Becoming Golden

Written by Adv. Brownie Ebal

I was privileged to be part of an incredible panel on 29th April 2025 during a thought-provoking webinar titled “Empowered for 2025: Goal Setting and Growth Strategies for Female Lawyers in East Africa.” Organized by the East Africa Law Society (EALS) through its Women Lawyers Committee, the session brought together accomplished women from across the region to share critical strategies for personal and professional advancement in the legal field. It was an honor to contribute to such an empowering space alongside other formidable leaders.

The East Africa Law Society, a respected regional body for legal professionals, continues to champion professional development, inclusivity, and collaboration. Moderated by Angela Munga Mwadumbo, Board Secretary of Feda Kenya and Chair of the EALS Women Lawyers
Committee, this session was intentionally crafted to guide female lawyers in redefining their vision, setting impactful goals, and leading confidently in today’s evolving landscape.

Miss Lilliane Agwang Emilu, Chief Executive Director at the Center for Public Interest Law in Uganda, opened the discussion with a compelling presentation on vision crafting and bold goal setting. She shared practical tools for aligning goals with values using the SMARTER framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Evaluate, Reward), emphasizing that bold goals push individuals out of their comfort zones and into transformative spaces. Her call to action was clear: write down your goals, track your progress, and hold yourself accountable.

Miss Pamela Ager, Managing Partner at Oraro & Company Advocates (Kenya), delivered powerful insights on navigating and overcoming barriers that female lawyers face. These include confidence challenges, gender bias, lack of leadership access, and networking gaps. Drawing from her rich experience, she outlined actionable strategies, including building support
systems, embracing imperfection, asserting value, and implementing workplace reforms to make space for women’s advancement.

Miss Caritas Niyonzima, Founding Partner at CN Law in Burundi, highlighted the critical role of technology in legal practice. She spoke about digital transformation as an equalizer, urging women to develop digital competencies and build online presence to expand their influence and
client base. Her message was clear: digital tools can empower women to build strong, flexible careers without limitations.

Miss Florida Kabisanga, Founder & Managing Partner, Certa Law, addressed the value of intentional mentorship and leadership cultivation. She emphasized that mentees should first understand who they are, what goals they have, and where they want to be, before identifying and reaching out to mentors in that field. She highlighted the importance of matching mentees with mentors aligned with their aspirations and reminded senior professionals of their role in opening doors and passing on knowledge. She underscored mentorship as a long-term, strategic commitment.

In my own session, I spoke on wellness, balance, and resilience, encouraging women to pursue sustainable growth by nurturing all areas of their lives—physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental. I emphasized that self-care is not selfish, but necessary. From
gratitude journaling and exercise to setting boundaries and embracing joy, balance is the foundation for enduring success. I also highlighted two powerful books that can support this journey: The 5 AM Club by Robin Sharma and Make Your Bed by Admiral William H. McRaven, both offering practical wisdom on discipline, purpose and personal growth.

The session closed on a high note with a unified reminder: female lawyers across East Africa have the potential to lead boldly, but it will require deliberate planning, collaboration, and ongoing personal development. The future of law in the region is brighter when women rise—not just as participants, but as confident, visionary leaders.

For more information about, please click on the link to watch the video:
https://www.youtube.com/live/M_N8EBYU0CY?si=KDnqZCU5_hSXviGj

Check out: https://ealawsociety.org/ for more programmes by the East Africa Law Society.