The boardroom was never meant to confine her. The weight of the legal tomes she studied, the prestige of Africa’s largest law firms where she sharpened her skills, these were milestones, not destinations. From the bustling streets of Durban, South Africa to the towering offices of Johannesburg, Zama Ngcobo followed a path paved by discipline, education, and an unwavering sense of purpose. Yet, purpose has a way of calling beyond comfort, beyond stability, beyond the expected.
She had set out to be an attorney, not an entrepreneur. But when the corridors of power refused to recognize her worth, when the institutions she served failed to offer the fulfillment she craved, she chose to create her own. WMN Attorneys Inc. was born not just as a firm, but as a force, a sanctuary for those, like her, who believed in law’s power to build, protect, and transform.
Early life and Education
At the age of 22, Zama Ngcobo entered the world of law with a mission to make a difference, earning an LLB and an LLM in Business Law from the University of Kwa Zulu Natal in her hometown of Durban. But despite her early success, something was missing. While the rewards of a prestigious career in South Africa’s top law firms were appealing, they didn’t fulfill her deeper need for purpose.
“I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur,” Zama reflects. “I set out to be an attorney. It was my dissatisfaction with my work environment that led me on an entrepreneurial journey.” The pivotal moment came when her parents, recognizing her unhappiness, encouraged her to start her own law firm. “They saw that I wasn’t being valued in the way they believed my value to be,” she recalls. “They pushed me to start my own law firm.”
The Birth of WMN Attorneys Inc.
And so, WMN Attorneys Inc. was born—a law firm specializing in construction law, focusing on the infrastructure, natural resources, and technology sectors. For Zama, this wasn’t just about building a business; it was about creating a space where women could thrive, just as she aspired to. The firm, which has offices in Bryanston, Johannesburg, and Umhlanga, Durban, with plans for a new international office in Windhoek, Namibia, operates with a team of 10 professionals and is supported by consultants and business services staff. Their work spans industries like mining, energy, property, and oil and gas across Africa and beyond.
“I wanted to work for a company that deeply cared about me, so I started a company and employed myself,” Zama says, encapsulating the heart of her journey into entrepreneurship. The desire to create a meaningful and purpose-driven space wasn’t just about personal fulfillment—it was about helping other women who shared her passion for construction law and the development of Africa. “The opportunities I was getting made me realize that I have the capability to create a safe space not just for myself, but for other women who felt the way I do,” she adds.
Overcoming Challenges in a Male-Dominated Industry
Building WMN Attorneys Inc. came with its own set of challenges, particularly in a field dominated by men, and especially for a black woman. Zama shares how women, particularly black women, often face bias and discrimination in the corporate world, leading to feelings of being undervalued. “A lot of the challenges I’ve faced stem from the fact that women, and particularly black women, aren’t always taken seriously,” she admits. Her early experiences were no exception.
“When I started my company, I was approached by a lawyer who told me his company was looking to empower a female attorney. He supported me for about a year, and then the undermining started. The same client who claimed to want to empower me ultimately defrauded me of several million rands.”
This betrayal was especially painful as Zama had just lost her father in 2023, and the same client encouraged her to spend more time with her family while undermining her business. “My upbringing was very sheltered, so realizing how cruel people can be was heartbreaking,” she says. “The tactics that have been employed to silence me, I could write a book about. The amount of times I have feared for my life, only my family knows.”
Despite this, the experience strengthened Zama’s resolve. “It’s taught me to trust my instincts and how to stand my ground in a male-dominated industry.”
Recognized Success and Empowering Women
While the road to success has been difficult, Zama has proven her resilience time and again. She navigated the challenges of starting a business during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when remote work and digital tools became crucial for success. “Technology became a game-changer for us,” she explains. “We were working remotely and advising on transactions in various jurisdictions. I invested heavily in technology to increase efficiency, and this allowed us to negotiate hundreds of agreements over the last four years, all while staying true to our purpose.”
Zama attributes much of her firm’s success to collaboration—working with like-minded organizations and other law firms to expand their reach and impact. “We have collaborated with other law firms to deliver projects across Africa, and with organizations that focus on empowering women and the youth,” she says. “This collaboration has enabled us to make a bigger impact as a relatively small team.” The results have been clear: WMN Attorneys Inc. has successfully delivered both major and minor projects across South Africa and internationally.
In 2024, Zama was recognized by her peers as one of The Best Lawyers in South Africa for her expertise in construction law. Her firm also received recognition for its work in the infrastructure and mining sectors. Zama herself was honored with a Top Forty Under 40 Africa award for her work through WMN Attorneys Inc., and she was also shortlisted for a Top Forty Under 40 Global award.
But for Zama, the most significant success is the empowerment her firm represents. “I’m proud of the brands I’ve built—my personal brand as a purpose-driven specialist lawyer, and the WMN Attorneys brand, a law firm owned and managed by women making an impact globally,” she says. “We are not only helping develop the African continent, but we are inspiring and uplifting so many women in the process. That’s how I measure our success.”
Looking to the Future: Expanding Horizons
Zama’s commitment to women’s empowerment extends beyond her firm. She actively collaborates with organizations such as Dare To Change Africa, Ubuntu NPO, Mentorly Africa, and the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute, all of which focus on connecting, empowering, and uplifting women and the youth across Africa. “It’s about building a community of strong, purpose-driven individuals,” she explains, underscoring her dedication to the cause.
She is also actively involved with the International Building Quality Centre (IBQC), an Australian based global thought leadership organization dedicated to advancing building regulation standards worldwide. “I’m excited about the work I do with the IBQC,” she reveals, highlighting the organization’s commitment to addressing complex challenges in building regulation.
Through her work with the IBQC, Zama has gained valuable insights into the global construction sector, collaborating with renowned experts and thought leaders. As she humbly notes, “I feel very privileged to work alongside globally preeminent senior law reformers, leading regulatory experts, senior academics, construction lawyers, and economists.”
Looking forward, Zama is excited about the future, particularly as she continues to expand her firm’s presence and influence. “We’re looking forward to establishing WMN Attorneys Inc. in Namibia—a project that has been in the pipeline for some time,” she reveals. She’s also keeping a close eye on the rapidly evolving role of technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence, in the legal and construction sectors. “AI is revolutionizing the industry, but I also see the dangers and how it can be misused. We need to be cautious,” she cautions.
In her leadership journey, the most important lesson Zama has learned is the value of surrounding herself with the right people. “Quality over quantity,” she says, stressing the importance of having a strong, aligned team. “With the right people, anything is possible,” she believes. This philosophy drives her as she looks to expand WMN Attorneys Inc. across Africa and beyond, helping the firm grow without losing sight of the purpose that defines it.
Reflecting on her journey, Zama shares a final piece of advice for entrepreneurs: “You need to have a vision and a purpose, and not be easily shaken in the implementation of your vision and living your purpose. Don’t lose the thing that makes you special.” As her firm’s influence grows, Zama Ngcobo continues to be an inspiring example of resilience, leadership, and the power of purpose-driven entrepreneurship.
