Margo-Ann Werner – Director in the Corporate and Commercial Practice at CDH Inc, focusing on environmental, mining and energy law.

Main activity of company: CDH is a full-service law firm, with an extensive reach across Africa, consisting of more than 350 lawyers and a track record spanning over 168 years. The firm provides experienced legal support and authentic knowledge-based legal services for clients looking to do business in key markets across Africa.

The Environmental Law practice deals with general environmental law and regulatory considerations in the mining, energy, manufacturing, industrials and pharmaceutical sec- tors. The practice boasts extensive knowledge in relation to sustainability considerations in many sectors with a focus on the benefits available from working towards a low-car- bon South Africa.

Date of birth: 29 February, Johannesburg

Education: University of the Witwatersrand

Management style: My management style can be described as coaching and democratic, with an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration. I encourage my team to take on responsibility of the environmental practice as part of their development and believe in the benefit of collaborating to share each team member’s views and ideas.

Personal best achievement: Heading and growing the Environmental Law practice at CDH, while being a single parent.

Person you would most like to meet: Professor Thulisile Madonsela

Philosophy of life: My philosophy is to keep learning and growing no matter one’s role or level of experience and to be passionate and enjoy one’s work.

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: My message is one of admiration and continued encouragement and support of female leaders in South Africa, both established and upcoming. Our support of each other is key to achieving the necessary transformation of women leaders in the workplace, with there being no doubt of the benefits and success stemming from women in leadership positions.

Megan Rodgers – Director and Sector Head in the Oil & Gas Sector at CDH Inc.

Date of birth: 22 October, Cape Town

Education: University of the Western Cape: LLM and LLB Degrees (Cum Laude)

Management style: I believe in the importance of teamwork and creating an environment that nurtures and supports the growth of young talent. I find that working toward a shared goal, which considers the personal and professional goals of team members, helps to build a cohesive unit. An awareness and understanding of inter-generational differences coupled with the recognition that leadership is learned, and deliberate behaviour are key components to ensuring effective leadership.

Personal best achievement: There are a few, however, completing my LLB and LLM degrees at the University of Western Cape by night lectures while working a full-time day job I still rate as one of my personal best. It was quite gruelling.

Person you would most like to meet: Assuming I could be transported back in time, Maya Angelou would be top of my list. She was and still is one of my favourite memoirists and poets. One of her quotes which has resonated with me across every aspect of my professional life is “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”

Philosophy of life: How you treat people when it’s your season determines how you will be treated when your season is done. Always be kind and thoughtful in your engagements with others and never lose your humility.

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: When there is no seat at the table, build a bigger table. Embrace the discomfort and the inconvenience that comes with change and be your authentic self. We cannot desire the convenience of change without embracing the dis- comfort and the inconvenience required for change.

Tessa Brewis – Director, Corporate and Commercial, CDH Inc.

Main activity in company: My role is that of commercial and M&A lawyer, with particular focus and expertise in the energy sector.

Date of birth: 3 August, Aliwal North, Eastern Cape.

Education: Matriculated from Aliwal North High School; B.Comm LLB from the University of Stellenbosch; International Legal Studies Certificate from the University of Antwerp, in Belgium; LLM in Commercial Law from the University of Aberdeen, in Scotland.

Management style: I believe in a management style that is inclusive, and I focus on training, mentoring and nurturing the strengths of my team members.

Personal best achievement: Balancing my marriage, family responsibilities and a successful career in a top South African law firm.

Person you would most like to meet: The person or organisation that finds a meaningful solution to address climate change.

Philosophy of life: To live life to the full and to keep doing my best to achieve all my aims and objectives.

Message for other women leaders in the South African business community: There are seats at the table for, and input required from, all of us, not just one or some of us. Strong women empower each other, and others.