BY TASEKHAYA DLAMINI
From Articled Clerk to Crown Counsel, Luyanda Ceko has built a career grounded in curiosity, purpose and continuous learning. Her journey spans law, taxation, international business, governance, risk and compliance.
While pursuing an MBA, Luyanda recognises that effective legal solutions also require an understanding of financial, commercial and practical realities.
In this edition of Career Chat, she reflects on her journey, confidence, resilience and the importance of lifelong learning.
Tasekhaya: Your journey has taken you from an Articled Clerk to Crown Counsel. Looking back, what moment made you realise, “I’m exactly where I’m meant to be?”
Luyanda: I realised I was where I belonged when my work began making a meaningful difference. Sitting alongside professionals I once admired and contributing as an equal made that moment especially significant.
As I progressed from Articled Clerk to Crown Counsel, I saw how legal work can shape decisions, strengthen institutions and serve the public interest. I realised law was where my skills, interests and purpose aligned.
Tasekhaya: What is one thing about being a lawyer that most people would be surprised to learn?
Luyanda: Much of a lawyer’s work involves listening, analysing and preventing problems. Beyond courtrooms, legal practice often takes place through research, drafting, negotiation and advice. A lawyer’s greatest value is preventing disputes. Good legal practice combines legal knowledge with understanding the problem and finding a practical, legally sound way forward.
Tasekhaya: You’ve combined law, taxation, business, and now an MBA. What made you realise that being a great lawyer requires understanding more than just the law?
Luyanda: I realised that legal advice is most effective when grounded in the commercial, financial and operational context. This motivated me to study taxation and international business and pursue an MBA. I want to understand the reasons, financial implications and risks behind decisions, translating legal knowledge into practical solutions.
Tasekhaya: Imagine a business is about to make a major decision, but the legal team raises concerns. Why should business leaders see legal advice as a strategic advantage rather than an obstacle?
Luyanda: Legal advice becomes a strategic advantage when lawyers are involved early, rather than simply saying, “No, you cannot do this.” A good legal adviser understands the organisation’s objective, identifies risks and finds a lawful way forward. Whether to proceed, adjust or stop, legal advice helps leaders make informed decisions about the risks and consequences.
Tasekhaya: Governance, risk and compliance are increasingly important. Where could organisations in Eswatini improve, and what changes would you recommend?
Luyanda: Organisations could improve by shifting from reactive to proactive governance, risk and compliance, rather than prioritising compliance only after audit findings or regulatory issues. Governance and risk management should be embedded in daily decisions, with stronger accountability. Policies work only when people understand, own and implement them. Compliance should be seen not merely as an obligation, but as part of good management and sustainable growth.
Tasekhaya: Why should young professionals and entrepreneurs understand taxation beyond simply knowing that they have to pay it?
Luyanda: Tax affects more than monthly salary; it shapes business structure, pricing, cash flow and investment decisions. Understanding tax helps young professionals and entrepreneurs make informed financial decisions by knowing their obligations, available incentives and the consequences of non-compliance. Entrepreneurs need not be tax experts, but should know enough to ask the right questions and make sound decisions.
Tasekhaya: What keeps you hungry to learn, even after already establishing yourself professionally?
Luyanda: Curiosity drives me. The more I learn, the more I recognise how much remains to be understood. Because law intersects with business, economics, taxation, technology and global developments, there is always something new to learn.
I do not want to be confined to one narrow area; I want to understand the wider context of legal decisions. Continued learning is not about qualifications, but improving my work and keeping my advice relevant in a changing world.
Tasekhaya: As a young woman building a career in law, have there been moments when you had to prove yourself twice? What did those experiences teach you about confidence and resilience?
Luyanda: Yes. At times, I have had to prove my competence before receiving the benefit of the doubt, as young lawyers can be underestimated. These experiences taught me that confidence is knowing my strengths, acknowledging gaps and speaking up when I can add value. They also taught me resilience: not to internalise others’ doubts, but to keep learning, doing the work and letting my competence speak for itself.
Tasekhaya: When faced with a complicated legal problem with no obvious answer, how do you break down a difficult problem and find a way forward?
Luyanda: I first define the problem, separate facts from assumptions, identify the legal questions and determine the applicable framework. I then research relevant authorities, consider the practical context and assess each interpretation’s risks and consequences. When no perfect answer exists, I present legally defensible options, explain the risks and recommend the most practical way forward.
Tasekhaya: If we spoke to you five years from now, what would you love to have achieved through and in your career?
Luyanda: In five years, I hope to be trusted for both my legal expertise and ability to solve complex problems practically. I also aim to earn an LLM in International Economic Law and deepen my expertise where law intersects with business, taxation, international transactions and public policy.
Above all, I want my career to make a meaningful impact by improving institutional decisions, supporting better governance and policy, and mentoring younger lawyers.
Ultimately, I want my career defined by my contribution, not my positions. My message to young professionals is simple: keep learning, trust your competence and do not let others’ doubts become your own.
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