Page 8 - KZN Top Business Women 2022 Powed by DRG & BusinessFit SA

BENITA ARDENBAUM, FOUNDER AND so that nobody would see until she was recognised by their peers to be the most skilled
DIRECTOR OF BENITA ARDENBAUM seven months pregnant. When her parents family law specialists in their country. Benita has
ATTORNEYS discovered her pregnancy, she was whisked been involved in various international divorces
away to a convalescent home in another city. and international cross border abductions of
ENITA ARDENBAUM is the founder As she was considered to have brought shame children between parents.
and director of Benita Ardenbaum on her family, she was forced by her family to Benita has had various mentors in her life but
Attorneys, which is a family law specialist give Benita up for adoption. “My birth mother says that her greatest supporter and mentor is
Bpractice that also does conveyancing. did not have a choice or a voice,” explained her husband of 35 years and her adult children.
The firm deals with cases that include domestic Benita. “When I was six years old, I was sexually She says, “I attribute much of my success to
violence relating to vulnerable people, divorces abused and also did not have a voice.” him as he has been my rock and he is happy for
that are often acrimonious, international Benita has had to endure many challenges the light to be shone on me. My children are my
cross boarder abduction of children, custody including immigrating overseas when she was biggest fans and often share their incredible
disputes, mediation, maintenance and the firm 12 and where again she did not have a voice. wisdom with me.”
does some pro bono work. She said that as she was rebellious, she left
Benita started her practice in 1999 from a school at the age of 15 and worked in a shoe FULL OF POSSIBILITIES
room in her house. She explains, “The reason store and as a waitress at night. When Benita In giving advice to others, Benita says that
that I decided to go out on my own was the fact was 17, she met an old schoolteacher and was you must be passionate about what you do
that the legal profession was a male orientated encouraged to go back to study; within a few and live your purpose as then you are full of
profession, and I was in a firm that did not months she finished her matric. Benita then possibilities and success will follow. “You are
resonate with my values. I wanted to deal with went into the army for just over two years. She enough, your power is expressed through
family law in a unique way by bringing in a more felt that her voice was not being heard and asserting your boundaries and that NO is a full
feminine aspect and that is where the heart of so ended up staying in base camp for many sentence. However, you should always remain
law was created. I always say lead with your weekends washing pots in the kitchen and humble in life.”
heart, and it will lead you true. This should not cleaning toilet as punishment.
be interpreted as a weakness but rather as a Benita had a longing to come back to South “When people come to our offices they step into
strength. I recognised that I loved people more Africa as she missed this country and felt that another world where they feel safe and secure.
than I loved the law but that I could use the law this is where her roots were. “I came back to SA Our aim is to empower people with knowledge
as a tool to assist my clients.” because with knowledge and education comes
with nothing but a suitcase. With the support power and then they feel a lot more in control
The practice was started with just Benita of my husband, I began to study and so began of their process.”
and her secretary and slowly, over the years, my journey.”
through sheer hard work, determination, drive AN INCREDIBLE PURPOSE Benita runs inspirational retreats for women,
and showing up daily and consistently she some of whom have been clients. She has
expanded the firm into what it is today. “These life circumstances have shaped my life worked, and continues to work where she can,
and gave me an incredible purpose which I live as a strategic life coach.
“I have an incredible all women’s firm where
we have mastered the art of collaboration and daily because we as individuals can choose to Benita added, “I am constantly studying and
work together as a team to assist our clients to be victims of our circumstances, or we can rise doing self-development courses. I walk and
transition and navigate through often traumatic and assist people in similar circumstances. I trail run and paint by numbers and sometimes
times in their lives,” explained Benita. “My have the privilege of helping children and their do pottery. I also sometimes binge watch
passion is to give a voice to the voiceless.” caregivers to make a difference and change the on Netflix.”
trajectory of their lives. That is what drives me
These are vulnerable people and in particular to get up at 4.45 am in the morning and get to In conclusion Benita says, “I want to say to
women and children as the scales of injustice work. I love what I do and do what I love. I make women that each one of us has a unique gift
are tipped against them, although there are my vocation my vacation.” and once we discover our gift it will lead us
many men who suffer severe injustices as well. to our purpose in life. When that passion is
Benita has appeared in various cases, which ignited, we are unstoppable. When we as
The reason that Benita is so passionate about have been featured in the media. She has a women stand together, when we share in each
fighting for children and vulnerable people strong international presence and is a member other’s successes and support each other’s
is because her mother fell pregnant when of the prestigious International Academy of failures we stand in true sisterhood and that is
she was 16 years old, and she starved herself Family Lawyers, whereby the members are when the magic happens!”

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