Welcome to another #womaninlaw interview! This month we chat with Sharon Msiza. Sharon is an admitted attorney specialising in various shipping and admiralty law matters including, clearing & forwarding disputes, contracts of carriage of goods by sea, collisions, casualty investigations, pollution disputes, ship arrest, cargo and other protection and indemnity disputes.
Her professional experience includes general corporate commercial duties such as drafting, reviewing, and amending commercial agreements, as well as extensive exposure into dispute resolution proceedings for both commercial disputes and maritime claims.
Sharon recently started a new career journey with Ince & Co. in London within their Shipping department as an Associate Intern. She is also a PhD candidate. Sharon’s story is a reminder that impossible is nothing!
Below is our interview with this phenomenal #womaninlaw.
FWIL:
What inspired you to study law?
SM:
When I was in Grade 11, I entered for the first school’s moot court competition and had an opportunity to visit the Constitutional Court of the Republic where I had a brief moment conversing with the then deputy Chief Justice, even Justice Dikgang Moseneke. As a learner from the villages who was competing against learners from model C schools, I was intrigued to find out what the Judge thought was the role of the Constitution in ensuring that learners like myself have access to quality education. He did respond but I forgot what his response was, then he said, “You’d make a great lawyer someday” and from that moment onward I wanted to be a lawyer because the great Judge said I’d make a great lawyer.
FWIL:
Please tell us about your law journey and what inspired your interest in Maritime/Shipping & law.
SM:
My law journey started at Wits University where I did my LL.B. I got introduced to Maritime/Shipping Law when I approached my then mentor for advice on what field to pursue in my Masters – to which she said I should look into mining and shipping and then make a decision. I got fascinated by how maritime/shipping law was just too foreign to me and that one can arrest a ship, it was from that moment where I decided there is absolutely more to learn from this field, and I decided to pursue it. What also stood out for me was the lack of female representation, especially black women, therefore, I wanted to be part of the transformation and not just by being a black woman, but being an exceptionally intelligent, knowledgeable, and smart black woman who was in the maritime industry. It was for this reason that I decided to study further and to continue keeping abreast with the developments in the industry.
FWIL:
Please tell us about your project – The Maritime Law Podcasts?
SM:
This is a project I started in partnership with Prof Portia Ndlovu, a professor of law at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the United States of America. I was inspired by her journey as a black woman from South Africa who was making big strides on the international platform, therefore, I approached her for mentorship and in one of our sessions I suggested that we should have a podcast to which she agreed. The idea was to create an educational platform where anyone from across the world would join in and learn a thing or two about maritime law and related issues.
FWIL:
As a black woman in law, have you experienced gender and race-related bias?
SM:
I was once accused of being political in how I respond to questions, I hope my response to this question will not be deemed political. I was fortunate to have started off my career in the hands of ‘men’ who have pushed me to become the best version of myself. In particular, when I was doing my articles, my director was a white man from Cape Town – he has never made me feel different simply because I was a black woman. Instead, I recall a time during a meeting break when he came to me and said “Sharon, I want you to participate in the meetings and not just take notes, look around you, you are the only black woman amongst old white men, no one will remember you if you do not speak up and say things that will be remembered”. That conversation liberated me, and I am glad I had that early in my career because since then, I look at the value I can bring in any table, before I look at the gender and race seated on it. I am in no way denying that gender and racial bias exists, I am saying I have chosen to not allow it to deter my focus. I have experienced situations where I was treated differently than my white and male counterparts but I am unphased because if your disqualification of my professional skills rests solely on the fact that I am black and I am a woman, then that is your loss – your consideration of my contribution is not a golden opportunity (unless the contribution was specifically for purposes of being granted an opportunity), however, it is a lost opportunity for you that you did not consider my professional contribution on a topic I may be knowledgeable in.
FWIL:
Please tell us about the challenges, if any, that you have faced.
SM:
Growth! That must be the greatest challenge I have encountered. We usually don’t talk a lot about how growth is a process and not the end result – this makes it more of a challenge than a reward. I found it extremely challenging learning about an industry I previously knew nothing about, equipping and exposing myself to learning opportunities in various forms they came in, even in the midst of what I consider as ‘gate-keeping’.
