ABOUT SHIREEN
I have 30 years of experience as a lawyer in private practice, (former member of the Johannesburg Bar and Bar Council), served at the UN in New York, Geneva and several countries in Africa; in government at the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. Combining my exposure to diplomacy, political brinkmanship, mentoring lawyers over the years, ignited me to respond to my “calling” as a coachsultant. I continue to serve the United Nations as a Surge Advisor, consult for companies on legal strategy and support them in litigation. I remain a consulting advisor to the Vance Centre for International Justice in New York (a project of the New York Bar) that set up the Advancing Women in the Workplace, mentoring junior women lawyers in South Africa.
WHY?
I embarked on this path by default. An activist at heart, I started out in public interest litigation and research; to the UN; to private practice, to government and back to the UN. Working in a predominantly male environment and being a person of colour, I constantly stumbled on by default and sometimes by design, the unspoken rules, unconscious behaviours and assumptions, very often misplaced, that made navigating the work terrain challenging. All while negotiating, brokering, political brinkmanship; litigating and navigating divorce, burn out, menopause, loss of a loved one and being a mom. Not appreciating the value of self-care, emotional regulation amongst others, it took its toll. Of course, it started out as frustration, overwhelm, irritability, isolation and then affected my health. Help that I sought did not always address the issues holistically and very often I had to call on a several services. Whilst I found these services, they were in different places and inconvenient, in an already very busy life.
About 8 years ago, I commenced the redesign of my life to focus on the internal changes required for self-mastery. Throughout my career, I saw professionals especially women, reach different points in their lives and come to crossroads and not know where to turn or what’s next for them. I knew they had more to offer but did not always know how to and where to go to support them. I now fully comprehend the bravery, courage and determination that it takes to effect change and yet cannot emphasis sufficiently the phenomenal rewards. This also ignited a spark within me and what was an unintended consequence, became the opportunity to share my experiences that others are now finding value in. I have combined the learnings, drawing from these experiences, that included negotiating conflict, brokering political resolutions, resolving disputes in gender, race and other aspects of discrimination, mentoring junior women lawyers…and unique to my approach is the commune with nature.
Plans and sessions vary depending on which services you’d like to work with me on. Click below for details on how to get started!
TESTIMONIAL
-Miss Amanda N Dladla
When I joined chats with Shireen, I had recently reached a huge career and personal milestone, and felt that this was a turning point in my life. I was clear on the fact that I needed guidance and clarity on my personal, professional and spiritual goals wholistically.
Little did I know that I had stumbled into more than what I thought I needed. I found someone who has walked a similar journey and because the chats are tailor made for the needs of the individual, I have seen immediate results and witnessed my confidence grow in leaps and bounds.
Shireen has opened me up to a deeper level of understanding behavioural characteristics in the executive space. I have extracted great value from her calm and insightful guidance, and because each session builds onto the other, it builds confidence and opens you up to receiving honest feedback without pulling punches.
The implementation of a wise, conscious and methodical approach has resulted in a miraculous change in the way I conduct my affairs and interact with people, in my personal and professional space. I have acquired the necessary skills on how to position myself and revitalise my career, whilst remaining authentic to myself.
The chats offer valuable insights which help professionals to spot some blind spots which are not always easy, but necessary when you want to grow and gain an edge in the competitive corporate space.
In the process of reframing myself, I have found that Shireens unique ability to find my hidden strengths and capabilities has left me believing that I can do so much more than I initially though possible.
As I move forward in my career, I am looking forward to further life transforming sessions with Shireen which carry with them, an inherent ability to enlightened ones eyes and ignite a desire to excel in all the areas of ones life.
