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Tendi Hlatshwayo, Ozow's Chief Legal Officer, is one of the longest-standing members of the company and has the experience to show for it. After joining as the head of legal in 2017 and being made our CLO in 2019, her journey has been one for the books.
Recently we got to sit down and talk to our inspirational Chief Legal Officer. She spoke to us about her career, leadership, growth, and what the future holds for her.
Please sum up your career journey so far
Upon completing my master’s in law at Cornell Law School, I interned at the Federal Trade Commission for about a year and then commenced my law career at Edward Nathan Sonnenberg from 2010 to 2017. I joined Ozow (then i-Pay) as Head of Legal in 2017 and was promoted to Chief Legal Officer in 2019.
What has your journey at Ozow been like?
Chaotically exciting! I joined at a time when there were about 10 to 15 people in the business, and we’re now over 100 employees, which gives perspective on the massive growth we’ve experienced in the past six years.
In what ways has Ozow allowed you to grow in your career?
Ozow has diversified my experience and helped me to forge a reputation as a legal regulatory payments expert in the industry. Additionally, I’ve developed a team that has broad experience in legal agreements, policies, and regulations related to the payments industry.
What kind of leader do you aspire to be?
An empathetic, inspiring leader who is able to encourage people to grow in their careers, expand their knowledge base, and how they approach professional matters that require problem-solving. I want to do all this in an environment of kindness and respect.
What plans do you have for the future of Ozow in your role?
I would like to continue to grow in a strategic role for the business and undertake executive mentorship on a broader scale.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give people who want to follow a similar career path as you, and make it to C-Suite level?
Perseverance is essential. During hard times when perhaps the complexity of the tasks or workload is overwhelming, it’s important to keep the end goal in sight and responsibly rely on teamwork (and not try to solve issues in isolation) to make progress.
Ozow is a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. If you can see yourself working alongside the likes of Tendi or any of our women in C-Suite, apply today to book yourself a ticket on the rocketship.
Find out more about the women that drive success at Ozow by reading our Women in C-Suite series.
