even from our initial interactions, founders feel like we are a helpful resource and a safe sounding board. My job is to make things easier, not harder. Lawyers have a bad rep and my goal is to hopefully show we’re not all that bad - I promise! 

I used to be a professional ballet dancer

Before I became a lawyer, I trained to be a professional ballet dancer at Canada’s National Ballet School. After graduating, I did it professionally in Germany for a year before I decided to try something different. The demands of training to achieve “perfection” from a young age and the discipline it required shaped me into who I am today. I ended up moving to the UK for university where I studied finance and eventually fell into law. I often get asked how I could go from being a dancer to a lawyer. I admit it’s unconventional but I really love what I do now, the people I get to work with and the variety my job brings. 

I appreciate the pressures and demands a founder must feel building a global business - it’s not easy

Before Atomico, I worked as a corporate and venture lawyer at Marriott Harrison and Cooley. I get what it is like working in a high-paced and high-pressure environment. Add the weight of building a business with no guarantee of success, possibly no security to fall back on and a bunch of employees you are responsible for as a founder and it must be x1000 harder.  

Finding the right lawyer for your business is important

I’ve had the privilege of working with a lot of different companies over the years and also a lot of different lawyers, with different approaches. I’ve been able to see what works and what doesn’t. A common pitfall I see is that founders don’t always find the right lawyers to help them with their journey. A great lawyer isn’t just a risk-spotter — they’re a strategic partner. 

It’s harder than ever to stay on top of legal issues in an ever changing world

Innovation is evolving at rapid speed and regulatory frameworks are constantly playing catch-up. This means that not only do companies have to continuously monitor changes to the legal landscape but also regulations end up having gaps or grey areas that companies have to find a way to navigate. Founders are increasingly building a global operation, with a global workforce, which inevitably adds complexities.

No matter how long you’ve done your job, there’s always room for improvement

It’s very important to me to ensure that we’re helping our founders in a way which makes a meaningful difference. It’s easy to fall into a routine of doing things the same way. Businesses don’t survive if they don’t continuously innovate. I hope to build a relationship with each of our founders that is collaborative and open. If there’s something that one of our founders is struggling with or that’s not working for them in our approach, I’d like them to feel comfortable enough to tell me so that we can find a solution.

My kids are my world

I have two young daughters who keep me grounded, inspired and endlessly proud (as well as constantly tired!). They truly changed my world and outlook.