Shanade Johnson she/her

Shanade is an experienced professional in early years and talent development, with a background spanning education, charity, and corporate sectors. Her commitment to social mobility and Inclusion, Belonging, and Equity began a decade ago as an English teacher, where she saw firsthand the gaps in career knowledge for disadvantaged youth.  Shanade is dedicated to enhancing opportunities for young people and improving candidate experiences through her expertise in process analysis and budget management.

Her specialisms include:

• Guiding individuals to achieve their goals.

• Creating and fostering inclusive environments.

• Delivering impactful training and speaking engagements on diversity, equity & inclusion and social mobility.

• Designing and managing early careers and apprenticeship programmes.

Laura Flynn (she/her)

Laura is a seasoned professional with a rich background in operations, events, and strategy development. Over a decade-long career, including roles as Director of Strategy and Planning and Chief Operating Officer at City University, she has excelled across education and social impact sectors. Laura specialises in stakeholder engagement, mentoring, and coaching, and is passionate about fostering inclusion, belonging, and equity within organisations.

Her notable achievements include leading large-scale events, mentoring early-career professionals, and delivering transformative workshops. As a careers coach and facilitator with 10Eighty in London, and Head of the SEND/PRU programme at WizeUp Financial Education, Laura creates impactful training programs and strategies that drive success. Her work reflects a commitment to operational excellence and a deep dedication to empowering others, earning her the National Mentor of the Year award from Career Ready in 2022.

Sophie Mousoulides (she/her)

Sophia is a seasoned project manager and dynamic speaker with over 20 years of experience in widening participation in higher education and the charity sector. A dedicated advocate for social mobility, she specialises in designing and managing programs that empower young people to reach their full potential.

With expertise in project management, event planning, partnership building, and employability training, Sophie combines strategic thinking with genuine empathy. Her leadership is defined by a commitment to social impact, whether she’s leading operations, mentoring, or delivering impactful workshops.

Lara Ayash (she/her)

Lara is a highly experienced management consultant with over 12 years in the field, including a decade with the Big Four firms—Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, and EY. Her extensive background provides her with a profound understanding of management strategies and consulting excellence, making her a valuable asset for driving organisational success.

She co-founded LADs Consulting, a dynamic, female-led team specialising in diversity, equity and inclusion (EDI), culture change, leadership development, and human capital transformation. Lara’s focus is on creating long-term impact by addressing systemic barriers to equity and fostering a genuinely inclusive environment.