Driven by perpetual zeal and brilliance, Carina Wessels has cultivated a distinguished career marked by a diverse range of experiences. With a foundation in human resources, business improvement, project and change management, and corporate secretariat roles, primarily within the mining industry, she serves as Executive of Governance, Legal, Compliance and Sustainability at Alexforbes.
Known for her pragmatic approach and commercial acumen, Carina honed her skills and expertise over more than a decade. Her continuous improvement mindset, combined with transactional expertise, ensures that she delivers results that exceed expectations. She is committed to making a difference and adding value in every aspect of her professional and personal life.
Below are highlights of the interview, which showcase Carina Wessels’ dedication to excellence and how it sets her apart as a seasoned and effective executive capable of navigating complex challenges and driving sustainable success.
Can you tell us about your journey and what inspired you to pursue a career in the legal services industry?
My career path has been quite unconventional, which I believe has significantly contributed to my growth and the opportunities I’ve encountered. While studying law, I ventured into selling cost recovery software to attorneys. Surprisingly, most of the lawyers I interacted with expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs, prompting me to explore alternative avenues.
Subsequently, I transitioned to a role as a client services manager at a hospital. However, this stint was short-lived, lasting only six months, as I soon realised that my passion for law was the driving force behind my career aspirations.
Despite deciding against completing my articles, I found myself drawn to the corporate world, where I initially specialised in labour law before delving into corporate governance and commercial law. Over the years, I gained diverse experience across various domains such as Human Resources, Finance, Risk Management, Business Improvement, Project Management, and later Corporate Secretariat and Governance.
During my nine-year tenure with De Beers and subsequent year with Investec, I had the opportunity to broaden my expertise. During my time at De Beers, I was also admitted as an Advocate of the High Court: a deficiency I recognised and addressed to enable future expanded roles and responsibilities. In 2011, at the age of 33, I secured my first executive appointment at Exxaro. It was during my tenure at Exxaro that I also took on the responsibility of managing legal services, prompting me to pursue a second master’s degree in Extractive Industry Law in Africa.
Upon joining Alexforbes, my role expanded rapidly to encompass governance, legal, compliance, and sustainability.
As a leader in legal services, what are some of your key responsibilities and day-to-day activities?
As an executive, I oversee four main areas of responsibility.
Firstly, in terms of governance, my role involves managing corporate governance for the group. This includes serving as the statutory company secretary for the listed company, providing guidance and advice to the Board, and focusing primarily on commercial law matters. I functionally report to the chair of the board in this capacity.
From a legal perspective, my responsibilities encompass managing mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. Additionally, I oversee our legal services function, which includes providing legal services related to employee benefits, drafting fund rules, handling investment legal matters, ethics, forensics, and managing the group insurance programme.
Regarding compliance, I have oversight over group compliance, specifically the second-line head of control function.
More recently, I’ve taken on the responsibility of overseeing sustainability efforts across the group. This includes managing our own Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance and providing guidance to clients on sustainability initiatives. We’ve established an Impact Advisory offering that delivers forward-thinking sustainability insights and advice to retirement funds and corporate clients.
In particular, my focus for the impending fiscal year is on driving Impact Advisory revenue to demonstrate the commercial viability of this new venture. We, inter alia, aim to set a new industry standard for leading and future-fit retirement funds, ensuring their relevance, resilience, and long-term success: what we have developed and designed as the Retirement Fund of the Future™.
How would you describe your leadership style, and what values do you prioritize in your team?
I would characterise my leadership style as authentic transformational leadership, although I am adaptable and tailor my approach to suit the dynamics of my team members.
Central to my leadership philosophy is the cultivation of a shared purpose within the team, one that aligns with and supports the overarching organisational objectives. Throughout my career, I’ve spearheaded significant changes and encouraged my teams to adopt a mindset where they prioritise being business-oriented professionals first, with their legal, governance, or compliance expertise as secondary. This emphasis on business principles, continuous improvement, and client-centricity has been a cornerstone of our success.
Within my team, I uphold values such as trust, transparency, honesty, passion, and an exceptional work ethic as non-negotiables. Additionally, I believe in fostering an environment where we can enjoy our work and not take ourselves too seriously. Balancing professionalism with a sense of enjoyment contributes to a positive team culture and enhances overall productivity.
What are some trends or developments in the legal services industry that you find particularly intriguing or impactful?
One trend that I find particularly intriguing and impactful in the legal services industry is the emergence of generative AI and the ethical challenges it presents. This trend extends beyond the legal sector, but its implications for our field are significant. The evolution of legislation and case law will play a crucial role in shaping how we navigate these challenges and integrate AI into our practices.
In addition to the broader ethical considerations, there are also immediate practical legal concerns that many of us, including myself, are grappling with. One example is ensuring intellectual property protection when utilising AI tools in our work.
