Megan Rodgers
Cape Town Managing Partner, Head of CDH's Oil & Gas sector (South Africa)

Building a career as a lawyer requires commitment, discipline and resilience. Success in a demanding corporate and commercial environment is built through continuous learning, perseverance and a willingness to embrace challenges beyond your comfort zone. For me, success has come from preparation, consistency, curiosity and the confidence to seize opportunities while navigating setbacks with resilience. Over time, these deliberate efforts create opportunities for growth, leadership and professional fulfilment.

My advice to young women is to focus on developing your expertise, building credibility through the quality of your work and pursuing opportunities with confidence. Do not let assumptions about an industry or profession limit your ambitions. Stay curious, keep learning and trust your abilities. Most importantly, remain authentic – your unique perspective is one of your greatest strengths.

Amore Carstens
Director, Oil & Gas, and Corporate & Commercial (South Africa)

Progress has required hard work, resilience and a willingness to step outside my comfort zone. Success rarely comes from feeling fully prepared; often it requires embracing opportunities before you feel ready. In my own experience, consistency, curiosity, preparation and perseverance have been essential.

My advice to young women is to not wait for permission to contribute. Focus on developing your expertise, remain curious and embrace opportunities that challenge you. Build strong relationships, seek out sponsors and trust that confidence develops through experience. Your perspective has value, even when you are the youngest person in the room.

Moving forward, I would like to see more women represented at senior decision-making levels and recognised as industry leaders. Diversity is not only about fairness; it is also about fairness; it strengthens decision-making and innovation. The future of the sector will benefit from a broader range of voices, perspectives and leadership styles.

Ilda Lomba
Director, Oil & Gas Sector, and Corporate & Commercial (Namibia)

Building a career in corporate and commercial law requires sustained commitment. The legal and energy sectors evolve constantly, making continuous learning essential. Success has required discipline, preparation, adaptability and the resilience to embrace new challenges. While there is no single formula for success, consistency and a commitment to excellence have been central to my journey.

My advice to young women is to own your expertise and never minimise your ambition. Invest in building strong technical skills, stay curious and keep learning. There will be times when you are underestimated, but do not let those moments define your confidence. Instead, use them to strengthen your resilience and leadership.

Looking ahead, I hope to see more women shaping strategy, governance and decision-making at the highest levels. True progress means creating environments where women can contribute fully, advance into leadership and help shape the future of organisations and industries.

Vivien Chaplin
Head of CDH’s Mining & Minerals sector, and Director, Corporate & Commercial (South Africa)

No one succeeds in any demanding field, at least not sustainably, without trade-offs and sacrifices. There is no single recipe, but success requires commitment, curiosity, perspective, integrity and self-awareness..

My advice to young women is that hard work and diligence are essential, but they are not enough. Women carry more “invisible labour” outside the workplace: family responsibilities, social expectations and emotional demands. When those responsibilities become pressing and time is scarce, it is tempting to think the solution is to step back from the work ecosystem: to work more from home or focus only on producing excellent work, and become reliable/diligent/helpful or a safe pair of hands. It is a common and understandable instinct, but it is not strategically wise. Corporate success is built on relationships, visibility and participation and you must make time for the events, informal conversations and the networks.

You need to be seen and engaged to remain in the game. It is not easy to make time for this, but it is vital. Do not assume that being diligent or indispensable in the background will lead to being valued, or recognised. It also is very unlikely to result in you being “seen” or earmarked as being ready to lead.