Name: Anne Abeja
Position: Company Secretary/Head of Legal and Compliance
Company: Housing Finance Bank, Uganda
Sector: Financial Services
Worked in current position for (number of years/months): 7 years
Years in-house: 19 years
An overview of my role is: As the Company Secretary(CS) I am the Chief Governance officer acting as the central source of guidance and advice to the Board and the Bank, on matters of best practices in Corporate Governance and ensuring compliance with relevant laws, regulations and governance provisions and obligations. I am also the overall in-house Legal Advisor for the Bank.
The best thing about my current job is: The best thing about my current job as the CS is the opportunity I have to work with a very switched on and enlightened Board that is well informed and curious, which keeps me on my toes. The diversity in terms of skills, experience, qualifications and attributes on the Board has enabled an environment where I am constantly challenged to be ahead of my game. I also have the independence to perform my role effectively.
Our Senior Management Team is a high energy one and we have enabled an environment where we consistently challenge the status quo, promote creativity/ innovation and learn from each other.
The team that I supervise is phenomenal. They are fully empowered, innovative, brilliant and high energy individuals who consistently deliver on our departmental performance objectives.
As the Chief Legal Advisor, the fact that the industry is as highly regulated as it is a competitive space, enables each day to present a new set of challenges or problems for resolution. This is so enriching as the environment and ecosystem presents an opportunity for me to be creative within policies and laws that we abide by as a business, there is a constant balance between managing risks and business. Customers are key stakeholders and as a business we need to keep catering to their needs, otherwise they could end their relationship with us and move to the next bank at the click of a button.
The most challenging thing about my current job is: The COVID19 pandemic challenge was a major disruptor to operations and the strategic plan of the Bank. Specifically, to my role as the CS, this challenge disrupted the Board’s workplan and operations and my ability to efficiently deliver services. I was, together with the Board, presented with the opportunity to ride the wave, embrace the disruption and review our governance documents to provide for a number of aspects: virtual meetings, more flexibility in engaging, incorporation of the Board’s role, knowledge sharing sessions and remote working. A further challenge has been delayed gaining of acceptability to engage virtually, which has, with time been embraced. The Board has since reviewed the Strategic direction of the Bank as dictated by the pandemic, which has in turn accelerated the digitisation agenda of the Bank.
My most pivotal career move: When I was first appointed as a CS after one year in the role of Legal and Administration Manager in a Regional Company. I got the much-needed exposure and experience that provided me with a great foundation for my role as a CS.
Hardest lesson I have learned as a lawyer: Not to throw good money after bad; not all matters need to be settled through adjudication because the additional cost may not always be worth it.
What advice would you give your younger self? To be more intentional and not to be afraid of taking bigger risks. To know that failing is fine, as long as I learn key lessons and use them improve myself.
Who are the key influencers that have shaped you along the way?
On a personal level, I was greatly influenced by my parents as well as my secondary school teachers at Mt. St, Mary’s College Namagunga who instilled certain great values and virtues in me. Our school motto was, “Through Knowledge to Virtue”
Professionally, I was inspired by Eng. Winnie Byanyima, the current Executive Director of OXFAM International. I had the opportunity to meet her as a young lawyer when I worked with the firm of Byenkya, Kihika and Company Advocates in Kampala where I cut my teeth as a lawyer. The firm was representing her and I had the opportunity to share a cup of tea with her and one of the partners after a court session. She briefly shared her journey with me and I was inspired.
My favourite pro bono or volunteer activity is: I volunteered with the Legal Aid Project of the Uganda Law Society providing pro-bono legal services to indigent men and women.
Most valuable life lesson that I still apply today is … Ubuntu, we are people through other people; the importance of maintaining relationships, greeting people with a smile and recognising them, these simple but important gestures unlock many things.
I achieve work-life balance by: Prioritising my work, doing things at the right time and creating time for the things I love to do to in order relax so as to decompress, recharge my batteries and reenergise myself for the next task. In recent years I have taken to playing at least one round of golf over the weekend, it is as relaxing as it challenging. It is a game that teaches humility and strategy, so I get to hit two birds with one stone.
If I were not practicing law, I would probably be: A Teacher.
I’m currently reading: John C. Maxwell’s, ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’
My current music playlist includes: A mixed bag really, from Classical to Gospel to Opera to Afro-Jazz, Lingala to Soul and Kwaito.
- Adam Lambert – Ghost Town
- Fally Ipupa – Associe
- Filipa Giordano – Casta Diva
- Hugh Masekela – Stimela (Coal Train)
- Siphokazi – A Song for Men
- Isaiah Katumwa – My Joy
- Mozart – Serenade No.13 in G Major, K. 525 “Eine Kleine Nachtusik”. I. allegro
- Sauti Sol (feat. Soweto Gospel Choir) – Brighter Days