In Conversation with Nicole Benford and Alexandra “Lex” Nchidwuor from Cavendish Consulting

This month, we had the privilege of sitting down with Nicole Benford, Associate Director, and Alexandra “Lex” Nchidwuor, Account Executive, from Cavendish Consulting—one of PREACH Inclusion’s corporate partners. Cavendish is a UK-based communications consultancy renowned for its expertise in corporate, planning communications, political, and creative services.

The interview explores not only Nicole and Lex’s career paths but also their shared commitment to making DEI a core aspect of Cavendish’s culture and mission. Through candid discussions about mentorship, challenges, and lessons learned, Nicole and Lex highlight the importance of fostering inclusivity and authenticity in the communications industry.

So, grab a cuppa, and join us as we delve into a conversation that celebrates personal growth, community connection, and the transformative potential of diverse voices in shaping the future of communications.

Nicole’s Journey: From South West London to France and Beyond

Nicole grew up in Battersea, South West London, before

Nicole grew up in Battersea, South West London, before she and her family relocated to Paris when she was six. This move was a defining moment for Nicole, introducing her to a new culture and language, which laid the foundation for her future in communications. She recalls: 

“We had to go to a local French school, so we were immersed in French culture. It was probably the best thing, as we had no choice but to learn the language. This started my awareness of diversity and difference from a cultural perspective. We were taught to embrace French culture, even celebrating events like Bastille Day, a day of defiance against the monarchy, which was quite interesting as a British person.” - Nicole

This early exposure to different perspectives sparked Nicole’s interest in communication and culture, and subsequently, her future career path. After studying public relations and communications at Solent University, she spent a year as their student union president, giving her an opportunity to apply those very skills she had just learned.

"The student election team was mostly white male athletes, which didn’t reflect the full student body. I was given a chance to make sure diversity wasn’t just a checkbox but was integrated authentically into our campaigns.” - Nicole

Following that role, Nicole, like many graduates, was faced with challenges in the job market due to the 2008 economic recession. Much to her surprise, she found her next opportunity on Gumtree (!) and headed to Chennai, India, working in marketing for an English-teaching school. This was an incredible opportunity to immerse herself into a different culture, language and ways of working.

She then returned to the UK and joined Lidl in their Quality Assurance department. It was at Lidl that she learned invaluable lessons about building relationships and understanding internal operations. She even convinced her managers to allow her to shift into public relations.

One of the pivotal moments of her career was during the 2013 horse meat scandal, where at Lidl, her background in quality assurance played a crucial role in managing the crisis. She reflects:

“It taught me that even in public relations, understanding a company’s internal processes is crucial. It’s not just about communicating a message; it’s about knowing the truth of the matter so you can address it effectively.” - Nicole

After six years at Lidl, she took a career break to travel around Southeast Asia and Australia before joining Local Dialogue in Public Affairs. Two and a half years ago, Nicole joined Cavendish, where she has continued her career in public affairs— working for clients including National Grid, Marick Real Estate and Berkely Group.

Lex’s Story: From Politics to Public Affairs and Community Engagement

For Lex, the journey to public affairs began in secondary school, where she studied critical thinking and developed an interest in politics and current affairs. Growing up in a predominantly white area and later attending a more diverse school, she became increasingly aware of issues like classism and racism, which deeply influenced her career aspirations. Lex explains:

“I was raised in a predominantly white area, but once I went to a more diverse school at secondary level, I started noticing the divides between different social groups. It made me want to understand how I could help bridge those divides in my future career.” - Lex

Lex studied Government and Politics at St Mary’s University, followed by a master’s in Development Studies at SOAS. During this time, she worked part-time for an NGO focused on Pan-Africanism, which gave her a unique perspective on how the legacies of debt, slavery, colonialism, and neo-colonialism continue to shape African communities and the diaspora. She reflects:

"It was a powerful realisation of how these issues affect people's lives, including my own, and it deepened my understanding of the challenges faced by communities. It was during this time that I decided I wanted to bring these insights to make a difference in the corporate world." - Lex

Lex then spent a couple of years in recruitment, which further deepened her understanding of representation, particularly in public affairs. She shares:

“Being in recruitment helped me realise how important it is to have diverse voices in these sectors. It showed me that representation in the workplace was fundamental to a candidate’s decision on accepting a role or not, often regarded higher than financial benefits.”- Lex

In July 2024, Lex joined Cavendish Consulting, where she focuses on community engagement and public affairs.

