About

BEHIND EVERY GREAT COMPANY, IS A TEAM OF GREAT WOMEN WHO HOLD IT TOGETHER

GirlDreamer has a small but mighty team! We each bring something different that makes us who we are and creates the foundation of values we are built on. Get to know more about who makes GirlDreamer possible. 

THE JOURNEY

Amna had dropped out from her short one-week at university and Kiran was on her gap year after deciding not to pursue a career in dentistry.

They were lost, had no-one to turn to and couldn’t feel what their lives were supposed to be like beyond the traditional route laid out for them.

So, they did what any BFFs do on a cold, rainy, dark night and spoke for about six hours about legacy and what the world should look and feel like for women of colour who have big dreams or who simply need support on their journey.

We weren’t ready for our own version just yet, so we went to seek what we could join. 

We discovered a youth and education charity that mentored kids in schools who lived in areas of high deprivation.

We were stationed in a secondary school and became mentors who teenagers. It was here that we had the opportunity to tap into our 14-16 year old selves and offer the support we didn’t have.

So, our after-school women’s empowerment enrichment programme was born. That programme quickly spread around schools in Birmingham and after a couple of years of this came 2015, when it was time to leave the charity, a spark happened.

So from our bedrooms and garden sheds, we got to work on how we could create something in this world that supports young women of colour to live their best lives. 

After a big long discussion much like in 2012, we remembered that feeling being in those schools, running those clubs and seeing the power behind raising your community and unleashing the power of women of colour into the world, we decided it was time to bring GirlDreamer to life.

With no experience, business knowledge, strategy, plan, accounting acumen or networks and about £500 between us in savings, we downloaded the forms from Gov UK, filled in our details and registered. We got work with our first ever GD event ‘Girls Night In’ and the rest, as they say, was herstory. 

We worked backwards and spent three long, hard, wonderful years building GirlDreamer.

From navigating funding applications to paying ourselves pennies to make each month stretch to the next, we had made it through the biggest hurdles and challenges of the journey so far.

We had grown the team beyond just the two of us and welcomed more amazing women in who were helping us to meet demand, grow and sustain. It was at this stage we had run a game-changing Crowdfunder, took our work national, secured our own office, did an international R&D, won a bunch of awards … and decided to temporarily quit GirlDreamer.

Getting to this stage took everything out of us and we lost our way, so we made the difficult decision to take a break and decide if GD was the path for us. 

Three months later, we returned! Only to then end up in a pandemic weeks later (but let’s not go there). However, this was the perfect opportunity to think deeper about what GD was going to be, look and feel like going forward.

On our terms and in ways that made sense to us first.

GD was and is not just a job or a company, it is an extension of us and our lived experiences and so it’s super personal. Because of this, healthy balance is key.

We spent 2020 online programming, which opened up our programmes internationally and we welcomed members into our communities from all over the world!

We grew the team again, created a new strategy, secured more funding than we ever had before and reclaimed our power with this journey. The digital version of GirlDreamer blossomed and we were going full steam ahead. 

Blur of a year (don’t you think?!)

But there was lots of re-adjusting back to “normal life”. Opening up programmes in-person again, Amna went on to become a Forbes 30 Under 30 Honouree and Kiran became an Obama Foundation European Leader. These two girls from Birmingham were growing their dream, their own leadership, stepping into their own power and building an incredible community to share and grow with.

GirlDreamer officially turned five this year too and we basked in all our efforts.

Six years on, we’ve met some world leaders, worked with some of the world’s biggest brands, created some epic initiatives, won some awards but most importantly, we’ve connected with and supported thousands of women of colour on their journeys.

From all walks of life and corners of the world, we have had the honour of building alongside a community of incredible, passionate and talented women of colour.

We are now a team of seven, who work flexibly, live wholesomely and give our very best to the community we serve and the dream we have. 

2012
2013
2016
2019
2020
2021
2022

EDUCATE.
ELEVATE.
EMPOWER.

SUPPORTING THE NEXT GEN OF WOMEN OF COLOUR

We are proudly built on lived experience.

We use our relatable experiences and perspective to create real change in our community. To do so, we ensure we always uphold these values: 

AUTHENTIC

Everything must be done from a genuine place that seeks to create authentic support, change and growth from our individual and collective lived experience.

HOLISTIC

Everything is done with the intention to improve the overall wellbeing including: mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of the young women we interact with.

INNOVATIVE

Everything we create is to be done by “thinking outside of the box”. To create what has not been done before so that our products and services are unique to us and for the women we serve.

MEET THE FOUNDERS
& THEIR STORY

Co-Founder & Creative Director

AMNA AKHTAR

“The future is nothing but a concept. When you realise this, you will wholeheartedly and mindfully begin to enjoy the moments you’re in and never take them for granted. Having dreams is essential to having purpose, but not at the cost of losing out on the moments you’re currently experiencing.”

amna@girldreamer.co.uk

Co-Founder & CEO

KIRAN KAUR

“There is no such thing as perfect. Don’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect moment to pursue what you want in life. The journey is supposed to be messy, vulnerable and raw in all its glory. That’s what makes your dream so imperfectly perfect.”

kiran@girldreamer.co.uk

MEET THE DREAM TEAM

FATHMA KHALID

Head of Impact
Specialises in social impact measurement and reporting, helping to showcase the tangible impact created by GD through data analysis and storytelling. She runs the consultancy Social Impact Reporting.

Mo Marange

Head of Social Media
MoChunks is passionate about media and purposeful in teaching. She is multifaceted and wears many hats as a content creator, presenter, producer, speaker and writer. With each role she takes on, she has the underlying purpose to pass on knowledge.

MUNPREET KAUR

Head of Communication
A research fanatic interested in understanding and uncovering information and news. Passionate about inclusivity, social justice and community, she believes in equality and equity for all. Munpreet enjoys reading, yoga and basking in the sun.

NEREA PÉREZ

Head of Design
Responsible for shaping all of our ideas in a unique and original way. She has a keen eye for detail and passion from the get go. Whatever she’s working on, she always find a way to exceed expectations! She is capable of following more than 7 TV shows at the same time!

NINA MA

Head of Grants
A digital technologist and a diversity & inclusion advocate. She oversees grant allocations via the Dream Fund at GirlDreamer to support fellow women of colour-led organisations across the UK.

ROSHNI NATALI

Head of Facilitation
Roshni brings her positive, solution-focused attitude to facilitating some of GirlDreamers main leadership development activities from school programmes to now the Chair of the GirlDreamer Advisory Board.

MEET THE ADVISORY BOARD

As well as our core team, we are also governed by our board of trustees and these incredible women right here who make up our advisory board from all over the world. Since October 2020, they have been working hard to steer our organisation in a socially relevant, progressive and authentic way. They know our work, our community and the world around them and are perfect in supporting our mission. 

GirlDreamer
Advisory
Board

From top to Right
Akyeamaa Akyeampong | Amber Shand | Anjali Parshotam | Cheryl O’Liu | Ene Ayegba |FAIZA PEERAN | Iman Nauman | INDY SIRA | Joyce Lam | Katriya Bulutoglu | Linda Tieu | Maya Bhuhi | Prisca Munzemba | Rabia Mirza | Roshni Natali | Zafeerah Heesambee | Zainab Al Farabi

Find out what kept us busy in 2023

BECOME A GIRLDREAMER
NOW

And get the new ‘Why WoC need support and spaces of support’ resource + Access to our EXCLUSIVE AREA with the best we have.

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