Name: Ifedayo Lawal
Position: Senior Director, Legal – Africa
Company: Coca-Cola
Sector/Industry: FMCG
Worked in current position for : 4 years
Total years as an in-house lawyer: 6 years
A day in the life:
In my current role, I lead a team of astute and experienced corporate commercial lawyers who bring to the fore diverse sector knowledge, applied to their various portfolios. I oversee the legal practice and strategy of Coca-Cola’s operations in critical franchises and varying operations in Africa. A key objective is to not just provide legal advice, but as business partner in leadership of legal teams, to support the company’s ambitious growth agenda and enhance its corporate governance and compliance standards. Simply put, we are businessmen, with more legal knowledge than our business counterparts.
The best thing about my current job is:
The most challenging thing about my current job is: Stakeholder engagement. It can be quite a challenge engaging and aligning with stakeholders, especially in high-risk and high determined situations. However, we have learnt how to manage these relationships towards achieving the best outcomes for the company. This remains the ultimate objective at all times.
Most pivotal career decision: Joining CHI Limited as Head, Legal Services and Company Secretary.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve had to face in your in-house career journey is: Switching from thinking like an external counsel to an inhouse counsel. There is a big difference.
What advice would I give my younger self? Take opportune career decisions earlier. Utilise your prime career years optimally. No experience is ever wasted, so embrace them. Travel more. Live.
Key influencers that have shaped my journey: Deepanjan Roy, Sylvia Nzekwu, Justice Adesuwa Oke-Lawal (my mum).
One cool thing I’ve observed in the legal industry recently? The diverse multiple opportunities that are available for a lawyer. It’s so cool to know that we aren’t as limited in practice as we used to be. Also, law is a plus for any other industry experience one wishes to garner.
Favourite pro bono/ volunteer or charitable activity: I have always loved pro bono/volunteer work. When I was younger, my friends and I used to celebrate monthly birthdays for children at a local orphanage. With the church, we had seasonal parties for local small communities. Today, it is in partnership with our Public Affairs and Sustainability (PACS) Team on charitable activities such as women empowerment, world without waste, water projects, beach cleanup, equipping and supporting hospitals, etc.
If I were not practising law, I would probably be: In people management. I also love policy, so maybe working with the United Nations (UN) or the ILO.
What (singular) achievement are you most proud of? My children, always.
Something you love doing that but you’re not that great at? Singing. I loveeee to sing, but making a joyful noise is my reality LOL!!!
Something you dislike doing that you’re pretty good at ? Carrying out investigations. I am told I have an eye and sense for these things, but knowing or executing the outcome isn’t my best activity.
In 5 years-time I’d love to be: Find my way back to people management 😊.