The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Give to Gain”, so we thought we’d sit down with some amazing female local leaders who use their positions to lift up others.
We spoke with Kemi Akinola, Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council; Shannon Reed, Centre Director at Southside Shopping Centre; Beverley Corson, CEO of Wandsworth Chamber, Vee Shathur, founder of Dr Vee Aesthetics; and Annalena (Lena) Chmiel, Community Associate at The Gatehouse by Spacemade.
What does “Give to Gain” mean to you personally as a leader in Wandsworth Town?
Kemi: Councillors give a lot in the traditional sense of the word. Our Wandsworth motto is “We serve”. It’s on our coat of arms. Many of us work long hours, often starting at 9am and finishing at 11pm, to ensure we do our best for the people of this wonderful borough. We give; we serve.
But what we gain from creating and delivering policies that support all our constituents – also known as residents and neighbours – decisions that make life in Wandsworth excellent, cannot be quantified. I gain peace of mind knowing that I’m doing the right thing for everyone.
Shannon: For me, “Give to Gain” means recognising that investing in others is an act that will always deliver returns; to the individual, to yourself, to the community and the general economy. One of the most fulfilling parts of leadership is seeing the people around you succeed and knowing that you had a supporting role to play, when given time and opportunities people can really achieve incredible things.
Beverley: For me, “Give to Gain” is about recognising that leadership isn’t just about personal success — it’s about contribution. Over the years, I’ve seen that when you invest time in supporting others, building connections, and creating opportunities, you don’t lose anything; you actually strengthen the whole ecosystem around you.
In Wandsworth, that means helping businesses feel less isolated, more confident, and better connected. The “gain” isn’t just individual — it’s collective. When businesses grow and leaders feel supported, the whole community becomes stronger.
Vee: In my eyes, anything shared, be it an experience or information, is just that, doubled. If you’re able to give, in any capacity, be it your time, your knowledge, or sharing anything, you’re doubling that time, joy, knowledge etc as two people are now experiencing it too. You in effect gain connections, community, and a shared lived experience which you simply can’t put a price on.
I’m always motivated by the power of community. When we support one another, we all rise. Seeing collaboration over competition, and women especially stepping into their confidence and supporting each other, is what drives me.
Lene: “Give to Gain”, to me, means taking on responsibility and creating action. If I want something to happen, I need to take the steps towards it. In communities, when everyone thinks like this, change happens, things shift, people come together because they’re invested and invited equally. When I open up to people around me and offer support, I gain their gratitude, I gain connection. And I believe everything always comes back around.
How do you use your position and influence to create opportunities for others?
Kemi: I’m the first Black woman to hold the position of Deputy Leader in the history of Wandsworth. It’s an honour and very humbling to be able to have influence at this level. “With great power comes great responsibility”, as Spider-Man says.
Throughout my life I have always been the first person up the ladder and I feel it’s my responsibility to lean back and give the next sister a helping hand. So, for the past four years I’ve been offering one-week work experiences to three-month shadowing opportunities to young women and teenagers with an interest in local government or politics. I’ve had rave reviews because I’ve tried to make the experience as varied and interesting as possible, whilst providing real insight into the life of a public servant.
Shannon: As a leader, it is important to use your position to create platforms for others to showcase their skills and experience. As Centre Director, I am lucky to work and collaborate with many different stakeholders and these relationships can be vital in connecting people to other great opportunities for new business, for job opportunities or even for growing personal networks in an industry they are passionate about.
Beverley: A big part of my role is acting as a connector. I bring people together who might never otherwise meet — business owners, local leaders, partners, and organisations — and create spaces where collaboration can happen. Through Wandsworth Chamber, that might mean facilitating introductions, creating platforms for businesses to be visible, or hosting events where leaders can learn from one another.
I also try to champion voices that might not always be heard, particularly small business owners who are doing incredible work but don’t always have the time or confidence to promote themselves.
Vee: I’d like to think that through my own experiences, sharing my own journey, trials and tribulations, it encourages people to do the same. I truly believe that we are all students for as long as we live, and being open to learning and growing helps us on the journey into becoming our best selves.
The moment we stop learning I feel we become stagnant. I love to be a person of support and encouragement to anyone needing it most.
