The AJ Park associate has been able to rub shoulders with some top names in the industry
For Rumbie Mutanga, a highlight of her legal career is being able to entwine her love of fashion into her work. In the past year, she has been able to encounter some big names in the New Zealand fashion industry, such as Wynn Hamlyn, as a professional in the field of IP law.
In the first part of this July interview, the AJ Park associate talks being no stranger to imposter syndrome and the rewards of putting herself out there.
What made you choose a career in law?
At the core of it, it was about wanting to help people. Like a good chunk of lawyers, I went to do health science first year with the hope of becoming a doctor. That did not quite work out for me and that is for the best! I pivoted to law school and I really enjoyed being part of the law faculty – I enjoyed what I was learning, I enjoyed who I was around.
What's your favourite part of the job?
I think the work I do is interesting – intellectual property (IP) is such an interesting area of law. I also really like the people I work with, both in terms of my colleagues as well as the clients we get to work with.
What in your opinion has been the most memorable event of your career to date?
I have been fortunate that in the last 12 or so months I have had opportunities to make my interest in fashion be a part of my work life. The most memorable events for me have been interviewing Wynn Hamlyn for a client story and then hosting a panel on the importance of IP in the fashion industry with Karen Walker and Grant Partridge as speakers, and some of New Zealand’s big names in fashion in attendance.
That was a lot of me putting myself out there and trying things that I was not sure I could do or should do, but it ended up being so much fun. I think I am going to be hard pressed to beat that.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in the last year or so?
Is it also okay to say my promotion? I am no stranger to imposter syndrome so something like this provides validation that I am doing a good job or that I do deserve to be in the rooms that I am in.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
I have not really thought too far ahead. I am going to and speaking at my first conference soon, for which I am pretty excited.
