Funke Abimbola book publication
Professor Funke Abimbola MBE (LLB, 1994), who is now a Professor of Practice at Newcastle Law School, is looking forward to the publication of her first book – Climbing Mountains: My 5-Stage Journey to Resilient Leadership – this December.
After graduating from Newcastle Law School in the mid-1990s, Funke embarked on a career as a corporate lawyer which saw her global client list include several FTSE and NASDAQ-listed companies. Following a decade in the legal profession, she moved into the pharmaceutical business and was a senior leader for Roche, the world’s largest biotech company.
Funke is also globally recognised for her expertise as a diversity, equity and inclusion leader. She is the most senior black lawyer in her field and is ranked by the Financial Times as one of the top 20 BAME leaders internationally, and by Debretts as the most influential black lawyer in Britain. Funke is a strong advocate of corporate and social diversity. In Queen Elizabeth II’s June 2017 Birthday Honours list, she was awarded an MBE for services to diversity and young people.
Having been appointed a Visiting Professor by her alma mater in January 2022, Funke is now working with Newcastle Law School to drive an equality, diversity, and inclusion initiative in the School. She also provides guest lectures on law and ethics and diversity in the legal profession and continues to support the Inspirational Women of the Law project.
.png)
“Whilst life is full of obstacles and curveballs, we need only take things one step at a time. Soon enough, we’ll be able to look back and realise we have climbed a mountain.”
In her upcoming book, Climbing Mountains: My 5-Stage Journey to Resilient Leadership, Funke brings together learning from her 30-year career to showcase how we can overcome barriers to success and become a resilient leader, whatever our chosen field.
Climbing Mountains: My 5-Stage Journey to Resilient Leadership
Climbing Mountains explores what it really takes to be successful as a Black woman in today’s business world. Funke details the rejections and setbacks she herself has faced in her career (and continues to face) and how she has overcome these challenges to be a resilient, effective leader.
Readers will discover how to face life’s challenges head-on, how to overcome them, and how to survive and thrive. It is an inspiring story about refusing to give up on your goals, being flexible in the methods you use to achieve them and taking others along for the ride – whilst also maximising their own amazing potential.
Climbing Mountains will be available to purchase on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback editions on 1 December 2023. Pre-orders are now open for the Kindle edition.
Do you have news to share with our alumni community?
Get in touch and share your latest news and achievements so we can let your fellow Newcastle alumni know!