Diving head first into your role and the community your firm offers is a great way to build your network, personal brand and your career, Mikee Eborde tells Matt Baldwin.
Mikee Eborde is a Marketing and Business Development Coordinator for the Life Sciences and Intellectual Property teams at Bird & Bird. It is a busy role that covers events, content, directories and pitching, putting her in the deep end of professional services marketing.
She is also co-chair of the firm’s Embrace Network which champions and advances racial and cultural diversity across its 900-strong London office and beyond.
Bird & Bird is widely recognised as a life sciences and intellectual property powerhouse, regularly topping the legal directory rankings. When the opportunity arose to join those teams, Mikee jumped at the chance, recognising the impact it would have on her early career.
“I joined Bird & Bird straight from university and worked across all practice areas,” explains Mikee. “It was a great way to get to know the firm, and when this role came up, I knew I was ready to step up.
“They are busy teams, and I’ve been able to get involved with large projects from start to finish, working with team leaders and senior partners.”
Since joining the team just two months ago, Mikee has already made two major directory submissions, numerous pitches and delivered events that have seen her finding and briefing speakers.
There is a saying that if you want something done ask a busy person, and so it was when it was suggested Mikee join the firm’s growing Embrace Network.
“I was having a catch-up with a colleague and shared my interest in diversity, equity and inclusion and my involvement in cultural and heritage events at university,” says Mikee, “and he introduced me to the Network.”
Born in the Philippines and moving to the UK when a young child, Mikee has maintained a strong connection with the country of her birth and visits family there every year.
She is passionate about its culture and enthusiastic about sharing it with friends and colleagues.
After a year of getting to know both the firm and the Embrace network, attending and helping run its various events, Mikee was invited to co-chair Embrace – a role she will hold for 12 months.
The Embrace Network is actively supported by the firm’s CEO, Christian Bartsch, and is one of many networks the firm has created, including its LGBTQ+ network StandOUT, Neuro Network and Beyond Backgrounds promoting social mobility.
“As co-chair, we work closely with HR and the D&I team across three strands – engaging with HR to create diverse and inclusive policies across the firm, engaging with charities, and celebrating diversity through events and initiatives,” she says.
Projects with the D&I team have included the launch of a reciprocal mentoring programme with mentors drawn from ethnic minority backgrounds, and a podcast to mark Black History Month with the musician and composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson, in collaboration with Underexposed Arts.
Under Mikee’s lead, there have also been cookery classes with Migrateful, an organisation that supports refugees and migrants by allowing them to teach others to cook the food of their country of birth. Mikee is currently planning a ‘culture and cuisine’ event in February that brings food and music together.
“Cooking and sharing a meal is a terrific way to break down barriers,” explains Mikee. “Colleagues are encouraged to cook dishes they enjoy and share with colleagues. The hip-hop artist Josh Key is also joining us to perform his uplifting music.”
Mikee will hold the co-chair of the Embrace Network until May 2025 before handing over the baton.
“I love sharing my passions with colleagues and feel that I will be leaving the Embrace Network in good hands,” she says. “I look forward to contributing to Embrace in a different capacity and will remain connected to the team and its goals, but I am excited to focus on advancing my career as a marketing and business development coordinator.
“There is great value in learning everything about your firm, so be curious and prepared to try and achieve a goal, however small or big,” concludes Mikee.