As global senior counsel for Huda Beauty, Mershia Govender is involved in global legal and compliance operations, partnering with cross-functional teams. She cares deeply about building inclusive, high-performing cultures at every level. During her career, she has gained broad industry experience across beauty, pharmaceuticals, home care, personal care and food, and has advised on everything from market entry and product launches to high-stakes commercial negotiations and multi-million-dollar litigation, always with an eye on long-term value.
In New York last month, Mershia attended her first Luxury Law Summit. In the run-up to the summit, she took time to discuss her decision to enter the law, her path to luxury and her current global role with Huda Beauty, among other topics.
How did you decide to become a lawyer?
I actually wanted to be a journalist. But growing up in Durban, South Africa, journalism programmes weren’t readily available, and I wasn’t ready to leave home. So I chose law – partly out of practicality, but also curiosity. After earning my degree, I spent several years in private practice, but I wasn’t sure where I truly belonged. That changed when I joined Colgate-Palmolive in Sub-Saharan Africa. It was my first in-house role, and I immediately felt at home. I loved being embedded in the business, helping shape decisions rather than just reacting to them. That’s when I knew I’d found my calling.
After working at Colgate, you moved to Premier FMCG, a South African company with iconic brands like Snowflake, Iwisa and Manhattan, then to Reckitt, the consumer goods company. Why all the moves?
Each move was intentional. Early in my career, I wanted to build a strong foundation – working across different industries, handling a wide range of legal issues and learning from diverse leadership styles. At Colgate, I was immediately thrust into an emerging market role, something that was a relatively new concept for young lawyers at that time. It allowed me to learn the industry and cross-border challenges. At Premier FMCG, I got to work on expansion projects and learn about IP and M&A, and at Reckitt, I led the legal department for my region. These roles gave me exposure to regulatory complexity, cross-border operations and leadership at scale. But I also kept searching for something that sparked joy. I found that in the luxury beauty industry.
What attracted you to the luxury beauty industry?
I’ve loved beauty products since I was young. During an awkward phase growing up, beauty products became a way for me to feel more confident and express myself. I don’t think makeup is something everyone needs, but for me, it made a real difference. When I wear it, I feel more poised and ready to take on challenges. That experience sparked my passion for the luxury beauty industry, and it’s something that has stayed with me ever since.
Tell me about your work at Huda Beauty?
I work on global legal and compliance operations, with a strong focus on data privacy, governance and e-commerce. I had the opportunity to build our privacy programme from the ground up – navigating laws across jurisdictions, resolving conflicts between regulations and always keeping customer trust at the centre. It’s been one of the most rewarding challenges of my career.
We’re a small legal team, which means we’re deeply involved in everything from commercial contracts to policy development. I love that. It keeps me close to the business and connected to our people. I work with teams across product, marketing, tech and operations. It’s a diverse, dynamic environment, and I thrive in it.
You have talked about being a ‘servant leader’. What does that mean?
To me, servant leadership is about empathy, mentorship and legacy. It’s about lifting others as you grow and creating space for future leaders to thrive.
When I joined Reckitt, I was the youngest person on the leadership team. That visibility made me a natural mentor to younger colleagues, and I embraced it. I remember how lost I felt early in my career – unsure how to navigate the profession or workplace dynamics. So I made it my mission to be the kind of leader I needed back then.
I don’t believe in gatekeeping. If you’ve walked a path, your job is to make it easier for the next person. That’s how we build inclusive, resilient teams.
Do you have a favourite beauty product?
Yes, I do. It’s blush. It’s the part of makeup that makes you look the most human. I love how it brings life back into your face.
You attended your first Luxury Law Summit on 12 November in New York. What were your impressions?
As a global in-house counsel for a beauty brand, this was an amazing opportunity to learn and meet luxury industry leaders. It’s a very thoughtfully designed one-day programme. In luxury, we are all tied together by an invisible golden string. Our paths are always going to cross, and it was exciting to meet many of my colleagues in New York.
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