About
The Women's Association
Our Mission
We reveal barriers that prevent women and girls from having the freedom to dream. Once the barriers are revealed we work with girls, women and leaders of institutions together to remove these barriers so that every woman and girl has the infrastructure and support needed to to make her dreams a reality.
Power of the Collective
"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
Program Manager -
The Girls' Association
Danielle Odojukan
Program Manager -
The Girls' Association
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
Polly McMorrow
CEO
McCann London
Jessica Tamsedge
CEO, UK
Dentsu Creative
Caroline Pay
Chief Creative Officer
Dentsu Creative
Andrew Denton
CEO
Alfa
Julie Hood
EY EMEIA Strategy and Transactions Leader
EY
Simon Cook
CEO
Cannes Lions
Paul Frampton Calero
President/CEO
CvE
Abrilli Phillip
Director of Education
Lambeth Council
Victoria Fox
CEO
AAR
Here's how you can Get Involved with The Women's Association
We work with girls and young women 12-20 years old.
We focus on barriers to entry into the workplace for girls and young women, especially those from marginalised communities. We also focus on building a community of girls that inspire, empower and support each other.
We connect women through our events, campaigns and roundtables. We use the power of campaigning and community to tackle the barriers we often place on ourselves that can hold us back from creating the life of our dreams like imposter syndrome, lack of confidence etc.
