Nankunda Katangaza: Redefining Legal Sector Leadership and an Enduring Impact on Law and Leadership

WHEN WOMEN IN LAW LEAD

Perspectives. Positionalities. Politics

When Women in Law Lead is a blog series using storytelling and legal narratives to showcase how African women in law and leadership are transforming legal institutions and contributing to justice, the rule of law, and women’s empowerment. In a round of engaging questions, we delve deeper into the perspectives, positionalities and politics of women’s leadership in law.

Nankunda Katangaza is a trailblazer whose exceptional journey has shaped the African legal and business landscape. Born in Uganda and having experienced life as a child refugee, her personal story is deeply intertwined with her commitment to social and economic justice, gender equity and a truly post-colonial and independent Africa. With a solid educational background in political science and international public policy, Nankunda has made a lasting impact through her passion for transforming the legal sector, combining innovation, advocacy, and leadership in her work.

As a co-founder of the African Corporate & Government Counsel Forum (ACGC), Nankunda has been instrumental in building a thriving network for in-house counsel across the continent. Her career spans diverse fields, including legal sector regulation, law-tech innovation, and co-founding a leading legal sector consultancy firm. Nankunda’s efforts have made her a prominent voice in shaping the future of legal practice in Africa and elsewhere, where she advocates for resilience, empowerment, and the creation of spaces that enable women to excel.

Her leadership roles span multiple high-profile organizations, including the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and the Law Society of England and Wales. Nankunda’s contributions to policy reform and legal services liberalisation in emerging markets earned her recognition as one of the 100 most influential black Britons by Thomson Reuters' Powerlist in 2014 and 2015.

IAWL: Briefly tell us who Nankunda Katangaza is and what inspires you.

NANKUNDA: I was born in Uganda, but my family became refugees early in my life. We lived in two other countries before finally settling in Canada and then moving to the UK as a graduate student. I studied political science and international relations because I was deeply interested in understanding the historical, economic and political circumstances that forced my family to flee our home and become stateless. I wanted to find a way of ensuring that no other little girl anywhere in the world would be forced to walk out of their home leaving everything and everyone behind overnight. While I have not fully achieved that aspiration, it remains a driving force in my career, which led me to the legal field - though not as a practising lawyer. I believe strongly that the rule of law and the role played by legal institutions and lawyers is critical to building progressive, empowered and egalitarian societies and economies.

IAWL: When was the ACGC established, and what motivated you to create it?

NANKUNDA: ACGC began as a one-off conference in Lagos in 2019 after a conversation that Cynthia and I had a with some Nigerian in-house lawyers over lunch at a legal conference that showed us the particular needs of that segment of the profession on the continent. That first conference's success showed a real need for such a platform. We held a subsequent event in Nairobi in early 2020, which was equally successful. As the pandemic unfolded, we transitioned into creating an online community and growing the membership and partnerships to deliver unique content and networking opportunities. Since then, ACGC has held six conferences across Africa, built a membership of over 2000 in-house counsel, and continues to hold monthly events- both online and in-person on a range of topics. We partner and collaborate with African and international law firms and corporates to foster growth, knowledge and connections

IAWL: What key contributions have you made to ACGC as one of its founders?

NANKUNDA: The idea itself was a starting point, but what followed was critical: having a passion, energy, and ideas for delivering our mission. Growing ACGC has been about listening to our members and adapting to the trends within the African legal sector, especially concerning in-house counsel. Success means being dynamic, ensuring that ACGC evolves in response to the realities of in-house lawyers in their companies, countries and legal environments across the continent and developing a strong network which helps the organization to remain relevant and responsive.

IAWL: How would you rate the success of ACGC since its inception?

NANKUNDA: Phenomenal! Every time we host an event or connect with our members, we are reminded of how meaningful this initiative has been. It is gratifying to see the growth of the African legal sector, especially the in-house community as a distinct part of the profession in all jurisdictions. For instance, whilst planning the annual conference in Rwanda a couple of years ago, we discovered that in-house counsel there are excluded from the organized Bar due to their largely civil law regulatory framework. As such they do not work have an association of their own or participate in other Bar activities. The ACGC conference brought them together for the first time and it was gratifying to see those connections made also with others from different jurisdictions especially in the wider East African region. These experiences highlight the profound impact of ACGC in fostering community and building a stronger, more inclusive legal sector in Africa.

