Ep #71 - From Rejection to Resilience: Tina Chander’s Journey in Law and Life

The Working Mums Podcast

This emotionally honest and deeply inspiring episode features Tina Chander, who shares her journey from a modest upbringing in Telford above her family’s corner shop to becoming a respected legal professional. Tina opens up about navigating significant personal hardships — including the loss of both parents at a young age — while carving out a career in a competitive, often exclusive legal industry.

🌟 Key Topics Discussed:

• Background & Upbringing:
  Raised above a shop in Telford by her Indian parents, Tina describes a joyful but challenging childhood, shaped in part by her mother's schizophrenia and the family’s financial difficulties.
• Personal Loss & Resilience:
  Both of Tina’s parents passed away when she was in her early 20s. She shares how grief, isolation, and responsibility shaped her strength and determination.
• Education & Career Path:
  Tina studied law with psychology, then earned a Master’s in Clinical Criminology. Despite setbacks (like not securing a barrister pupillage), she pivoted to qualify as a solicitor and found her passion in employment law.
• Overcoming Barriers:
  Tina talks candidly about the discrimination, tokenism, and rejections she faced — often being overlooked despite high qualifications. Her story highlights systemic barriers in the legal profession, especially for women of color.
• Employment Law Passion:
  Her love of solving real-world problems and advocating for fairness made employment law a perfect fit. She now mentors and supports junior colleagues, drawing from her own experience in nearly every legal support role.
• The Power of Voice & Perspective:
  Tina emphasizes the importance of knowing your worth, asking for what you want, and using your voice — a lesson rooted in her father's wisdom and shopfront life lessons.

💡 Notable Quotes & Messages:

• “Rejection is one person’s view, not the world’s view.”
• “You’re born with your own voice. You have the right to use it.”
• “I had to get good at something – because there was no other option.”
• “Not everyone is like that — and you can’t let the bad ones stop you.”

🧭 Takeaways for Listeners:

• You don’t need a perfect start to create a powerful journey.
• Emotional resilience and self-belief are key to long-term success.
• Systemic bias is real — but persistence and authenticity can break through.
• Every experience (even as a receptionist) adds value to leadership.
• Ask for what you want. Don’t play small — your voice matters.

🎙️ Future Episode Tease:

Tina and Nicky plan to collaborate again soon, focusing on “Five Legal Tips for Working Women” — practical guidance many don’t realize they need.

If you'd like to connect with Tina, you can do so here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tinachanderwh/

You can also watch this episode on YouTube with Captions - https://www.youtube.com/@TheWorkingMumsLifeCoach
If you'd like to have a chat about how I can help you further, please don't hesitate to click here & book a time with me, I'd love to meet you.
You can also follow me on IG @NickyBevan_LifeCoach