Kehinde Oyebola, a Trainee Solicitor based in our London office and currently on secondment to our Dubai office, discusses what this year’s Black History Month theme means to her and the introduction of a new insight day dedicated to Black university students and undergraduates.
For me, this year’s Black History Month theme is, about showcasing the full complexity of Black heritage. I am proud of my Nigerian (Yoruba and Igbo) heritage and sharing my experiences with colleagues and friends who are not from the same background is important to me.
Having grown up and gone to school in London, I have always experienced a very strong Black British culture, but in recent years I have seen my peers develop an even deeper connection with our ‘home culture’. For example, I have seen a resurgence of my peers and friends taking active steps to learn the languages often spoken at home so that it can be passed down to the next generation. New programmes such as MasOyinbo which promotes Yoruba language and culture, have garnered huge success partly due to the large diasporan community outside Nigeria. Also, the global success of predominately Yoruba-speaking artists like Asake is another sign of an engaged community.
As well as engaging with your heritage, I also believe it is important to have Black role models, particularly Black women role models, to look up to – both inside and outside of the workplace. Things always seem impossible until they’re done, and they can seem even more unachievable if you have not seen someone from a similar background achieve what you are working towards.
I was the Events Manager of WCAN for over three years. WCAN is a platform that works with law firms, banks, asset managers and tech giants to further the personal and professional development of Black women. As part of my role, I worked to organise events and conferences, with the goal of attracting and retaining Black women within those sectors. I have been fortunate enough to listen to keynote talks from Rashida Abdulai and Akima Paul-Lambert (to name just two) and have seen first-hand the huge impact that hearing from Black women you look up to can have. The impact is far-reaching and goes beyond the event.
With this in mind, myself and Naomi Owolabi (a fellow Black trainee) have organised an insight day for Black undergraduates and recent graduates who are interested in a career in commercial law at NRF. The theme of the event is ‘Strive and Thrive’, and as we understand first-hand the power of having Black role models and mentors, our aim is to provide the attendees with such guidance at a formative period in their journey.
Black History Month is a time to engage in conversations about people’s background and culture. This is what makes someone who they are, and it is only through having these conversations - around upbringing, language and life experiences – that we can foster an inclusive culture where Black employees feel like they can bring their full selves to work. It is a time for allies to reflect and think about how they are supporting their Black colleagues, amplifying their voices, and nurturing talent.
October helps us to focus and highlight important, and often difficult conversations. The month should be used as a springboard and ‘momentum-gatherer’ for ongoing DE&I initiatives throughout the year.