IAWL: What factors have contributed to a successful partnership with your co-founder, and how has that led to ACGC's growth?

NANKUNDA: The most important factor is mutual trust, openness and a shared vision. Cynthia and I hit it off from our first encounter, and our complementary skills and knowledge have been instrumental in shaping ACGC’s growth. We support each other, both professionally and personally, and somehow intuitively know when and what to pick up from the other to take forward. This partnership has been essential for the success of ACGC especially as the association is not profit-making and we both have full-time jobs elsewhere and a small team of two. This has been a labour of love. 

IAWL: What are some strategies women in law can use to be successful?

NANKUNDA:

1. Be Brave – Do not let low expectations limit your potential. My siblings and I were lucky to grow up with a mother who was forward-thinking about women's empowerment. Sadly, many African women still face societal pressures that keep their ambitions small and pedestrian, but breaking free from these constraints is crucial.

2. Lift Others – Success is more meaningful when you bring others along the journey with you. If you move forward, take as many women as possible. It is vital to inspire and support other women to succeed and create opportunities for them where you can.

3. Look Up – More than ever, everyone seems to be staring at the small screens in their pockets rather than at the people and world around them. It is easy to be caught up in the illusions of success and perfection pouring out of social media platforms, but I urge women, particularly in Africa, to step back, focus on real-world connections, and invest in their self-worth and grasp the unprecedented opportunities we now have to aspire to much more. The world belongs to us too.

IAWL: What are some challenges you have faced as a woman leader, and what practical steps did you take to overcome them?

NANKUNDA: During my time as the International Department head at the Law Society of England and Wales, managing two large teams in different countries with  was one of the most challenging aspects. Setting strategy, managing people, and ensuring continuous alignment with the large membership of solicitors could be demanding though always interesting and stimulating.  

Being an African and perhaps because of starting off life in a colour-free society and continent, I do not often see myself as "black" first, especially when I am in an environment where most people are not. So it has never held me back, or at least I have never consciously think of the melanin content of my skin as a barrier to my aspirations and interests. However, there are moments when others remind you of their perception of your difference through comments or actions, which can be disheartening and disappointing.

An interesting challenge that still comes up sometimes is my background – or rather, not being a qualified lawyer. Despite having worked in the legal sector for most of my career, I still sometimes encounter people questioning my legitimacy due to my non-legal background or as I’ve heard on occasion, not being a member of the "noble profession." It is sometimes disorienting to witness the shift in people's attitude when they realize I am not a lawyer even after working with me for a long time. But that is what I’d call a ‘them’ problem, rather than a ‘me’ problem.

Starting my consultancy with a friend and former colleague has been an interesting and sometimes challenging adventure. I had never envisioned myself as an entrepreneur, but now, having run the company for nearly a decade I can definitely say it has been an exciting, albeit sometimes difficult, journey of learning and growth. Managing a business in the legal sector, working with clients in law firms, universities, regulatory bodies and governments around the world and being exposed to and contributing to changes and innovation in the delivery and regulation of legal services continues to be rewarding in many ways.

IAWL: Are there any other specific items/actions/achievements you would like to highlight?

NANKUNDA: As a leader, one thing that is often overlooked is the importance of the people you lead. Leadership is not about the leader; it is about the people. My aspiration has always been to create a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where my team can grow and reach their full potential. This is empowering not only for them but also for me, as it helps me learn and improve and remains a work in progress.

It is important to me to bring in people to the business who know things I do not and have different experiences because that diversity strengthens the whole organization. I want to work with people who add value in ways that I may not have anticipated, whether they are experienced or just starting out. Facilitating growth for individuals and the collective team is essential to creating a stronger, more dynamic organization.

IAWL: What legacy do you hope to leave as a successful woman in law and leadership, and what are your recommendations to other women who aspire to thrive in leadership?

NANKUNDA: My legacy? Hmm, I haven’t really had time to give that much thought to be honest. There is something that Maya Angelou once said which stuck with me when I read it years ago: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”  I think the legacy I could aspire to would be for people to feel that I engendered in them was that I was genuinely interested in them and started with kindness and being truthful.  That is what would matter to me most.

I do not believe in grandiose ideas of success. Whether in work or in our wider lives, it is not about being the loudest or most powerful. It is about creating environments where people feel listened to, safe and valued and in entities that can make lasting impacts in their communities, societies and the wider world.