Solicitor, Business Leader and Diversity Campaigner
Funke is a multi-award-winning Solicitor, Business Leader and Diversity Campaigner
with 18 years’ comprehensive achievements within niche ventures, regional and
national businesses and global, multinational organisations.
She has been recognised for her inspiring and impactful leadership in both full time &
voluntary C-suite roles and has proven success in stakeholder engagement
(including working closely with UK Central government). She is ranked by the
Financial Times as being a top 15 minority ethnic leader across the UK, US, Ireland
& Canada (Financial Times), one of the top 100 leaders of African/Afro-Caribbean
heritage (Powerful Media’s 2017 & 2018 Powerlists) and listed as being the most
influential black lawyer in Britain (Debretts 500 List for 2017).
Funke provides regular media commentary on a range of topics including business
and diversity and features regularly across a number of the BBC's TV and radio
channels. In addition, she holds several board memberships.
She founded the Akindolie Medical Scholarship in April 2016 in memory of her late
father, Dr. Frank Olufemi Akindolie. This is a privately funded bursary and leadership
mentoring initiative aimed at supporting future doctors from a minority ethnic
background.
She has overcome significant obstacles in progressing her career due to the
narrow view of black women in UK society, especially single mothers. She is
determined to improve the lot of those following her. Persistent and
tenacious, when entering the legal profession 15 years ago, she was
advised to be less ambitious as corporate law was “too competitive for a
black woman”. Instead, she cold-called the corporate department heads at
the top 100 UK law firms and the heads of the top UK in-house legal
departments with a “sales pitch” about herself confirming what she could
offer as a trainee, resulting in several interviews and entry-level job offers.
Funke spoke to First 100 Years anecdotally about her experience in law,
and prejudices she faced:
“I found it extremely difficult to secure an entry-level position when I finished
the QLTT (now QLTS) transfer test and needed to gain experience before
qualification. To get my foot in the door, I drew up a list of the top 100 law
firms specialising in corporate law and did the same with the top 50 in-
house teams. I then proceeded to cold-call the heads of department at all
150 organisations. This lead to several interviews, including one with a
major, fully listed PLC. At that interview, the head of legal (who is English
but whose partner is of Asian descent) asked me if I thought my race had
been a factor in me not getting interviews with other organisations. That
was, honestly, the first time I had even considered race as being something
that could inhibit my progress. Thankfully, I was offered a role by her and
was able to qualify as a solicitor in-house.
Soon after qualifying in 2000, I vividly remember waiting in reception for an
interview at a top 30 City law firm for a corporate solicitor role. I reported
into reception, telling the receptionist the name of the corporate partner who
was interviewing me for the vacant role. The receptionist remarked, “How
odd. I didn’t realise that he was looking for another secretary!” I calmly told
her that I had no idea about his secretarial situation either but was there for
the solicitor role. She was visibly embarrassed when I said this and did
apologise but this is a good example of the barriers posed by unconscious
cultural bias.”
Relentless in her pursuit of diversity within the legal profession, Funke has
made it her mission to promote diversity to the best of her ability across all
fronts including gender. She mentors and sponsors under-represented
groups into roles in various organisations and is a strong role model
showing that it is possible to achieve against the odds. She believes
strongly in giving back to the community to make a positive impact and
improve the lot of others less able to help themselves.
UK Prime Minister Theresa May awarded her 'Point of Light' status in 2016,
recognising the positive impact of her voluntary diversity leadership outside her day
job.
In June 2017, Funke was awarded the M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British
Empire) by HRH Queen Elizabeth II for services to diversity in the legal profession
and to young people.
She is the proud mother of a teenaged son.
