It all started in 2018, shortly after I joined Haggerston School. The school shared information about The Girls’ Network, offering a mentor to help with academic or personal challenges and open new opportunities for young women. At the time, when I could barely speak the language, I signed up. In all honesty, I hardly understood what I was signing up for. I attended a few workshops - still very confused because of the language barrier - and then had my first meeting with my mentor.

She was an incredible woman, and we connected on a deep level. We even cried during one of our meetings when we spoke about what it means to be a woman and the burdens that can come with it. She helped me build my communication skills, public speaking and confidence - all traits I desperately needed support with at the time but didn’t even realise I needed.

I completed the programme and became an ambassador in 2020. At first, I wasn’t very active, but later I attended an event Enterprise Mobility organised for the ambassador community. This inspired me to go through the application process and secure a summer internship with Enterprise Mobility which, provided me with meaningful work experience. Looking back, it feels like a full-circle moment. The Girl’s Network didn’t just open doors for me, it proved to me that opportunity should never be limited by background.

Since then, I’ve been involved in so many amazing opportunities, many of them led by the incredible Rabina - the Ambassador Community Lead who coordinates events, checks in regularly, and gently encourages me to take on new opportunities and challenges.

Through The Girls’ Network, I’ve had the chance to:

• Network with inspiring women leaders at Virgin and other companies
• Interview the founders of Otiumberg and other inspiring women
• Host a financial literacy workshop with FT FLIC | Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign
• Attend fundraising events, including a screening of Clueless at the theatre
• Connect with other ambassadors in the community

Thanks to Isadora for sharing her inspiring journey with us. Thanks also to amazing partners like Enterprise Mobility, Virgin and Otiumberg, whose support and commitment provide meaningful opportunities and experiences that truly make all the difference for young women in our network. 

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In their own words

Explore the real-life impact of our programmes through the voices of the young women we support:

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Partnering with The Girls' Network

Read about some of our amazing partners, why they chose to align with The Girls’ Network, and the impact our collaboration has - both for the girls and young women we support and for the teams involved. These spotlights highlight how organisations can make a real difference by sharing expertise, opening doors, and creating opportunities that inspire, empower, and drive lasting change.

Read more about our corporate partnership programme here