Breaking Barriers: A Woman’s Journey Through Law, Leadership, and Legacy

Classrooms, courtrooms, boardrooms.

My career has been anything but ‘conventional’.

I began my professional life as an educator, guiding learners through mathematics and science, shaping minds and nurturing their confidence. It was a role built on patience, clarity and a deep sense of purpose.

But I could never fully shake my desire to become a lawyer.

You see, when I was a little girl, I would stand outside the local lawyer’s office with my father and dream about one day following the same path.

So when the opportunity arose and I had the chance to fulfil that dream through a scholarship, I grabbed it and ran – straight back to university. Newly married and with a new baby to raise. 

I entered the legal profession determined to use knowledge as a tool for empowerment. I studied relentlessly, qualified as an attorney, conveyancer and notary public.

And then, I stepped into a world that, frankly, wasn’t always ready for women who looked or led like me.

But I stayed.

Not just in the room, but at the main table.

Over the years, my path has evolved. I’ve gone from legal advisor to governance specialist, to now holding the executive roles of Chief Business Development Officer and Group Director of Legal, Risk, and Compliance at Rewardsco.

I’ve led multi-million-dollar commercial deals, advised global boards, navigated complex international regulatory frameworks and built strategic alliances across the US, UK and Africa.

And while I’ve worn many hats, the most fulfilling role I have maintained in my career has been that of a mentor.

Breaking through the glass ceiling is only step one. Once you’re on the other side, your real work begins.

And that’s making sure others can walk through the door more easily than you did.

Let’s not sugar-coat it: women, especially women of colour, are still underrepresented in C-suites across the globe. We’re often required to be over-prepared, over-qualified and yet, with all this in our arsenal, we are still underestimated.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

• Resilience is refined under pressure.
• Diversity isn’t a quota, it’s a strength.
• And Authenticity trumps imitation every time.

There is immeasurable value in bringing different perspectives to the boardroom. Empathy, collaboration, detail-orientation and holistic risk awareness aren’t soft skills.

They are strategic assets.

And women often bring these into boardrooms with remarkable depth.

A legacy isn’t about accolades. It’s about the impact we’re able to make for others.

It’s about showing the next generation of young women, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, that they can lead in education, legal, commercial, any space they choose to enter and still be themselves.

We must build systems that are not only compliant but compassionate.

It’s about leaving industries better than we found them.

Your career path doesn’t have to be linear to be meaningful.

You can start as a teacher and become a boardroom strategist. You can craft both contracts and confidence. You can lead global teams and still speak with the authenticity of your roots.

There’s space for us all if only we dare to take it.

Have you’ve made unconventional moves in your career or broken through industry barriers? What helped you stay the course?