I’m a full-time working mum, a half-English, half-German expat, and a proud ally committed to fostering inclusive, psychologically safe spaces – both at work and in the world. I live in rural Kent with my partner of 18 years, our young son, a rescue tortoise with a wonky shell and a spirited cat. I consider myself neurodivergent and panromantic, but above all, I identify as an ally: someone who uses their position, privilege and voice to lift others and ensure they are heard.
After moving to the UK post-university, I spent 11 years at a communications company, rising from Conferencing Operator to Senior Manager in the Webcasting department. During that time, I led a geographically dispersed and deeply diverse team – including working parents, carers, LGBTQ+ and neurodiverse colleagues from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Together, we navigated significant company change, remote working long before it became the norm, and the many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This experience was a turning point. It taught me that allyship isn’t about grand gestures – it’s about sustained, thoughtful action. It’s about recognising that the same pressure affects different people in different ways, and that inclusion requires flexibility, empathy and a willingness to listen. I made it my responsibility to create space for each individual’s strengths and challenges, and to advocate for approaches that respected their lived experiences.
Since joining wtv., a strategic communications and virtual events agency, I’ve continued that mission. In my role as Customer Success Manager, I’ve worked to elevate DE&I from within – not by making myself the centre of the story, but by encouraging and enabling others to share theirs.
I’ve increased our DE&I visibility on external platforms like LinkedIn, showcasing our team’s voices, cultural insights, and experiences in a way that reflects who we are as people – not just professionals. Internally, I’ve helped create safe spaces for dialogue, encouraging colleagues to speak up about what matters to them, and supporting their ideas and initiatives around inclusion, identity and mental health.
I see allyship as an ongoing commitment to action, empathy and advocacy. It’s asking thoughtful questions, amplifying underrepresented voices, and showing up consistently – even when it’s uncomfortable. My lived experience has helped me understand the value of being “in-between” – between cultures, identities, communication styles – and I bring that perspective to everything I do.
This nomination is deeply meaningful to me, because I don’t do this work for recognition. I do it because everyone deserves to feel they belong – and because inclusion isn’t just a goal. It’s a daily practice.