LevelUp

Level Up: How this Gen Z Tech Lawyer overcame her career fears👩🏾‍⚖️

In today's edition of Level Up, we explore the story of a trailblazing lawyer who, at the age of 22, became the youngest person ever called to the Ghanaian bar. She faced and overcame the stereotypes associated with Gen Z in the workplace. She shares how she conquered her fears and consistently delivered high-quality work, regardless of age.

She currently works with N. Dowuona & Company, where she assists with market entry for tech companies and advises on compliance with the law.

🔎 In the spotlight with Ama Aboagye DaCosta

Describe your work as a tech lawyer to a five-year-old.

I provide legal services to tech companies, guiding them through the process of entering the Ghanaian market. This includes registering their company and assisting with obtaining the necessary licenses for their operations, which is crucial for tech companies to remain compliant with the law. I also help draft and review contracts and policies to ensure they meet legal requirements.

Additionally, I sometimes work on the investor side. When investors want to invest in or acquire a tech company, we conduct thorough investigations into the company’s affairs. Based on our findings, we advise on managing any discovered risks and structuring the transaction accordingly.

What was your biggest fear when you started your career, and how did you overcome it?

When I was called to the bar in 2021, I broke the record for being the youngest person to have been called to a Ghanaian bar. I was really afraid of coming across as the stereotypical Gen Z in the workplace. It got to the point where I was so self-conscious that I concealed my personality. Looking back now, I realise that was unnecessary because it put a lot of pressure on me. I overcame that by realising that there was no need for that fear.

The fear stemmed from all the sentiments surrounding Gen Z in the workplace in general. The prevailing mindset is that Gen Z had this lackadaisical attitude towards work. I eventually realised that this mindset was baseless because so many competent professionals, myself included, fall within that generation. So, if there's any issue with a particular person's work ethic, it’s down to the person, not just a result of them being Gen Z.

I also came to accept that even if there were some quirks or different approaches I had because I was younger, that was completely fine. It's how the world works, and in fact, the different mindsets that I had would be beneficial to the team. I was also very fortunate to work with a team that appreciates different viewpoints, so I was never made to feel like I was at the bottom of the ladder because I was younger.

I came to own my age and decided it wasn’t going to affect the quality of work that I put out. Even if I end up behaving differently because I am younger, that's completely fine—as long as it's not irresponsible behaviour.

If your career journey were a movie, what would the title be and why?

I'll call the movie “Uncharted.”

That’s because I wanted to be so many different things at different points as I grew up. I went from wanting to be a lawyer to a scientist and then an economist. I ended up zeroing in on the law, and I think that's been great for my immediate interest because in law, you could be advising on licenses needed by an agritech company one day, and the next, you are advising on how to structure a transaction for tax efficiency, and none of these are the same. But even with that, it's still early in my career, so who knows, there might be other paths still ahead.

What’s a hobby that has unexpectedly contributed to your professional skills?

Learning to play the keyboard and read sheet music. I used to play the keyboard when I was younger, which has further developed my attention to detail. It's an activity that you have to be fully present in. You can't be watching a movie and trying to play or read the sheet.

These days, with so many apps and activities you can engage in passively, it's good to have activities or hobbies that you have to fully engage in, and that build your concentration muscle.

While working, I've found that I'm more productive in those periods of time when I’m laser-focused on the activity. This has also helped me learn to recover quickly and bounce back from my mistakes because, as a learner, you definitely fall at certain points, but when that happens, you just correct your mistake, move on, and try to make sure that doesn't happen again.

What’s something that non-experts believe about your field that they’re wrong about?

The belief is that all lawyers suit up in their gowns and go to court from Monday to Friday. Of course, litigation lawyers do that, but there are also so many others who don't, like me. I don't remember the last time I had to go to court in my gown. Many corporate lawyers don't go to court and mainly work with contracts, whether in writing, reviewing, negotiating contracts, advising on compliance with the law, or advising on structuring transactions.

What’s the best compliment you’ve received about your work?

We were assisting a client with obtaining certain approvals from a regulator. It was one of those processes that tend to be bureaucratic and drawn out, but I did my best to make sure that the client's matter was given priority, and when I informed the client that the approval had been granted in good time,e he was so happy. He said we had made his day. What makes this one of my most memorable compliments is that our efforts were appreciated. It was just a heartwarming feeling knowing that, in my way, I had made life easier for his clients and contributed to their having a great day.

What’s the most unexpected skill you’ve picked up during your career?

This is quite nerdy. But it’s the ability to look at a document and pinpoint all formatting errors in seconds. It's not something I had expected to pick up, but it makes sense since I often work with documents. The thing is, if you are doing great work, it's only right to make that it's presented in an orderly and well-laid-out manner and that there are no weird no uneven paragraphs or any of those odd formatting issues that could distract the clients or detract from the good work you've done.

What has been the most challenging aspect of your career growth?

I’d say time. People often use time as an excuse for not developing their career skills, but the truth is your career growth is largely in your hands. You must regularly audit your skillset and identify areas where you can improve, especially those relevant to your career progression. You must be very intentional about finding time to invest in yourself because career growth requires deliberate efforts and initiative.

Tech Trend: Slack Widgets

Slack is making it harder to avoid work with its new iOS widgets.

These new widgets include three for the iPhone’s home screen and one for the lock screen. The home screen widgets offer a glance at unread messages and mentions, making it simpler to catch up without opening the app. One of these widgets, Catch Up, provides more detail than the app icon’s badge and lets users quickly access missed conversations. The other two homescreen widgets allow users to update their Slack status directly, with options for one-hour “Focus” and “Lunch” statuses and a half-hour “Take a break” status, though these aren’t customisable yet.

With Slack becoming more integrated into our devices, the line between work and personal life continues to blur, making work feel ever-present.