Rebecca Ihiekwe, a marketing executive at CEL Solicitors, has been recognised in the Northern Power Women’s 2023 Future list. She is one of 50 inspiring individuals, from across the North of England, that have been recognised as future changemakers, leaders and influencers when it comes to advancing gender equality and inspiring change.
Who are Northern Power Women?
Northern Power Women is a business community that is committed to advancing gender equality and inspiring change in organisational culture. It does this with support from over 70,000 individuals who use their power for good and are dedicated to accelerating gender equality and social mobility in the North of England.
What are the Northern Power Women Awards?
The Northern Power Women Awards showcase role models and celebrate the many ways women contribute to a thriving Northern Powerhouse. Winners are profiled and their stories shared to encourage other individuals and businesses to step up and take action. The awards also feature a Power list and a Future list, which showcase current and future changemakers, leaders and influencers.
Rebecca recognised in the 2023 Future List
CEL’s Rebecca Ihiekwe has been recognised as a future changemaker due to her commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion both inside and outside CEL Solicitors. In her role at CEL Solicitors, Rebecca has attended equality, diversity and inclusion conferences and visited schools to speak about careers in marketing and law. During Black History Month she delivered a presentation, with colleagues, discussing the underrepresentation of black people in the legal sector, and thus presented a business case for empowering black employees.
As a marketing executive, Rebecca is responsible for managing CEL Solicitors’ social media accounts and creating content for the company. As part of this role, she ensures the firm’s diverse talent and initiative is visible and promoted. Black and ethnic minority people are highly underrepresented not only in law, but in academia, politics, and the corporate sector. By showcasing the firm’s inclusive initiatives, this can empower prospective employees who may feel discouraged to enter these professional spaces.
She regularly communicates with charities and keynote speakers to deliver inspiring and educational ‘CEL Talks’ for our staff. More recently, she has got involved in podcast production through developing scripts and contacting guests to feature on CEL’s ‘People Before Profits’ podcast. Guests have included social housing activist, Kwajo Tweneboa; business coach, Andrea Edwards; and the Anthony Walker Foundation.
Outside of working as a marketing executive, Rebecca has had the pleasure of co-curating a decolonisation display at the Walker Art Gallery with National Museums Liverpool. She presented the display on Slavery Remembrance Day 2022. The exhibit is one of its kind, thus catching attention from national press titles such as BBC News and the Guardian. It was also shortlisted for a Museums Change Lives Award by the prestigious Museums Association.
Commenting on the accolade, Rebecca said:
“I am so grateful to have been named on Northern Power Women’s Future List this year. As a black woman occupying professional spaces which historically, have not been occupied by those who look like me, I see it as imperative to advocate for diversity and inclusion for all, as much as I can. Everybody deserves a seat at the table.
As I progress within my career, I hope to act as a positive force for meaningful change on a much larger scale. This is only the beginning!”
When do the Northern Power Women Awards take place?
Now in its seventh consecutive year, the 2023 Northern Power Women Awards will take place on Monday 20th March at Manchester Central Convention Complex. EY are headline sponsor and BNY Mellon sponsor the Future List. CEL Solicitors is proud to be in attendance and looks forward to celebrating Rebecca’s achievement.
Commenting on the awards, Laura Hampson, Director of Marketing, Communications and PR, at CEL Solicitors, said:
“The Northern Power Women are a force for good, championing gender equality and paving the way for generations to come. The Future List is an important part of this, empowering those who are already doing wonderful things, so that they may continue to lead and inspire others.
“Rebecca is a powerful advocate that is committed to making a real difference to those around her. She’s already inspiring people both inside and outside of work, making her thoroughly deserving of this accolade. I for one, am very excited to support her in her career and look forward to the wonderful contribution she will make as a future changemaker.”
Also commenting on Rebecca’s accolade, Jessica Hampson, Director and owner of CEL Solicitors, said:
“Rebecca has been a powerful positive influence at CEL Solicitors from literally day one. Not only has she been a star member of the marketing team but I have really been impressed with how much positive impact and she has brought both inside and outside of CEL.
Rebecca’s commitment to championing the diversity committee and leading real change from within the workforce is priceless. I have learned so much from Rebecca joining CEL and the firm has literally grown as a result of her joining. She is an absolute rising star and we are so lucky to have her at CEL Solicitors, she has made it an even better place to work at. I am over the moon that her hard work and commitment is being widely recognised and celebrated.”