Lene: Naturally through spending time with our members and getting to know them, I learn about them and what they need and what they’re looking for. I use this knowledge to connect people in the building with each other but also plan our weekly events around their interests and needs.
What motivates you to keep on giving?
Kemi: I have another job which is running a charity I founded called Be Enriched. There we work with the most excluded in society – elderly, socially isolated, economically excluded people. We just were awarded an MBE from The King for our work.
When one of these people and they tell me they’ve benefited from a policy I delivered on, then I know it’s all worthwhile. It’s helped make someone else a little better off, improved their mental health or given them a reason to be cheerful. Happiness is helping others.
Shannon: Selfishly, it makes me feel good! It makes me feel good to see others grow in confidence and build the version of themselves that they had always strived for, especially women and young people who are working hard to carve a path for themselves.
Not only that, but throughout my career I have been fortunate enough to have benefitted from the mentorship and guidance from key leaders that have shaped who I am today and what I have been able to achieve so far. It is important to pay that forward and to not forget that leadership is a privilege.
Beverley: What motivates me most is seeing the tangible impact. When a business owner tells me they feel more confident, when partnerships form that help businesses grow, or when someone feels supported at a difficult stage — that’s incredibly energising. I’ve spent many years working with leaders and entrepreneurs, and I genuinely believe that when people are empowered to succeed, they go on to create positive change for others. That ripple effect keeps me motivated.
Vee: What motivates me to keep on giving is seeing the ripple effect it creates. Sometimes a conversation, a small act of encouragement, or simply believing in someone can completely shift their confidence. Watching people grow, step into opportunities, or realise their potential is incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that something small I’ve shared could make a meaningful difference keeps me going.
Lene: As part of the team at The Gatehouse, I live and breathe ‘giving’, as I’m one of the first points of contacts for our members. It’s my job to make sure people have everything they need (and more) to go about their working day smoothly.
This is demanding, and I couldn’t do this job if it was just a job. But bringing people together, taking care of them and hosting aren’t just things I have to do in this job, they’re things I do naturally in my personal life, too. They bring me joy. And the reward is connecting with many people I wouldn’t usually have the chance of meeting. And this makes a big difference to me personally when I’m still pretty new in London.
What advice would you give to young women looking to play a role in their community?
Kemi: As a famous sporting brand says, “Just do it!” You’ll never know what you don’t know by being a passive bystander. Get involved and feel part of something bigger than you. Share your skills and learn new ones. Make new friends and feel connected to your community. Volunteer – it’s good for your wellbeing.
Also drop me a line and come see what I do for a week!
Shannon: My advice to young women wanting to step into community roles is to not wait for permission to start. Your passion is your power, and your community is your place, so what are you waiting for?
Your opinions are valuable, your curiosity is powerful and your eagerness is admirable so lean on those around you and take the leap.
Beverley: I would say don’t wait until you feel “ready” or perfectly qualified, community leadership often starts with simply showing up and being willing to help.
Get involved in local networks, volunteer for initiatives that matter to you, and don’t underestimate the value of your perspective. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about being willing to contribute, listen, and learn. Over time, those small actions build confidence, influence, and real impact.
Vee: There is space for us all, and there is room for everyone to grow and support one another. Try that hobby, take that risk, you’ll never regret the chances you take, only the ones you don’t. You will also be surprised at the support and encouragement out there. If you have an idea or a thought, run with it; nothing magical ever manifested from comfort zones.
Lene: If there was just one thing I would tell my younger self, it’s: Find something that makes you excited and go from there.
It’s okay to not be sure about what ‘your thing’ is, it takes time to find it. Try things out, engage in different communities, no matter if sport clubs, local neighbourhood meet ups, or hobby groups, and see what makes you go ‘I want to go back!’
Sometimes it takes years to figure out what ‘your thing’ is, but once you’ve found it, it’ll be easy to share it with people around you. Offer your advice and help, create get-togethers, start with informal and relaxed meetups where you share your passion, talk to everyone who will listen – and if you speak with excitement, people will! Let it grow naturally.
Trust in the fact that you have something to offer and that you are of help to people. Because you’re amazing 😊
