Full Name: Lili Nupen
Position: Director of Nupen Staude de Vries Inc
Main Activity of the Company: Nupen Staude de Vries Inc is a 51%-female-owned boutique law firm that specialises in mining, construction and environmental law
Date and Place of Birth: December 7, 1981, Johannesburg
Education: BSocSci; postgraduate LLB; dual MBA (cum laude)
First Job: Candidate attorney at Bowmans
Career History: I was a candidate attorney at Bowmans and then completed the dual MBA at Wits Business School (WBS) and HEC Paris, before joining law firm Malan Scholes Inc as an associate at its inception; when I left, I was a director of the firm. In October 2018, I started Nupen Staude de Vries Inc with my two partners
Size of First Pay Packet: A gross salary of R10 000 a month
First Job with Present Group: Director and founder
Value of Assets under Your Control: Not stated
Number of People under Your Leadership: We have grown from employing one junior in October 2018 to six employees who report to me
Management Style: I am a fair manager/leader, but have high expectations of my team members
Personal Best Achievement: Graduating cum laude with the dual MBA from WBS and HEC Paris
Professional Best Achievement: Founding my own firm – Nupen Staude de Vries Inc
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My mother
Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Hulme Scholes, for teaching me everything I know about mining law
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Thuli Madonsela – she is an incredible moral and ethical influencer in a calm, yet robust, way
Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: Arianna Huffington – she is a phenomenal woman
Philosophy of Life: Be better!
Biggest Ever Opportunity: Studying for the MBA degree in Paris
Biggest Ever Disappointment: Trusting certain individuals I believed supported me, only to find the contrary was true
Hope for the Future: That there is balance in all aspects of my life
Favourite Reading: I am currently reading Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens
Favourite TV Programme: The Good Wife
Favourite Food/Drink: A cup of Earl Grey tea and a muesli rusk – that is, if it is too early for a glass of ice-cold bubbly
Favourite Music: Coldplay
Favourite Sport: Ballet
Favourite Website: Mining Weekly or Superbalist (it’s a toss-up)
Hobbies: Ballet, spending time with my children and following up-and-coming South African artists
Car: Prado
Pets: Two standard French poodles: Leo and Zoe
Miscellaneous Dislikes: People who chew too loudly and people who are negative about our beautiful country
Favourite Other South African Company: Anglo American
Favourite Foreign Company: Google
Married: To Cameron Staude
Children: Grace, 3; Adam, 1
Clubs: None