For Tenda, commitment to excellence is key to career

Dar es Salaam. For over a decade now, she has been a key player at Clyde & Co, the prestigious law firm where she started as an eager associate in 2012 and is now a partner. With a relentless drive and a passion for excellence, she steadily climbed the ranks, becoming a senior associate by 2017 and achieving the ultimate accolade of partnership in 2019.

Her impressive career trajectory is a testament to her unwavering commitment to her craft.

But her journey to success began long before she set foot in the hallowed halls of Clyde & Co.

Armed with a first-class honours degree in sociology and French from the University of Alberta in Canada, she ventured across the pond to pursue her legal dreams at the renowned University of Hull in the United Kingdom. And it was there that she truly found her calling, graduating with flying colours in 2012.

Speaking to Rising Woman Tenda Msinjili says things were not all rosy, as after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta in Canada, she took a five-year gap before pursuing her legal studies.

“During that time, I worked tirelessly to save enough money to afford law school in the UK. I did social work, waitressing, and other gigs in order to pay for tuition and living expenses,” she said.

Since then, her expertise and dedication have earned her a reputation as one of the brightest minds in the business.

And as she looks back on her remarkable journey, she knows that every step she took, every challenge she faced, and every success she achieved have brought her to where she is today. She is a respected partner at Clyde & Co, and a shining example of what it means to be a true leader in the legal profession.

After studying at international institutions, Ms Tenda could have pursued a career anywhere in the world. But despite the many opportunities available to her, Tenda knew that her heart was in Tanzania.

She says: “After spending nearly 10 years outside Tanzania for studies, I thought it was time. And knowing my parents are getting a little older, I also knew it was time to give back to my own country.”

Ms Tenda has worked on a variety of projects, from straightforward commercial lending to strategic projects involving multiple sources of financing and credit support.

She said her love for legal issues related to finance and banking was born out of a combination of her own curiosity and the guidance and mentorship of respected legal professionals.

“I developed this specialisation through the guidance and mentorship of some of the most respected lawyers in the field. I was fortunate enough to work alongside senior partners who had years of experience in financial law, and they had huge influence on me,” said Ms Tenda.

Her expertise in the field was recognized when she was ranked as a ‘Rising Star’ by IFLR1000 for Banking and Debt Finance.

Some of her notable key successes include advising Tanzanian commercial banks and financial and microfinance institutions (both regulated and unregulated) on Tanzanian lending practices, foreign exchange restrictions, legal compliance measures, and general banking and finance matters.

Advising various local and international investors on Tanzanian banking regulatory and compliance matters and advising various Tanzanian commercial banks in relation to the acquisition of and mergers with other Tanzanian commercial banks.

Despite her success, Ms Tenda remained humble and dedicated to her work. She continued to learn and grow as a lawyer, always striving to improve her skills and provide the best possible service to her clients.

Years later, as Ms Tenda looked back on her career, she knew that she had achieved her dream of making a difference. She had helped countless clients navigate the complex world of finance, and she had inspired a new generation of lawyers to follow in her footsteps.

“It is essential, not just for women but for all junior legal personnel, to have strong role models and mentors who can inspire and motivate them to pursue their goals. I am committed to sharing my knowledge and experience with others.”

“I feel very proud when I see some of the people that I mentored or in one way or another helped climb the ladder and grow to become senior associates or take up new roles,” she says.

Ms Tenda’s goal is also to be part of the solution to creating a more inclusive and supportive legal community where women can thrive and succeed.

By sharing her own experiences and working to create more opportunities for women in the field, Ms Tenda hopes to inspire a new generation of female leaders in the legal profession.