FWIL:
Do you identify as a feminist? (Why/why not)
SM:
I am embarrassed to say this, but I have never really understood what the true essence of feminism is, especially with the many narratives perpetuated in the name of feminism. It is for that reason that I always pause when asked if I am a feminist or what are my views of feminism. However, one thing is certain, and I am confident of this, that I believe in the equal access to rights and opportunities for all, and that women, as the previously marginalized group, should be given opportunities they are qualified for solely based on their skills and expertise and not because they are women. Equally, they should not be denied opportunities because they are women – whether that makes me a feminist is something that can be judged by those with the authority to judge on such matters. Lol
FWIL:
What does women empowerment mean to you?
SM:
It means recognizing that women are as capable of showing up as much as their male counterparts are, and then creating opportunities to capacitate them so that they can be able to participate in industries and positions they were previously denied simply because they were women. It is not about ‘making’ women capable but capacitating them to do what they are already capable of doing – I don’t think women were denied opportunities because they were incapable, I think they were denied opportunities because they were never allowed to even participate in those opportunities. One cannot show what they are capable of doing unless they have capacity to do so.
FWIL:
The journey of most legal professionals is not always easy. What are some of the lessons you have learned along the way and how have they shaped your outlook on life?
SM:
You need to have a positive attitude! The legal space is predominately negative and extremely competitive and if you don’t have a positive attitude, it becomes easy to take everything personal. I have learned to always pause and ask for clarity when I receive feedback that may very well be ‘negative’ so that I can gather actual data to allow myself to form an opinion about what was said – often we are offended by our own speculation of what we think the next person is saying.
FWIL:
What is the best advice you would give to a woman in law?
SM:
In your profession, you are a lawyer before you are a woman – never allow anyone to reduce your legal contribution and capabilities to the level of your gender. Remember, your cognitive is not gender specific, you are intelligent because you are, period.
FWIL:
What attributes do you think every young lawyer must have?
SM:
Willingness to learn and ability to research.
FWIL:
What recent change/amendment in the law (in your country/state) has caught your attention? (Do you agree with the change? Why/why not)
SM:
The only change/amendment in law that would catch my attention is one that will specifically deal with the ever-increasing femicide and GBV and unfortunately, I am not aware of such law.
FWIL:
Our world is constantly changing, in your opinion, what are some of the challenges that legal professionals will face in future?
SM:
This is a difficult question and to be honest, I am unable to respond with certainty. Whatever the challenges, I am confident that lawyers will find ways to readjust and make it work. lol
FWIL:
As a legal professional, it is quite important to effectively use your network. How do you meet other professionals and what are some of your effective networking skills?
SM:
To ‘approach’ people I believe would make great contacts and reach out to them and ask if we could have coffee or that they could mentor me– simple!
FWIL:
What does the term “role model” mean to you? Is there a particular woman in your life that you consider a role model?
SM:
I am not a fan of the word ‘role model’ – to me it denotes ‘imitation’, and I don’t advocate for imitation when it comes to becoming a great version of yourself, therefore, I do not have a role model.
FWIL:
What books, if any, have you read that have greatly influenced your life?
SM:
The Holy Bible.
FWIL:
What’s a quote that you live by? Your mantra
SM:
I have two: a bible verse ‘All things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose’. Romans 8:28, and an anonymous quote which says, ‘it is better to not have an opportunity and be prepared, than not be prepared and have an opportunity’.
FWIL:
How do you remain autonomous while working in the legal field?
SM:
I am not pro-autonomy. I believe in community and people and that’s what the legal field is about ‘people’. What I do think is important though, is originality and authenticity and those are important in any field, be you and do things with a touch of you, even if you are working with people or for people, be authentic!
FWIL:
What is your take on mentorship and are you open to mentoring young lawyers or law students?
SM:
I endorse mentorship, much of who I am today is the unfolding of endless mentorship engagements I have had that allowed me to walk on a journey towards becoming the best version of myself. I am currently not available to mentor any more students as I have taken on quite a few.
FWIL:
How can our readers reach out to you?
SM:
LinkedIn (Sharon Msiza) and Instagram (Msiza_sharon).