Our Community
About Us
Behind You Make It, you’ll find a small but mighty team of experts. From creating innovative programmes for young people, to cultivating relationships with mentors and partners, we’ve got it covered. We’re also highly skilled in social impact reporting, fundraising and much more!
We are proud to have an exceptional board of trustees who work closely with the team to ensure strong governance of the organisation.
Our CEO and Trustees
Asma Shah
Founding CEO
I love my role as it’s all about ensuring something positive and with genuine social impact continues and grows!
I’m huge on partnerships. I create new and maintain existing ones with people and places from a range of sectors whose time and investment in our work ensures quality creative learning and earning opportunities for the amazing women who are awarded places with us.
I love my role as it’s all about ensuring something positive and with genuine social impact continues and grows! I’m huge on partnerships. I create new and maintain existing ones with people and places from a range of sectors whose time and investment in our work ensures quality creative learning and earning opportunities for the amazing women who are awarded places with us.
In addition to self-empowering young people through our structured YMI programmes, as an accredited relational dynamics coach, I also work with other individuals from all walks of life to help them unleash their full potential.
My taste for creating programmes of work which make exciting change have been seen previous to setting up You Make It in roles for Islington 14-19 Partnership, Roundhouse, Channel 4, Skillset and New Opportunities Fund (now Big Lottery). I’m also privileged to have strengthened my leadership as a fellow of the Clore Leadership Programme, which included secondments to NGOs working in Cape Town and Rio.
In recognition of my personal and professional expertise related to diversity, I've been appointed as an advisor on the Mayor of London's Equality, Diversity and Inclusion board.
Atul Mehta
Chair
I was inspired to join YMI in 2015 after seeing the incredible impact this programme has on its participants.
Fatou Jeng
Trustee
The work that You Make It does resonates with me personally and I’m excited to contribute to an organisation that empowers women, strives to challenge the status quo and has a real impact.
My parents are first generation immigrants and I was born, raised and educated in Hackney. The work that You Make It does resonates with me personally and I’m excited to contribute to an organisation that empowers women, strives to challenge the status quo and has a real impact.
I have an extensive career working in the television broadcast industry and know all to well the barriers women can face in intense working environments. I’ve learnt how to overcome and how to succeed. I’d like to share this with the women of You Make It and help empower them to fulfil their potential and help drive forward the strategy of the charity.
I am currently the Principal, Broadcast Regulation at BT Sport responsible for instilling a compliance culture and ensuring we adhere to UK broadcast regulation, whilst also lobbying government legislation in this space. I am also a committee member of BT’s Ethnic Diversity Network, and deliver learning and development opportunities for BT’s racially diverse employees and influencing the business on diversity issues specifically race.
Lani Shamash
Trustee
I fell in love with YMI in 2018 when I joined as a mentor and saw first-hand what a tangible impact this organisation had on the wonderful women taking part.
I fell in love with YMI in 2018 when I joined as a mentor and saw first-hand what a tangible impact this organisation had on the wonderful women taking part, as well as the businesses that support and learn from their practical, empowering approach.
A Londoner and proud product of refugees and migrants, I’ve always been a passionate advocate for equity of opportunity and love enabling people to be the driving force for change. For the past ten years, I've led teams in the tech space and am currently Head of Delivery at Depop, where we’re committed to building the world’s most diverse and progressive home of fashion.
Stephanie Grace Collins
Trustee
YMI provides a fantastic support network and learning opportunity for local young women; helping them realise their potential and empowering them to grow in confidence.
I'm delighted to be part of the inspiring YMI Board of Trustees, both having been a mentor on the YMI programme and as a Tower Hamlets resident. YMI provides a fantastic support network and learning opportunity for local young women; helping them realise their potential and empowering them to grow in confidence. What has particularly impressed me about YMI is its focus on building practical skills, with long term results. As a lawyer, I hope to draw on my legal skills while contributing to the YMI Board.
Tashan Nicholas
Trustee
The work YMI doing is transforming the lives of women every day. I am feeling privileged to be let in on this journey as a trustee. Growing up in a matriarchal family, led by the most wonderful grandmother, the work being done resonates with me on a deep level.
The work YMI doing is transforming the lives of women every day. I am feeling privileged to be let in on this journey as a trustee. Growing up in a matriarchal family, led by the most wonderful grandmother, the work being done resonates with me on a deep level.
Empowerment in all shapes and forms is in my bones. I love helping people navigate to where they want to be. The journey from where you are now to where you want to be is not always a straight linear path. That’s what’s great about YMI’s work, they help the group but look to understand the individual.
When not being a trustee, you can find me at the7stars media agency helping clients maximise their marketing effectiveness, being an active member of our Equality group or coaching individuals and groups, helping them re-light, find their strength and create their best life.
Kate O'Connor
Trustee
I have been a mentor and am now delighted to be a Board member of You Make It.
I have been a mentor and am now delighted to be a Board member of You Make It because it empowers, encourages, provides skills and offers bespoke support. You Make It is the antithesis of a ‘one size fits all approach'. And because of all of these factors, it transforms lives.
Our Ambassadors
Mary Zreik
YMI Alumni
Following Ladies' Den, I won a bursary for studio space at Cockpit Arts and completed the Prince's Trust programme.
I want to help promote this positive and amazing programme. It is a privilege to support the charity, to inspire other young women to achieve their ambitions and to answer any questions about the programme. I want to pass on the positive knowledge and confidence they gave me. Since taking part in YMI I have gained confidence in who I am and what I do. Following Ladies' Den, I won a bursary for studio space at Cockpit Arts and completed the Prince's Trust programme. I launched my fashion collection (thanks to YMI contacts) and took part in open studios where I sold my products. I have just passed a teaching qualification and am volunteering once a week teaching adults with disabilities.
Onyinye Iwu
YMI Alumni
I wouldn't be where I am now without YMI - I have a full-time job, a flourishing freelance career as an illustrator and a book ready to be published.
I think YMI is a great opportunity for young women, I encourage as many young unemployed women to get involved and as many corporate organisations to back our cause to help the charity grow! Since taking part in YMI I have grown as a person. I've learnt how to network and had the opportunity to meet some of the most interesting and well-connected people. I wouldn't be where I am now without YMI - I have a full-time job, a flourishing freelance career as an illustrator and a book ready to be published. I'm so grateful!
Sada Cole
YMI Alumni
Since taking part in YMI, I am building momentum, exercising my talents and turning my dreams into reality.
Before I started the programme I was very discontent with the direction my life was headed. I made it my mission to discover who I truly was, what my gifts were and where I could use them to gain streams of income. Since taking part in YMI, I am building momentum, exercising my talents and turning my dreams into reality. I am working on my book while waiting to start my Master's next year. I have secured a voluntary role relevant for my MA working to empower others and through this, I empower myself.
Supported By
Over 12 years we’ve worked with a broad range of employers who have:
- Sponsored us
- Benefitted from our mentoring programme
- Identified new talent by hosting work experience placements
- Provided us with venue space for activities
- Delivered workshops to young women
- Accessed our anti-racism allyship programme.
We’ve also received invaluable funding from a range of grant givers – we couldn’t do what we do without them!






Work with us
We’re always looking to partner with brands and businesses that align with our values and mission.
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