Brook Graham

Nicole’s journey is a testament to the power of cultural heritage, resilience, and the pursuit of empowerment in the face of adversity. 💬 "Raised in London by Windrush parents from Jamaica, my upbringing was rich with cultural heritage and community spirit. I was taught to value black success and empowerment. My older brother and I left school to pursue corporate careers. I started as a Junior PA at a Finnish Oil Company, but my passion for the legal sector was ignited as an in-house Legal Secretary at Associated Newspapers. I faced racism early in my career, with jokes about my skin tone and sub-human comparisons. I was young and naïve, often freezing in shock, especially if insults came from management. I’d overcome these aggressions by removing myself from the environment. As I matured, I challenged these attitudes, encouraging education and understanding. Standing up for myself and others became crucial. I’ve learned much about my rich heritage and seen gradual acceptance of Caribbean culture in the UK. Talking openly about my lifestyle is positive, and I continue to learn from other Black cultures globally, enriching my life and career. Black History Month is a time for me to celebrate black success and empowerment. It builds confidence and fosters education. My Caribbean heritage has deeply influenced my professional journey, helping me embrace and share my culture, debunk stereotypes, and promote kindness. One of my proudest achievements as a black British female is transitioning into management roles in predominantly European environments, proving my perseverance and leadership. I also take pride in my son, who navigates life as a mixed-race teenager with resilience and self-awareness, though he needs to spend less time on TikTok!"

Really pleased to have been named a DEI Champion by Chambers and Partners. This recognises lawyers in the UK who go above and beyond to make the world a fairer place. There’s 21 of us in total this year and it’s fair to say that the work done collectively is incredible. I’m proud to be one of the people who uses my voice and influence on UK businesses to create change. Well done to everyone else named. 🙌

I currently do little else other than talk to clients about the new duty to prevent sexual harassment, and I must admit to being a little obsessed with / terrified by the very new need to conduct Sexual Harassment Risk Assessments. So what a relief to have Zoe Betts on hand to give us the benefit of her words of wisdom. "I don't want people to believe that a risk assessment is actually a piece of paper. A risk assessment is a thought process. A risk assessment is an exercise in foresight... what's more important [than the piece of paper] is that process that has been gone through mentally to understand what are the foreseeable risks here and, therefore, what are the reasonable measures?"

Are you a senior talent acquisition professional in the Netherlands aiming to elevate your career, connect with individuals from various industries and be a leader in inclusive recruitment? We are excited to host a networking evening to celebrate the launch of the Belong Amsterdam Network, a community created by The SR Group Amsterdam to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and support inclusive recruitment practices. Hosted by Rachael Crocker and Lisanne Muns, this event offers a chance to share insights and learnings from Belong, with David Pearson from Pinsent Masons Brook Graham joining us a guest speaker. If you would like to attend, please register here: https://lnkd.in/gECZuvkA #DEI #inclusiverecruitment #networking