My Career

WK: Who is Shakwa Nyambe?

SN: I am a husband and a father, born at Katima Mulilo. I did my primary schooling in Botswana and completed my secondary and tertiary education in Namibia. I spent the final years of my postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, where I completed my master of laws (LLM) in oil and gas law, with professional skills from the University of Aberdeen.

I later enrolled at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) to obtain a postgraduate diploma in drafting and interpreting contracts.

WK: What does your job entail?

SN: SNC Incorporated was founded in April 2019 and is a full-service energy, natural resources, commercial and dispute-resolution law firm.

As the founder and managing partner, my job entails advising international corporations, state-owned enterprises, governments and individuals on energy, natural resources, commercial and dispute-resolution matters.

I also provide legal and business advisory services to foreign investors on various matters, ranging from mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, corporate governance and project financing.

As managing partner I double as the face of the firm, charged with marketing the firm”;s brand to the outside world.

I”;m responsible for the firm”;s overall management and strategic planning. I run the business and ensure that the firm”;s goals and vision are actualised.

WK: Walk us through the experiences that shaped your career.

SN: Walking long distances to school as a young boy, watching my parents work hard to ensure they put me through school, and seeing the struggles of other kids, shaped my yearning to make it in life.

My mindset since childhood was always to ensure I become successful in life, to take care of my parents and to inspire those who look up to me.

Navigating the peer pressures at the University of Namibia was not easy but the childhood struggles always kept me focused.

WK: What is the best part of your job?

SN: SNC Incorporated is not only a law firm, but also serves as a business advisory consultancy. We provide some of the fastest-growing and most innovative companies with cutting-edge advice as they expand and grow internationally.

The best part of my job is seeing clients successfully executing their strategies and enabling meaningful change to their operations. Seeing international companies I have advised start operations in Namibia, fully establishing themselves, employing Namibians and paying taxes to the Namibian government means I am making a meaningful impact.

WK: What skills are integral to a career in your sector?

SN: Being in the energy, natural resources and commercial sectors, one needs to be a specialist in the field. I did my master”;s in law, specialising in oil and gas law, with professional skills at the University of Aberdeen. The skill of drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts is vital when advising clients within the industry.

To master this skill, I enrolled at UJ in 2018 and obtained a postgraduate diploma in the drafting and interpretation of contracts.

WK: How important are professional relationships in the legal field?

SN: The legal field requires relationships with stakeholders at various levels.

Understanding how to efficiently manage these relationships is vital to being a successful lawyer, as technical knowledge alone is not enough to ensure proper interaction between lawyers and their clients, associates, or networks.

We may live in a digital world, but there”;s simply no substitute for personal interaction and strong relationships when it comes to the legal fraternity.

Client insight is something I strongly believe in. To be able to truly serve your clients, you must know their business and their needs inside and out. I take the time to educate myself on my clients”; inner workings.

WK: What leadership traits have you brought the firm?

SN: Business acumen, client insight, strategic vision and most importantly, forward thinking and thought leadership. I also don”;t shy away from seizing new opportunities when they come my way, and if they don”;t, I create them.

WK: You were part of the Namdeb Diamond Corporation and Debmarine Namibia board of directors before, as well as Namcor”;s legal counsel. You have also been chief legal officer in the Ministry of Justice, as well as a state advocate at the High Court and Supreme Court of Namibia. How are you applying your experience in your new role?

SN: My experiences acquired in those portfolios have helped me excel in my role as managing partner. These experiences and skills have made me a great lawyer, business adviser, negotiator and drafter of contracts.

WK: What advice would you give a young Shakwa just stepping out of university?

SN: Ensure you study what excites you rather than what your parents or friends want you to study. After you graduate, your priority should first be to get exposure – not necessarily to get a well-paying job.