The Girls' Network was founded in 2013 by two secondary school teachers, Becca Dean and Charly Young, with a vision to open up opportunities for girls across the UK. Now, more than a decade on, Becca has returned as our CEO and was eager to hear directly from our ambassadors about their experiences - what being part of the network has meant to them and what they hope for in the future.

This conversation was not only a chance for ambassadors to reflect on how mentoring and the ambassador community have helped them grow in confidence and shape their futures - but also an opportunity for Becca to ask what they want from the community as it continues to grow. Their insights will help shape how we support and connect our ambassadors in the years ahead.  

A huge thank you to ambassador Samirah for capturing the discussion in this blog. Scroll down if you'd like to watch this inspiring conversation in full.

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The Girls’ Network has made a difference to girls across the UK in unimaginable ways. Not only did it act as a stepping stone to thousands of young women around the UK into careers they dreamed of, but it became a web, linking many inspirational and successful women together. It all started 12 years ago when two school teachers came together and formed what we know today as an impactful society that touches the lives of so many young girls.

The network aims to bring girls together and combat the pressures they face both in the classroom and as a whole. As women, the countless stigmas, barriers and challenges we face can only be tackled by each other and these two phenomenal women began a charity to allow opportunities to reach young girls by introducing them to industry professionals.

My own mentoring journey began in 2021 and I was fortunate enough to have a mentor who always went above and beyond for me. Though she wasn’t directly in the career path I saw myself going into, my mentor Jumanah always tried and succeeded in bringing me insight into the realities of Medicine.

This year, The Girls’ Network brings us more innovation with the CEO and co-founder, Becca Dean, returning. I had the opportunity to speak to Becca and hear her story; how she and her colleague pioneered The Girls’ Network as well as her plans for the charity going forward.

The evening was filled with emotion and vulnerability allowing the ambassadors to share their stories also. She enlightened me and a team of ambassadors on how this year, she plans to come back and understand the dynamics since she left; we were able to share our thoughts and ideas on how we could expand The Girls’ Network to which many of us agreed on building a stronger and more widespread Ambassador Community; bringing elements of networking within this community also.

Networking at the ages of eighteen and above is a skill that is integral, and having communication with industry professionals at this age would be beneficial for ambassadors like myself who are first generation. Becca was thrilled with this idea and we were able to brainstorm some ideas on how this could be done safely and effectively.

Aside from her future plans, we were delighted to hear from Becca about the making of The Girls’ Network: the idea to the execution. It was truly admirable. Becca Dean and Charly Young are testament to how having a pure intention in bettering the lives of so many, and providing them with opportunity allows the idea to flourish into an amazing foundation. I, along with the network of ambassadors, are exuberant to see what Becca is able to achieve next and the ideas that follow her return.

You can watch the full conversation with Becca and our ambassadors here: