The Woman Who Said ‘I Can’: Ms. Precious Gondwe on Building Wealth & Empowering a Continent

You know those moments when someone’s story just grabs you, because it’s real and incredibly powerful? That’s Ms. Precious Gondwe. Her path, from humble beginnings to a Forbes-featured “Rising from Rags to Success” journey, is pure inspiration. But dig a little deeper, and you find the kind of mind that builds an award-winning law firm while simultaneously lifting up thousands of young people across Africa.

In this edition of Calculated Conversations, I had the privilege to dive deeper, hear more, and now, to share her insights with you! Ms. Gondwe is the CEO and Founding Partner of Precious & Partners™ as well as the Founding President of Pan African Game Changers, described as “A movement for the empowerment of young Africans across the African continent and the globe.”

This Conversation pulls back the curtain on the essential mindsets, the innovative hustle, and the vision that drives a leader committed to shaping a better Africa.


Question 1: Your ‘Rising from Rags to Success’ story with Forbes is amazing! What’s one key mindset from that journey that helped you build such a successful career and your award-winning law firm?

“The key mindset for me is the ‘I can do’ mindset. That’s what drives me to accomplish what I do. It’s virtually impossible to convince me that I cannot achieve what I set out to do, every little milestone. You would have to clear my entire conscious mind to convince me otherwise.
The ‘I can do’ mindset carries you through moments of doubt, when your knees are shaky, and when things seem impossible. It’s this mindset that keeps you going, and it gives birth to other mindsets that lead to success. The ‘I can do’ mindset means I am resilient. It means I’m unstoppable. It means I can be anything I set myself up to do, and nobody can stop me. It’s that simple. It’s about having a resolute mind and deciding no one can talk you out of your goals or prevent you from reaching them, except yourself, if you choose not to pursue them.”


Question 2: You lead both a top law firm, Precious & Partners™, and Pan African Game Changers for youth. How do these two big roles fit together for you and your overall vision for Africa?

“Precious & Partners is my career path; it’s purpose-driven and people-centric. Everything about our service to humanity through the law is accomplished through the firm. Importantly, it is also the key funder for the Pan African Game Changers. I realized that to run a not-for-profit organization effectively, you also need a successful business with a steady income to reach people.
I’ve traveled to over 15 African countries where Pan African Game Changers operates. We’ve empowered over 10,000 young people across Africa and the globe. There’s no better tool than self-sufficiency. I am a big believer in working hard to address the challenges our young people face, without being stopped by a lack of resources for humanitarian activities and charitable engagements. We’ve done so much across Africa, thanks to Precious & Partners.
The two work beautifully together. Pan African Game Changers does an incredible job because it brings out the philanthropical side of me that the legal aspect might not fully express, except in the court of law. They fit seamlessly. I’ve made many connections through Precious & Partners that have fed into, partnered with, and worked alongside me on the not-for-profit organization. I am very passionate about youth economic empowerment. We need young people to be economically empowered, with the ability to navigate the entrepreneurial space, overcome challenges, and be self-sufficient. Having the necessary money and resources is crucial. Without them, it would be difficult to answer social calls, exchange knowledge, or create platforms where young people can get the mentorship and coaching they need to elevate.”


Question 3: You talk about ‘legal innovation.’ What does that actually look like day-to-day in your law practice, and how is it changing things for your clients or even across Africa?

“At Precious & Partners, one of our key values is to advocate for smart partnerships. These partnerships are essential in the ever-evolving legal and entrepreneurial space, helping us create a sustainable economy for lawyers and our people, especially considering unemployment and reduced household incomes.
Our approach to being legally innovative involves pushing for cost-effective solutions and striking collaborative partnerships and mutual synergies. These allow us to access certain tools and resources more affordably, thereby making it easier for people to access justice and get a lawyer. We even developed a product offering called ‘Rent A Lawyer’ because we realize some people cannot afford a lawyer full-time. Sometimes, a quick question only needs 15, 20, or 30 minutes of a lawyer’s time. So, we offer the option of a brief virtual call to provide the answer needed or point someone in the right direction.
For us, every day is about making it easier for people to access justice, not turning them away because they can’t afford it. We all know legal services can be expensive. However, we believe that as young people, there are other tools we can use to still assist and serve humanity. So, alongside ‘Rent A Lawyer,’ we have other cost-effective solutions that get the job done. We are not an old-school, conventional legal firm; we are solution-centric. This requires us to use certain tools to spend less but still provide the right advice, opinion, and legal assistance needed.”

