Professor Funke Abimbola MBE | Business Leader, Lawyer and Author 

Funke

Professor Funke Abimbola is a multi-award-winning business leader, lawyer and author.  

Her professional experience spans almost 25 years with a first career as a corporate lawyer in the UK and subsequent careers in C-suite leadership roles within global pharmaceutical companies alongside providing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expertise. 

Funke’s expertise and leadership encompasses a wide range of sectors ranging from biotech, pharmaceuticals, healthcare & life sciences, technology, not-for-profit and manufacturing to professional services, education, financial services, retail and media. 

The impact of her leadership has been recognised by the UK’s Prime Minister and the Financial Times. She was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen’s 2017 birthday honours list for services to diversity and young people. 

The University of Hertfordshire and the University of Kent have both awarded her honorary doctorates to recognise the impact of her leadership and her alma mater, Newcastle University, appointed her as Professor of Practice for her leadership impact. 

She has served as a non-executive board director of a fully listed company within the premium beverages sector and was a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. She is also a regular commentator on BBC TV and radio. 

Funke is the proud mother of a 21-year-old son who is a future software engineer studying Computer Science at university. Together, they host a podcast series called The Power of Privilege and Allyship podcast, showcasing exceptional role models who have used their privilege to maximise the impact of their allyship to transform lives. The podcast recently completed its sixth season and has amassed a global following across over 1,300 cities, all 7 continents and almost 90 countries, interviewing over 100 inspiring leaders. Ranked and listed on all major podcast platforms including Apple, Spotify and Google, the podcast now also has almost 9,000 downloads and an estimated 90,000+ listens. 

Her best-selling first book, Climbing Mountains: My 5-Stage Journey to Resilient Leadership is available to purchase on Amazon globally.