Sharne Gous: Navigating Complex Legal Challenges with Strategic Foresight & Expertise

In South Africa, the major leadership traits for corporate consultants are innovation, strategic thinking, and a great passion for problem-solving. They guide the consultants to navigate complexities with assurance, ensuring businesses thrive in an evolving landscape. Their insights and efficiency create stability for legal acumen with business understanding and making critical decisions that drive sustainable growth. These consultants foster trust, flexibility, and customer-centered solutions. Sharné Gous, a distinguished corporate consultant embodies these traits, transforming legal and consulting services in South Africa with accessibility and innovation.

Sharné Gous, the CEO of The Law Box, is redefining the legal landscape in South Africa by merging traditional legal services with modern accessibility. Her academic foundation is rooted in a BA Law and Psychology degree, a LLB degree, and a Master's degree in Environmental Law. Further expanding her expertise, she concluded further Master's courses in International Sales Law, International Criminal Law, and Advanced Company Law, complemented by Higher Certificates in Business Management and Digital Marketing.

Below is an excerpt of Sharné Gous’ exclusive interaction with The Global Women Leader magazine.

Can you share insights from your formative years? What key influences have helped you to shape into the person you are today?

Starting with my family, I grew up in a very caring and supportive home, rooted in Christian values, which has been the greatest foundation in my life and success thus far. Contributing to this, I inherited my parents' values and greatest strengths, which have played a key role in the individual and professional I am today. At the age of five, I began my equestrian journey under the guidance of a reputed, world-renowned trainer and mentor, Madré Brand. Her influence shaped my resilience, discipline, and mindset to this day. Shortly after this journey commenced, I suffered a severe eye injury. This experience, yet traumatizing, taught me grit and tenacity, which are attributes that remain with me today.

At the age of 15, I took part in the Senior Equestrian World Cup in America, which was a major highlight. Unknowingly at the time, my passion for environmental law grew from my love for nature and animals. This passion was further inspired by my dear father, who was a legal scholar himself.

What elements inspired you to pursue a career in law? Can you share some insights into your professional journey and the key areas of expertise you have developed over the years?

Coming from a family with a legal background, I was drawn toward the law, from a very young age. My mother holds 30 years of experience, as an Advocate, Prosecutor, and Magistrate. In terms of Law, she has always been the most profound inspiration. She is the sharpest legal mind I know.

What called me to pursue law stemmed from a deep desire to address injustice among people and the natural environment. Protecting the underdog and creating a change in the world has been a driving factor. We are here to serve, and with sufficient knowledge and carefully calculated decisions, we can influence outcomes for the greater good. This foundation has shaped my professional journey, allowing me to develop expertise, whilst reinforcing my commitments to fairness, justice, and creating meaningful impact.

Over the years, I have been privileged to develop skills in legal consulting, leadership, and strategic decision-making with specialized knowledge in environmental advocacy, criminal justice, international trade, as well as, corporate governance. In addition, my knowledge and experience have significantly grown in the areas of business management, digital marketing, and virtual staffing, showcasing an ability to navigate complex challenges and build innovative solutions. In the end, my hope is that these skills will drive sustainable growth across all the industries I was part of.

What was the core idea behind founding The Law Box? What are the company's areas of specialization?

The Law Box was established during one of the most challenging times in modern history, which is COVID-19. The inception ideology behind The Law Box is to address the difficulty people faced at the time in accessing traditional legal counseling due to the lockdown. During the COVID-19 period, online shopping had become a critically dependable tool for communities in every area. Recognizing the rise in that, I combined the age-old profession of law with the modern ‘add-to-cart’ online shopping technology. The exclusive vision was to create a platform for legal guidance that could be used by people anytime, anywhere, and the motivation was simple, which is to have your lawyer in your pocket.

Initially, we focused on critical needs that amplified during the pandemic, such as domestic violence, of which the statistics heavily rose during COVID-19. We also helped families get their affairs in order during such an uncertain time, through a key partnership with Capital Legacy, which is a South African-based company that manages all aspects of winding up deceased estates. This also helped us create awareness regarding the importance of having a legal Will, which helped thousands control their legacies.

Over time, as we expanded the list of services we offered, The Law Box launched its very own radio show, which ran for two years and reached hundreds of thousands of listeners. I'm also excited to share that this radio show will be launching again soon. To conclude, The Law Box mainly focuses on making legal consulting easy, accessible, and very importantly, affordable. Thus, by prioritizing user-friendly and convenient services, we aim to assist clients during challenging moments by helping our clients where and when they need it most.

As the CEO of The Law Box, what are your key roles and responsibilities? What are your main focus areas for driving the company's growth?

My primary roles and responsibilities involve driving innovation and delivering accessible client-focused legal solutions. I oversee the management of client portfolios offering tailored legal guidance that meets each client's individual needs, as well as strategic support for both personal and business matters. Since the establishment of The Law Box, I have been encouraging our clients to ask us anything, no matter how simple those questions may seem. This is a fundamental aspect for me as there is generally an underlying fear and intimidation involved when it comes to the legal sphere.

I also focus on developing and executing marketing strategies. Building a brand's presence in the legal industry whilst ensuring compliance with evolving legal frameworks, is a limitless evolution. In light of this, my approach emphasizes fostering long-term client relationships and aligning the organization's goals with industry trends.

What have been the biggest ‘wins’ that you have achieved so far in your professional journey?

The biggest wins in my professional journey include founding businesses that prioritize human connection. The very foundation lies in solving real problems for real people. Furthermore, a defining privilege has been the opportunity to travel the world, meet like-minded entrepreneurs at various stages of their journeys, and collaborate with them. These experiences have broadened my perspective, inspired creativity, and reinforced my belief that opportunity and possibility are truly limitless when approached with purpose and collaboration.

How do you anticipate the legal advisory landscape in South Africa evolving? Which industry trends do you believe will have the most significant impact soon?

The legal advisory landscape in South Africa has the potential to advance technologically, increasing the demand for accessible services and a focus on sustainability. Utilizing AI, with tools such as automation and virtual consultations will enhance efficiency, but human connection must remain vital in this process, especially for the personalized and or empathetic types of legal counseling, which is common practice within the legal sphere. The demand for affordable legal solutions tailored to small businesses and underserved communities is growing, which perfectly aligns with The Law Box's mission to make law understandable and accessible for all. Thus, I believe that if utilized correctly, these technological advancements offer immense opportunities for the legal landscape to evolve in South Africa.

Sharné Gous, CEO, The Law Box

Sharné gous is the CEO of the Law Box, a pioneering legal consultancy in south africa. As a seasoned corporate consultant, she specializes in corporate law, environmental law, international trade, and business strategy. With multiple master's qualifications and extensive leadership experience, she drives innovation in the legal sector, making legal services more accessible and client-centric. Known for her strategic foresight and commitment to empowering businesses, sharné combines legal expertise with a strong entrepreneurial mindset to foster growth, governance, and long-term success.