Breaking Hundred Circle CIC is a social impact organisation with a single focus on transforming lives through impactful leadership and tailored support.
What Breaking Hundred means ...
Breaking Hundred is a powerful metaphor between the boiling point of water and the journey of minority ethnic women breaking the glass ceiling in professional environments.
- Boiling Point as a Threshold: Just as water reaches its boiling point at 100 degrees Celsius, where it transforms from liquid to gas, minority ethnic women often face a “boiling point” in their careers. This point represents the significant pressure and challenges they must overcome to transition into senior roles.
- Breaking Barriers Under Pressure: Water boils and transforms state under heat and pressure. Similarly, minority ethnic women often face immense pressures, from systemic biases to lack of representation. The process of breaking through these barriers is akin to reaching the boiling point where the pressure can no longer keep them contained.
- Catalysts for Change: certain conditions or catalysts (like mentors, supportive policies, or inclusive practices) can lower the barriers, to allow the water boil faster. These catalysts are crucial in easing the journey and accelerating progress.
This metaphor beautifully illustrates the resilience, strength, and eventual transformation that minority ethnic women experience as they overcome obstacles in their professional lives.
About the Convener:
Funmi Onamusi is a distinguished leadership coach, motivational speaker, and author with over 20 years of experience across consulting and industry roles.
Currently serving as the Chief People Officer at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Funmi leads transformative initiatives for a large workforce, driving organisational change and fostering inclusive leadership.
Her career includes roles at EY, KPMG, and Korn Ferry, where she specialised in strategic human resources and talent management.
Winner in the Senior Leader of the year category at the 2024 Black Talent Awards, Funmi is a recognised champion for equity and diversity in leadership.
With over a hundred aspiring leaders personally coached and mentored by Funmi over the last 15 years, her passion for storytelling and creating inclusive spaces has empowered countless individuals to unlock their leadership potential.
As the convenor of the annual Empower, Elevate, Excel Retreat and founder of Breaking Hundred Community Interest Company (CIC), Funmi brings her expertise and vision to provide a transformative experience for women from minority ethnic backgrounds. Her experience allows her to bring together a stellar list of guest speakers and facilitators to deliver a rich retreat experience and evidence-based academy program.