About
The Women's Association
Our Vision
We have seen many women and girls give up on their dreams because we still live in a world where we are constantly being told what we should or shouldn't do. The Women's Association was created because we believe that it is our duty to make sure that women and girls have the resources, opportunities and infrastructure needed to dream freely and make their dreams a reality.
Since 2014 when Deborah started her work she's identified multiple barriers that has stopped many women from dreaming freely:
Education
The messages we hear when we are young inform what we believe is possible for us as we grow. This messaging often starts at school where antiquated views on what girls can/can't do still prevails and is part of what prohibits girls from dreaming freely.
"Engineering isn't for girls, let's explore another option for you" - a 14 year old girl on our program was told this by her Maths teacher in 2021
Career life-cycle
Seeing a lack of representation, being the only one, experiencing normalised sexism and misogyny that gets passed off as 'banter', experiencing a lack of support from female leaders, are only some examples that women experience in their career journey which affects their ability to dream freely.
"My boss was so overtly sexist and inappropriate that I had no choice but to leave my job." - a woman shared during our focus group in 2020
Finance
Bringing money into a home and managing finances used to be seen as a man's responsibility which meant a lot of women were not financially literate. We've seen lot of progress over the years but there's still a long way to go for some women to feel confident financially and for more female business owners to receive investment. There is currently only 2.3% of women receiving investment and it is even lower for women of colour.
Emotional wellbeing
There are many examples of how women's mental health suffers from putting everybody first, to fighting for equity and feeling fatigued, struggling with lack of confidence, self-worth and internalising messages about what we should or shouldn't do as women. All of these things and more prohibit women from dreaming freely.
Representation in the media
In films, in news articles, magazines and on social media there are many different messages that paint a specific image of the role women play or should play in society, like the constant question "Can women really have it all?" Or recently "Did living in the shadow of his high achieving wife lead to unthinkable tragedy?" when detailing the events that led to a man killing his wife which suggests that her ambition led him to killing her. This is 2 of many more examples that exist in the media that can affect how we see ourselves and how others see us.
"Deborah and The Women’s Association are making waves to improve visibility, make meaningful change towards gender equality at work and inspire working women everywhere to be the change makers of the future."
Sharon Ament
Director / Museum of London
Our Founder's Story
Deborah's Socials
Deborah Williams
Founder & CEO, The Women's Association
When we are young there is a bubble of innocence that hides us away from some of the harsh realities in the world. I was able to keep myself in that bubble until 2014 when I was awakened by the realisation that being a woman in the world and especially in the corporate landscape comes with many challenges. This realisation came when I embarked on a journey of discovery for my dissertation which explored the stories of women in the workplace across industries from overt sexism, to sexual harassment and more. Once I was aware of this reality, I struggled to sit back and do nothing.
This led to the first of many efforts to try and create change. As I embarked on this journey I found that I was personally burdened by the historically imposed expectations and stereotypes that dictated what was acceptable for me as a woman trying to navigate my journey.
This led me to want to create an organisation that works to change systems, cultures and mindsets that make women and girls feel like we have to be anything other than our authentic selves at work and in the wider world. My hope is that through The Women's Association we can give women and girls the information & support to dream, whilst we work on revealing and removing the barriers that could prohibit us from making our dreams a reality.
Meet our Core Team
Deborah Williams
Founder & CEO
Caroline Desmarais
Strategic Consultant
Sylvia Udomhiaye
People & Operations Manager
Sikalaev Heath
Head of Operations - The Girls' Association
Danielle Odojukan
Programme Manager
Bella Neale
Producer and Co-Host of Sister Space
Meet our Steering Committee
Cephas Williams
Founder
56 Black Men
The Black British Network
Fiona Clutterbuck
Chairwoman | Non-Executive
Paragon Bank | M&G
Nanda Manley-Browne
Education & Schools Policy Lead
Lambeth Council
Jessica Tamsedge
Incoming CEO, UK & EMEA
Dentsu Creative
Caroline Pay
Chief Creative Officer
Andrew Denton
CEO
Alfa
Julie Hood
EY EMEIA Strategy and Transactions Leader
EY
Bukola Garry
Head of Diversity & Inclusion
Adam & Eve
Paul Frampton Calero
President/CEO
CvE
Abrilli Phillip
Director of Education
Lambeth Council
Victoria Fox
CEO
AAR