We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Harena Amanuel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Harena below.
Alright, Harena thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
I would change the education system to focus more on people and practical skills – especially financial literacy, emotional intelligence and the ability to adapt in different environments.
Too often, students leave school with academic knowledge but little understanding about life and how to navigate through it.
I left school and university with strong academic knowledge, but nothing prepared me for my adult life. A large element of success in the workplace is your people skills and a large element to a happy and healthy level of independence is financial literacy, both of which I developed outside of the education system.
When I got my first “real” job after university, I was working as a Finance Associate for a start-up. I quickly learnt that the best way to get ahead and progress was the way I interacted with people, how emotionally intelligent I am and how well I can navigate through the different human behaviours. What I knew academically wasn’t the pushing force because ultimately you can learn the job on the job.
Harena, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m Harena Amanuel, and I currently work in the legal industry as a Paralegal on the path to qualifying as a Solicitor. My career, however, has been far from traditional. I started in Finance, but quickly realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. From there, I transitioned into the legal field, specifically in the Real Estate department. This was a natural move for me, as I had a strong understanding of personal finance and a deep interest in the UK residential real estate market.
What started as me sharing advice with family and friends about navigating property transactions soon grew into something much bigger. I organized a seminar for the local Eritrean community to help them better understand the property industry, which led to regular sessions in two languages to make it inclusive for everyone I knew. These seminars connected me with many people, and my network started to expand rapidly.
After four years of working in London, I received an unexpected job offer from Dubai. I hadn’t applied, but someone in my network had recommended me, which resulted in an opportunity to start and develop a department in Dubai. Once there, I transitioned into litigation, specifically DIFC litigation, and within six months, I was managing a team – something I had never done before.
Despite the move, I continued to host my property seminars online, allowing me to maintain my connection to the community. I’ve always thrived on networking and meeting new people, and this passion drove me to expand my reach further.
I’ve recently accepted a new role, embraced the digital nomad lifestyle, working remotely in the legal industry, which has given me the flexibility to travel and meet more people, exchanging knowledge on an international scale.
In my legal work, I help clients navigate real estate transactions, ensuring that they understand the process and their rights. My strong background in both personal finance and real estate allows me to approach legal issues from a well-rounded perspective. Whether it’s helping a first-time buyer or managing complex litigation, I provide clarity and support to my clients at every step.
What sets me apart is my ability to build and maintain relationships. While my academic and professional qualifications are important, I’ve found that my greatest strength lies in how I interact with others. I genuinely enjoy connecting with people, which has helped me grow a diverse and supportive network that continues to open doors in my career. This approach has been key to my success and allows me to thrive both in the legal world and beyond.
I’m proud of the journey I’ve taken—one that hasn’t followed a straight line but has led to incredible opportunities. From running community seminars to managing a team in Dubai, I’ve been able to grow both personally and professionally in ways I hadn’t imagined.
What I want people to know is that I’m deeply committed to personal and professional growth, and I believe in the power of relationships and community. Whether I’m working on a legal case, hosting a seminar, or networking globally, I’m always looking for ways to connect, learn, and help others do the same.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Everyone thinks that working in the legal industry is lucrative, but it’s far from that when you’re just starting out. Yes, you can get there eventually, but in the beginning, it can be one of the least paid professions. I remember trying to manage on a starting salary of £21,000 a year while living in London, which, as you can imagine, wasn’t easy. The salary progression in law is generally slow, especially compared to friends of mine in other industries who seemed to progress much faster.
Throughout my career, I’ve always worked more than one job. I remember working the typical 9-to-5 at a central London law firm, and then spending evenings and weekends working in cafés or bars. There were so many times I wanted to quit because no one prepares you for the reality of being highly educated yet still struggling financially.
It’s a reality not often discussed, but the early stages of a legal career can be incredibly challenging both financially and mentally. You have to keep pushing through and being creative.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that not everything is about me. I used to take things so personally—whether it was a colleague’s tone of voice, the tasks I was given, or even decisions that didn’t go my way. It’s a very ego-centric mindset, and I think a lot of us fall into that trap at some point.
Office politics, lack of customers at seminars, failed investors, all can be incredibly draining and stressful. It’s easy to feel like everything is directed at you in a negative way. But over time, I realized that most of it has nothing to do with me. Once I stopped seeing every situation as a reflection of myself, I found that I could navigate work with far less emotional exhaustion. It was a freeing realization, and it made a huge difference in how I approach both work and personal relationships.
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