Sophie Chandauka

Sophie Chandauka is a Zimbabwe-born corporate finance lawyer, entrepreneur and Global COO of Shared Services and Banking Operations at Morgan Stanley based in New York. Prior to this, Chandauka was CAO of the Legal and Compliance Division of Morgan Stanley in EMEA, based in London. Before joining Morgan Stanley, she was the Head of Group Treasury (Legal) at Virgin Money in London. She began her career as a corporate finance lawyer and Senior Associate at Baker McKenzie in London. Apart from her professional achievements, she is recognised in the United Kingdom for her community work as an advocate for education, equality, diversity and inclusion and also as a mentor for young entrepreneurs and aspiring lawyers.

Sophie Chandauka
Born
Sophia Tendai Chandauka

Harare, Zimbabwe
Alma materLake Superior State University (LSSU)
OccupationSenior Corporate Executive
Known forAchievements as a leading and influential corporate executive in Britain with a record of advocacy for equality, diversity and inclusion

Education

Following primary and secondary education in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1994, Chandauka was selected to be sponsored by Rotary International to represent her country as a Rotary Youth Exchange student for a year in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.[1] Upon completion of her year in Canada, the Board of Trustees of Lake Superior State University (LSSU) in Michigan awarded Chandauka an academic scholarship for her undergraduate degree.

In her third year of undergraduate study, while undertaking an internship with the Association of Flight Attendants in Washington, D.C., she was awarded a further scholarship as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar to the United Kingdom, where she attended the University of Birmingham for a year. On returning to LSSU, Chandauka was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree with highest academic distinction (summa cum laude) and was also selected as the commencement speaker for LSSU's graduating class of the year 2000.[2] Chandauka returned to the United Kingdom where in September 2001, she commenced legal studies at The College of Law of England and Wales and the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice of Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University, before commencing her apprenticeship in September 2003 and qualifying, in September 2005, as a corporate lawyer with Baker & McKenzie in London.[3]

Chandauka was invited to return to her alma mater, LSSU, to address the Class of 2011 at commencement proceedings in April 2011.[4][5]

Career and awards

Since qualification, Chandauka has worked on a number of high-profile transactions, including the attempted hostile takeover of the London Stock Exchange Group by the Macquarie Group; the acquisition of The Body Shop by L'Oréal; Nike, Inc.’s acquisition of Umbro; and the initial public offering (IPO) of Ferrexpo as the first Ukrainian company to be listed on the London Stock Exchange.[6][7][8][9]

In 2007, Chandauka was shortlisted as a finalist for the British Legal Awards "Young Solicitor of the Year".[10] In 2008, she was shortlisted as a finalist for The Lawyer Awards "Assistant Solicitor of the Year".[11] Also in that year, Chandauka was selected as one of Management Today’s "35 Women Under 35" businesswomen to watch and was featured on the cover of the July 2008 issue of the magazine with four other women.[12]

In the same year, Chandauka was invited to Lake Superior State University to receive the Paul Ripley Young Alumna Award.[2][13] In autumn 2011, she was shortlisted as a finalist for the Women of the Future Awards.[14] In March 2013 she was featured in Financial News’ editorial pick of 40 Rising Stars in the European legal profession aged under 40.[15] Chandauka has been featured as one of the top 100 most influential Black Britons on the Power List 2014, 2015 and 2016. She has also featured as one of the top 100 most influential ethnic minority business leaders in the Britain in the Financial Times and Sunday Times. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) — the preeminent membership organisation committed to increasing the number of senior black executives in global enterprises.[16]

Community involvement

Throughout her academic pursuits and career, Chandauka has actively volunteered time as a personal mentor to many young people and as a motivational speaker to a number of social mobility organisations and schools, and has been an advocate for education of young people and empowerment of women. In 1999, she was made a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, one of the highest honours of this organisation, for her exemplary work as a young ambassador for world peace and understanding. In 2008, Chandauka was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Sentebale ("Forget Me Not" in Sesotho), the African children's charity that was established by Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry to help vulnerable children and young people in Lesotho, particularly those who have been orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS.[17][18]

In 2013 to March 2014, she served as co-Chair of the Board of Trustees for the BLD Foundation.[19] The BLD Foundation's mission is to support young people from ethnic minority and/or socio-economically underprivileged backgrounds in Britain, and with an interest in law, towards achieving their fullest potential by providing them with knowledge and information about the opportunities available in the legal profession, equipping them with the skills to take advantage of these opportunities, and providing them with access to work placements and recruitment opportunities in leading firms and chambers across Britain.

In 2014, Chandauka co-founded and was appointed as the Chair of the Judging Panel of the Black British Business Awards,[20] which were endorsed by former Prime Minister David Cameron and former Secretary of State for Business Sir Vince Cable as the only premium awards programme of its kind in Britain. Its goals are to shine a light on the often unsung significant contribution of entrepreneurs and professions of black African and Caribbean heritage to the British economy across all sectors. The Awards have received exceptional endorsement and support from across the business and political spectrum, including more than 25 multinational corporations.[21]

In 2016, Chandauka was appointed as a member of the Board of Trustees of Protimos, an organisation of development lawyers who provide access to law and legal education for impoverished and marginalised communities in resource rich emerging economies.[22]

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References
  1. Hearn, Wayne (September 1999). "Youth Exchange: Generations of young lives promote world peace". The Rotarian. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. "Paul Ripley Young Alumna Award 2008: Sophie Chandauka". Laker Log. Fall 2008. Archived from the original on 20 April 2009. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  3. "Find a Solicitor". The Law Society of England and Wales. Archived from the original on 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  4. Pink, Tom (29 April 2011). "Zimbabwe native and LSSU alumna Sophie Chandauka to speak at commencement". Lake Superior State University Campus News. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. "Sophie Chandauka to speak at LSSU graduation ceremony". Soo Evening News. 29 April 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  6. Sawyer, Donna (25 November 2005). "Bakers scoops prize Macquarie role on LSE bid". The Lawyer. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  7. Ganz, Kian (23 October 2007). "Bakers wins Nike role on £284m Umbro takeover". The Lawyer. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  8. Sawyer, Donna (17 March 2006). "Baker & McKenzie lands lead role on Body Shop takeover". The Lawyer. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  9. Binham, Caroline (14 June 2007). "Bakers and Links bullish on Ferrexpo IPO". The Lawyer. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  10. "2007 Winners and Finalists". Legal Week - British Legal Awards. Incisive Media. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  11. "The Lawyer Awards shortlist 2008". The Lawyer. 12 May 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  12. Devita, Emma (3 July 2008). "MT's 35 Women Under 35 2008: The List". Management Today. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  13. "Four to be honored by Lake Superior State University during Great Lake State Weekend". Soo Today. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  14. "Women of the Future Awards 2011: shortlist announced". Real Business Caspian Media. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  15. Coe Smith, Claire (11 March 2013). "FN 40 under 40: The rising stars of legal services". Financial News. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  16. ELC website
  17. "Our Team", Sentebale website. Archived 2 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  18. "Our People", BLD Foundation website.
  19. "Founders", BBBA.
  20. "Supporters", Black British Business Awards website.
  21. Protimos website.
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