Funke is a Corporate Lawyer, global DEI Leader, C-suite executive, BBC commentator and Non-Executive Director. 
Her contributions towards improving outcomes for those from under-represented communities has been significant through numerous voluntary roles including being a Senior Volunteer for UK charity Speakers for Schools, Founder of the Akindolie Medical Scholarship (supporting UK-based minority ethnic medical students) and co-host of The Power of Privilege and Allyship podcast (with her son, Max Abimbola). Her best-selling book, ‘Climbing Mountains: My 5-Stage Journey to Resilient Leadership’ was published in December 2023. 
In 2017, Funke was awarded an MBE for services to diversity and young people.

Introduction and Background

I’m a corporate solicitor who has now been practising law for almost 25 years.

My focus on DEI started when I faced unexpected barriers when trying to enter the legal profession. I experienced blatant name discrimination and one recruiter suggested that corporate law was “too competitive for a black woman”.

This shocked and horrified me!

How could a profession focusing on achieving justice for others be so discriminatory within itself?

This was compounded when I experienced gender-based challenges upon returning to work after maternity leave. The legal profession was doing so little to retain women solicitors and the statistics were appalling with female law students exceeding male law students (typical ratio of 60:40) and yet approximately only 10-15% on average becoming partners in law firms.

I gradually started volunteering my time towards a range of initiatives with one goal in mind: creating a more level playing field for those wanting to qualify as lawyers, irrespective of their background.

Challenges and Milestones

The main challenge was changing the hearts and minds of some of the senior leaders within the legal profession, specifically those leading the top 50 UK law firms. This was a mammoth task as I found myself trying to influence a demographic very unlike me – white men who were more senior than I was who could not relate to the challenges faced by those from under-represented groups.

A significant milestone was achieved when I started partnering with the Law Society (the membership organisation for solicitors qualified in England and Wales). Through volunteering there, I was able to more readily access resources, support and meet others who could join my mission.

Alongside this, I started focusing more specifically on young people, volunteering with Speakers for Schools (a large social mobility charity in the UK) and establishing the Akindolie Medical Scholarship (supporting UK-based medical students from a minority ethnic background).

This work has really broadened my impact at grassroots level and is something I am very proud of.

Key Initiatives and Impact

• Speakers for Schools’ national work experience scheme: As an ambassador for this scheme, I have been able to empower more young people through access to work experience opportunities. I have impacted over 50,000 young people through my inspiring talks and thousands UK-wide who now have work experience through the scheme.
• The Akindolie Medical Scholarship: I founded the scholarship in 2016 in memory of my father, Dr. Frank Olufemi Akindolie. The scheme has created a strong pipeline of leaders in medicine with over 70 scholars having received a bursary to date.
• The Law Society: Women in Law pledge with a focus on law firms supporting more women into senior roles within the legal profession.
• “Opening up or shutting out? Social mobility in the legal profession”: Working alongside a leading journalist and legal PR consultancy, I was able to publish this report which highlighted the social mobility gap in the legal profession. The report was instrumental in changing government policy, broadening access to the professions for those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
• First 100 Years project, 2014-2019: I was an ambassador for this important project, celebrating 100 years of women in law by creating an archive of videos and other stories of legal pioneers to be archived in the British Library.
• The Power of Privilege and Allyship Podcast: I started this podcast with my son Max in 2021 and it is now a global podcast with listeners across all continents, 90 countries, over 1,400 cities and almost 11,500 downloads. We have interviewed over 100 leaders from young students to senior professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, all of whom have shared their personal stories and given tangible examples of how they have used their privilege to transform the lives of others.
• Publishing my book, ‘Climbing Mountains: My 5-Stage Journey to Resilient Leadership’: A global bestseller which has empowered a global readership through sharing my personal leadership journey and my top tips for becoming a resilient leader.

Personal Growth and Learning

My journey has been far from easy and I’m not sure if enough people recognise the personal sacrifice involved in doing DEI work.

It takes a lot of courage to find yourself regularly swimming against the tide to improve outcomes for others.

What I have developed more than anything is resilience and never losing sight of my ‘why’.

This has been essential for me staying the course.

Future Vision and Goals

What are your future goals and aspirations for your work in the DEI space? How do you plan to continue making a positive impact in this area?

My focus will continue to be on young people and shaping outcomes for them from as early as possible through Speakers for Schools, the Akindolie Medical Scholarship, and the Power of Privilege and Allyship Podcast.

Advice for Aspiring DEI Advocates

Identify your ‘why’ before focusing on the ‘how’ and the ‘what’.

By keeping your ‘why’ front of mind, you will be able to stay the course, steer your DEI focus and remain authentic.

Learn More: https://www.ethnicityawards.com/top-10-outstanding-contribution-to-communities-2024/