Name: Sola Dosunmu
Position: Head of Legal (West & Central Africa) (In transition)
Company: British American Tobacco
Sector (financial, govt, energy etc): Manufacturing (FMCG)
Worked in the current position for: 2+ years
Years in-house: 13+ years
An overview of my role is: Responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the legal agenda and managing complex set of issues to ensure business sustainability and maximising opportunities for the growth of the Company.
The best thing about my current job is: Being recognised as a value-adding business enabler.
The most challenging thing about my current job is: Sometimes not having ‘a seat at the table’ when discussing issues bothering on Regulation of the industry in which we operate.
My most pivotal career move: This was my transition from working in a law firm to working in-house. It was indeed some change! The culture change was very manifest. There are lots of structures and processes in multinationals that were not that developed in law firms, at least when I transitioned. Again, such a basic thing as the mode of dressing was different, it was more informal in-house. Work/life balance is usually better-observed in-house. Even the way you address your colleagues is less formal than in law firms. There is/was also some disparity in the reward/benefits for younger and mid-career movers. Once in-house, I quickly discovered that I was a very valuable asset to the team based on the experiences that I had garnered over the years working in a very good law firm. I would therefore advise aspiring in-house counsel to first get some law firm experience under their belt before they transition in-house if at all.
What advice would you give your younger self? Take more calculated risks, challenge the status quo, when necessary, get a mentor from day one, work hard and play harder.
The key influencers that have shaped my journey? My Dad! A man of integrity, hardworking, a good listener, very compassionate and sociable.
My favourite pro bono or volunteer activity is: Leading and shaping the agenda of a few alumni associations where we have various support programs for the less privileged in society.
If I were not practising law, I would probably be: Operating somewhere in the entertainment industry and in addition owning a recreation/leisure centre.
What (singular) achievement are you most proud of: Leading a multifunctional team that successfully drove the passage of a landmark legislative bill into law.
What’s something you love doing that you’re terrible at? And what’s something you really do not like doing that you’re great at? I love playing Golf but am somewhat disappointed at my current level of proficiency. I shouldn’t be eating too much but can’t seem to stop eating pastries!