‘I know my purpose’ – why Miriam is dedicated to empowering clients in the times they need it most
Stories are powerful. At Shine Lawyers, we believe every person deserves to share their truth and no one understands this more than Miriam Sawan.
As Media & Communications Manager, Miriam is incredibly passionate about not only always standing up for the little guy, but giving them a voice.
With a team of authentic people around her and supportive leaders invested in her growth, Miriam's drive to empower clients means so much more at Shine.
A place for Miriam
Miriam can pinpoint the reason why she was drawn to telling stories. As a child, her favourite ritual was to sit on her dad’s lap and read the newspaper each weekend. With ink-stained fingers and a curious mind, it’s no surprise this was how her love of journalism was born.
Journalism is a tough industry to break into, but Miriam was up to the challenge. As a result of her hard work and dedication, this natural storyteller worked for some of the most notable television networks in the country. But Miriam was searching for something more meaningful.
She joined Shine as a Media Advisor and within just one year, was promoted to the role of Media & Communications Manager. Immediately, she found her place at Shine.
“I’m not a doctor, I can’t heal people. I’m not a lawyer, I can’t defend people in court. But what I can do is give people a voice. It aligns with my personal values of doing cause-driven work that’s powerful and changes lives. I wake up every day enthusiastic about what I do. I know my purpose.”
Miriam Sawan
Not only does Miriam find her work truly meaningful, but she spends each day with a team of people who care about each other. She’s made lifelong friendships at Shine and says the recognition she receives from leadership is unlike any other.
After three years of sharing our clients’ stories, Miriam’s curious mind lit up again. Inspired by the significant work of our Class Actions team, she decided to pursue a new opportunity and try to make a difference from within government. But Miriam’s expectations weren’t met, and she couldn’t break free from the nagging feeling that Shine was where she was meant to be.
“When I left, I spoke to a recruiter briefly and she said, ‘The way you’re speaking about Shine is like you have an ex-boyfriend who got away!’. It was true heartbreak because I was trying to find what I had at Shine in another organisation, but you can’t duplicate it. When I got a call from Jodie (our Chief Operating Officer) asking if I’d like to come back, it was music to my ears.”
Miriam Sawan
Miriam returned with an even greater sense of purpose and feels honoured to seek justice with us. Every person at Shine plays an important role in the legal process, and Miriam is no exception.
Standing up for justice
At Shine, we don’t back down from an uphill battle. When Shine Lawyers filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of thousands of women who were left with life-altering complications from Johnson & Johnson vaginal mesh or tape implants, it became the largest women’s health action in Australian history. The lawsuit made a profound impact on Miriam.
Miriam felt honoured to be part of the fight by sharing the victims’ stories. A second class action against Ethicon and Johnson & Johnson was filed by Shine Lawyers in April 2021, and Miriam is committed to seeing it through.
A team that truly cares
You can’t fake sincerity. Not only does Miriam find her work truly meaningful, but she spends each day with a team of people who care about each other. She’s made lifelong friendships at Shine and says the recognition she receives from leadership is unlike any other. For Miriam, the small but genuine moments she shares with her team are what matter the most.
“The level of kindness here is off the Richter scale. They remember the little things. When I was pregnant in 2020, it was during COVID-19, so my teammates arranged a virtual baby shower for me. It was just so thoughtful. Everyone here is really busy but they don’t forget their humanity.”
Miriam Sawan
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