Building Relationships with Communities

One of Lex’s core values is building relationships with communities. She believes in the importance of listening and being visible to understand the needs and concerns of local people. She recalls a particularly memorable visit to a retirement home as part of her role at Cavendish, working with a client, KYN, where she had the opportunity to engage with residents on development projects in the local area:

“For me, it’s about going out, being visible, and listening. When you build relationships with people in the community, you build trust. Transparency and honesty are key in community engagement.” - Lex

Nicole echoes the same sentiment:

“The pandemic was a turning point for me in terms of getting more involved in my local community. It made me realise that everyone, no matter their background, wants to feel connected to where they live and work.” - Nicole

Cavendish ensures local communities have a real voice in planning decisions, something Lex and Nicole deeply value.

At Cavendish, one of the core principles of their Stakeholder Engagement strategy is to tailor approaches to each unique project, recognising that a one-size-fits-all method is ineffective. The concerns of urban communities differ significantly from those in rural areas, and Cavendish’s engagement strategies reflect this understanding. Cavendish customise all messaging, design materials, and choose both digital and traditional channels to ensure inclusivity and relevance for all communities, regardless of their backgrounds.

The Importance of DEI: Within Cavendish and Beyond

At Cavendish, DEI is not treated as a one-off initiative but as a core, ongoing priority. They are particularly passionate about promoting inclusion through efforts like mandatory DEI training and the internal DEI network, Cavendish Culture, which supports staff from diverse backgrounds. She explains:

“For us, DEI isn’t just a one-off training session. It’s about creating a culture where staff feel safe, protected, and empowered to engage with the communities they serve. It’s about ongoing conversations and real action.” - Nicole

Nicole’s dedication extends beyond Cavendish, as she mentors young professionals, through the I have a voice programme, helping them navigate career uncertainties and build confidence. Reflecting on the mutual benefits of mentorship, she shares about her experience of mentoring a female graduate who despite her academic achievements feels uncertain about her career direction:

"I learn just as much from her as she learns from me. It's been really rewarding to support young people, especially those who feel lost despite their incredible talents. My own career has been a bit of this and a bit of that, but each experience has helped me grow and prepare for the next opportunity." - Nicole

Similarly, Lex is driven by her commitment to empowering communities, particularly the youth in her hometown of Croydon. Her early experiences addressing challenges like a lack of resources and gang culture inspired her to create after-school programs and eventually pursue broader social change. This passion continues today in her role as a trustee for Belong, a criminal justice charity focused on rehabilitation, where she applies her communications expertise to create meaningful impact.

“Even small differences can make a big impact. Offering young people something positive to focus on—like sports or after-school programs—can make all the difference.” - Lex

Both Nicole and Lex stress how important DEI is in communications. They point out that it’s vital to create messages that connect with different audiences and take cultural understanding into account. For Lex, this means adapting communication to meet the unique needs and diversity of the communities they work with:

“I feel like our community is so diverse and so complex. Messaging is really important because it resonates in different ways and means different things for different people.” - Lex

Nicole echoes the sentiment, emphasising the societal impact of inclusive communication:

“Comms affect everyone. It impacts society, and it doesn’t matter whether you’re Black, brown, or white. That’s why it’s so important to understand cultures, communities, gender—because the way you communicate a message to one person can be received very differently by someone else.” - Nicole

Together, Nicole and Lex advocate for DEI as an essential aspect of effective communication. By fostering inclusivity and sensitivity to diverse experiences, they ensure that all voices are heard and represented meaningfully—within Cavendish and beyond.

Advice for Each Other - The Power of Mentorship and Breaking Barriers

Nicole and Lex both emphasise the importance of mentorship and breaking barriers for the next generation. Their conversation about reverse mentoring highlights how they learn from each other and share valuable insights.

Nicole advises Lex to embrace risks and learn from failures:

“Say yes to things and then figure it out. Don’t be afraid to fail. There’s no such thing as failure—only lessons learned. Sometimes, as women, we hold ourselves to such high standards, and when things go wrong, it feels overwhelming. But in reality, everyone makes mistakes, and the best thing you can do is reflect, learn, and move forward. The journey is just as important as the end result.” - Nicole

In return, Lex tells Nicole the importance of continuing to break barriers:

“Don’t stop breaking down those barriers. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the work you've already done. The barriers you’ve broken are the ones I’ll continue to break for others. By seeing leaders like you, I can see myself in those roles, too. It’s that visibility that’s so important to push others in their career goals.” - Lex

Their exchange underscores the importance of mentorship, visibility, and breaking barriers for the next generation. Both Nicole and Lex are committed to making a difference by inspiring others and creating a more accessible career path.

A huge thank you to Nicole Benford and Lex Nchidwuor from Cavendish for this enlightening conversation.