How do you balance the demands of legal practice with your personal life and well-being?
Maintaining a balance between the demands of legal practice and personal well-being is essential for me, and I’ve developed several strategies to achieve this. First and foremost, my religion provides a grounding force in my life, helping me maintain perspective and manage stress. Additionally, regular exercise is a critical component of my stress management routine. I enjoy cycling, both mountain biking and road cycling, which I often do with my husband. We also support a cycling charity called Change a Life, which adds purpose and meaning to our shared hobby. In addition to cycling, I engage in boot camps and running to stay active and healthy.
Supporting charities is another way I find fulfillment outside of work. Knowing that my efforts contribute to a greater good adds meaning to the long hours and hard work in my professional life.
Being present in the moment is a daily practice for me, whether it’s seizing short opportunities for relaxation or fully immersing myself in extended family vacations. Family time, especially during vacations, is precious to us, and we prioritise quality time with our 10-year-old daughter during these periods.
I’ve learned to be gentle with myself and not be too hard on myself when things don’t always go as planned. Lastly, I am incredibly fortunate to have an amazing and supportive husband, as well as an exceptional pair who provides invaluable assistance in managing our family life.
Overall, finding harmony between my career and personal life is an ongoing journey, but these strategies help me navigate the challenges and prioritise my well-being.
Can you share a bit about your educational background and how it has influenced your approach to law and leadership?
My educational journey reflects my steadfast belief in lifelong learning, a principle I am unlikely to ever abandon. I have pursued a diverse range of qualifications, including:
LLB
Certificate in Advanced Labour Law (cum laude) LLM (Labour Law)
Programme for Management Development (cum laude)
FCIS
LLM (Extractive Industry Law in Africa) (cum laude)
Global Leaders in Law mini-MBA (Oxford, Somerville College)
Advanced Management Programme (Harvard Business School)
Throughout my career, I have strived to strike a balance between technical legal expertise and leadership development. This approach has enabled me to embody the role of a businessperson first and foremost, equipped with a broad spectrum of experience and skills. By integrating business skills alongside legal qualifications, I have honed my ability to manage my areas of responsibility with a strategic and commercially astute mindset.
Moreover, my legal and governance technical training has instilled in me a strong ethical foundation, guiding my leadership approach with integrity and accountability. Overall, my educational background has been instrumental in shaping me into a well-rounded executive, capable of navigating complex legal challenges while fostering a culture of ethical leadership within my organisation.
How do you foster a culture of collaboration and excellence within your legal team or organization?
In fostering a culture of collaboration, we have implemented specific measures to cultivate effective relationships with key stakeholders. Our team members are strategically assigned roles to represent the broader GLCS team in management committees across the organisation. This provides them with firsthand insights into business operations, allowing them to proactively contribute, collaborate, and report back to the team on pertinent issues or areas requiring collective involvement and resolution.
Regarding excellence, I believe in leading by example and setting high standards for work ethic, quality, and timely deliverables. It’s crucial to establish a shared purpose, clear expectations, and measurable metrics. For instance, one of the metrics on our scorecard is the aggregate customer satisfaction score of the entire GLCS team. This underscores the importance of collective success; individual achievements alone are not sufficient for overall success.
By emphasising collaboration, setting clear expectations, and instilling a commitment to excellence, we create a culture where every team member is empowered to contribute their best, ultimately driving organisational success.
What are some ethical considerations you keep in mind when representing clients or managing a legal team?
When representing clients or managing a legal team, I prioritise considering the commercial, legal, and ethical dimensions of every issue. It’s essential to carefully assess which factors are driving decision-making and how these considerations may impact various stakeholders in the short, medium, and long term.
I firmly believe that legality does not always equate to ethical correctness. Therefore, it’s imperative to weigh the ethical implications of actions alongside their legal validity. The ‘front of the newspaper test’ serves as a valuable guideline in this regard, prompting us to evaluate whether our decisions would withstand public scrutiny and align with ethical standards.
By consistently incorporating ethical considerations into our decision-making processes, we uphold the integrity of our profession and ensure that our actions contribute positively to society.
What advice would you give to aspiring legal professionals who aspire to become leaders in the field?
Most of these are universal and not necessarily directed at legal professionals.
- Seize opportunities: Take advantage of every opportunity for broad exposure, as this will enhance your leadership skills more than just technical expertise.
- Surround yourself with inspiring people, both personally and professionally. These individuals will inspire and support you to achieve greatness yourself.
- Believe in yourself: Take ownership of your space and believe in your abilities, as no one else will make space for you.
- Be ethical whilst being successful: Success and being a good person are not mutually exclusive; you can achieve both simultaneously.