Precious Gondwe

Question 4: You’ve recently finished studying Data Law at LSE. How do you see tech and data changing the world of law, and what exciting new chances does this open up for young people in the field?

“That’s a brilliant question regarding the course I completed with LSE. In the wake of the fourth industrial revolution, we’ve undeniably been thrown into digitization across the board. Instead of the old-school way of typing on a typewriter and physical delivery, an email can now be sent and read in minutes.
With the rise of AI, data protection has become a significant issue, particularly the manner in which data is collected, kept, processed, and controlled. Simultaneously, there’s increased efficiency in communication and the integration of digitization into nearly any service offered. I think the bigger opportunities lie in the ease of doing business, making it simpler for data collectors and researchers to use information and statistics to address global problems. However, a major challenge is data control, as data is mined and sometimes ends up in the wrong hands.
So, what is the opportunity here? It’s about being part of the solution everyone needs. The primary concerns with data are: who has it, how is it being processed, where is it kept, for how long, and are ethical considerations being met? What is considered ethical can vary. I see many opportunities in tech to help bridge these gaps. Conducting research and finding solutions for data control, ensuring accountability within jurisdictions, and having oversight authorities for tech companies are crucial.
Furthermore, with tech comes innovation, and innovation brings other social issues that must be solved. One just needs to look at global happenings and the solutions required. If you’re a software engineer, what solution can you bring to harmonize data, law, and the people they serve? Consider the policy considerations around how and why data is collected, is it for a good or bad cause? There’s a lot of creativity emerging, which could also create employment.
Current debates around AI suggest that professionals like lawyers might become extinct in a few years, as AI can draft letters and contracts. However, as an innovative lawyer, I see an opportunity to be part of this change, contributing to legal research and creating legal solutions that work hand-in-hand with AI. AI is not jurisdictional; it provides open-ended information, not tailored to a specific region or country. So, a gap still exists. We just need to find these gaps and develop solutions that can be monetized, especially for young people.”


Question 5: You’ve achieved so much as a lawyer, leader, and philanthropist. What’s one powerful piece of advice you have for ambitious young Africans looking to truly make their mark on the continent?

“My advice is very simple: do not fear. Fear is the one thing that will stop you from pursuing your vision, dreams, and goals. These can only be pursued if you put fear aside. Fear says, ‘I can’t do that.’ Fear asks, ‘What if I fail?’ ‘What if I disappoint my parents?’ ‘What am I even getting myself into?’ Fear whispers all sorts of noises you don’t need.
If you dare to overcome fear, you can fly, you can soar, you can become. I’ve seen it, I’ve tasted it, I’ve tested it. I’ve fallen, I’ve gotten up, and I’ve kept on running, sometimes crawling, some days taking just one step. On other days, simply the ability to stand up is enough. What’s important is to fear no one and fear nothing. Respect everyone, but do not fear.”


After this deep dive with Ms. Precious Gondwe, one thing stands out: the sheer audacity to believe in your own power, no matter the odds. Her commitment to an “I can do” mindset isn’t just talk; it’s the foundation of every barrier she’s broken through the precision of Precious & Partners or the expansive reach of Pan African Game Changers. It’s a powerful lesson in making your passion the engine of your purpose.

So, what’s holding you back from making that bold move you’ve been dreaming of?

Stay Calculated


Glad you’re here. I’m building something useful, honest, and a little different. Hope you stick around.

Join the list. Three emails a week. Real insights, no nonsense.

Enjoyed this article? I don’t charge to read, but if you’d like to support my work, you can make a small contribution below. Stay Calculated!

Support My Work

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *