Name: Nambejja Ruth Lydia
Position: Legal Officer
Company: Old Mutual
Sector/Industry: (telecoms, financial, govt, energy etc): Insurance
Worked in current position for (number of years/months): 1 year, 4 months
Total years as an in-house lawyer: 1 year, 4 months
A day in the life: Provide a brief overview of your current role (what you do, how you spend your time etc): I spend a lot of my time interacting with various departments to address their legal issues, for example contract negotiations, handling and settling of claims and the handling of board affairs.
The best thing about my current job is: Exposure to Board affairs. Whereas my appreciation for boardroom dynamics was largely theoretical before I joined in-house practice, things have really turned around with me attending various board, committee and shareholder meetings.
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The most challenging thing about my current job is: Striking the balance between day-to- day legal advisory for the internal clients (various departments) and the mainstream corporate governance work especially during board season every quarter.
Most pivotal career decision: I think the move from private practice to inhouse has been a profound change with various opportunities to learn lots of different things.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve had to face in your in-house career journey is: Appreciation of the new industry in which I am operating. Sometimes business moves really fast and there is need for sound legal advice that calls for not only appreciation of basic legal Public principles but industry specific concepts. This means deliberate efforts in research and building the relevant networks. I am making steady progress.
What advice would I give my younger self? To believe in my potential regardless of external influences.
Key influencers that have shaped my journey: Strong support system, family and friends.
One cool thing I’ve observed in the legal industry recently? There is a growing trend of appreciation for the role of corporate governance professionals as being more than mere clerks/administrators to trusted advisors that largely influence business growth.
Favourite pro bono/ volunteer or charitable activity: Offering free legal advise to the indigent through community outreach programmes.
If I were not practising law, I would probably be: A Journalist or Human Resource practitioner.
What (singular) achievement are you most proud of? Having completed the Chartered Secretaries pre-qualification programme under the Chartered Governance Institute of UK & Ireland.
Something you love doing that but you’re not that great at? Making up
Something you dislike doing that you’re pretty good at? Minute taking.
In 5 years-time I’d love to be: A well networked and widely experienced corporate governance professional with relevant industry expertise, in a leadership role. My ultimate goal is to evolve from a seasoned corporate governance professional to an influential business leader, a journey I am working on.