The Women Who Make Embrace, Every Day

We see it every day. We see the devotion, the problem-solving and the sheer will to push our work from good to great. It’s in every project, every meeting, every decision that shapes who we are as an agency and as people. Their recognition isn’t confined to a single day.  

We do recognise, however, that the gender gap in creative leadership still has a long way to go. Many of the incredible women at Embrace have been mentees, benefiting from the guidance and support of other women in the industry. Learning from experienced female leaders has been both inspiring and invaluable, shaping their careers and helping them grow. 

The women at Embrace pay it forward by fostering an environment where knowledge is shared, the next generation of female talent is nurtured, and women can thrive. What makes our team exceptional isn’t just the individual skills, it’s the way we support each other. Embrace couldn’t be the agency it is today without them – their ability to unite us, to challenge ideas, to push boundaries and to drive us forward. 

Our celebration isn’t a token nod to their contributions. It’s the truth. We’re using today as an opportunity to shine a light on the women behind Embrace and how they help to shape everything we do and make it all happen.  

Katy Chadwick – Business Director  

Katy is the glue that holds us all together. She keeps the balance in all the things we do. She unites us in collaboration and creativity. She began sixteen years ago at Embrace as an Account Executive and now heads up our team as Business Director and as part of our core Senior Leadership Team, all while wearing twenty hats at once. She sets the bar, always sees the bigger picture, knows our worth, and makes sure we never settle for “just good enough”. 

Dawn Chilvers – Senior Conceptual Designer  

Dawn doesn’t just make things look good. She makes them mean something. Her ideas make you feel something. She doesn’t do fluff, she crafts things that move you. She has a wealth of experience in creating things with purpose, and after a decade away from Embrace, she’s returned with a sharper vision and an even stronger creative instinct, and we’re all the richer for it. 

Juliet Maycock (Jules) – Designer  

If you’ve noticed our evolving brand identity, that’s Jules. She’s the brains and the brush behind it. She’s the creative engine powering the fresh and fearless new look that’s set to launch with our new website in Q2. Her energy is contagious, her ideas relentless. She’s not just designing; she’s redefining how we present ourselves to the world. 

Hayley Ziepe – Project Director  

Hayley makes everything she does look effortless. Some people just get things done. That’s Hayley. With years of experience managing complex projects, she ensures everything runs smoothly – deadlines, details, and deliverables all accounted for. She’s the one making sure we don’t just promise great projects – we deliver them, flawlessly. 

Laura Dodson – Senior Account Manager  

Three kids. Summits a mountain of work effortlessly. Always a smile. There’s no one else like Laura. Having just returned from maternity leave, she’s hit the ground running like she never left. She’s the calm in the storm, the problem-solver, the one you can trust implicitly. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of working with her, you know what we’re talking about. 

Betsy Uchendu – Account Manager  

Betsy’s sharp eye catches what others would miss. Her steady and strategic approach ensures nothing falls through the cracks. Since joining last summer, she brings with her a level of precision and thoughtfulness that keeps everything (and everyone) on track and in check. Quiet strength, loud impact, and a meticulous attention to detail. 

Championing Women, Every Day

These women aren’t just part of Embrace – they are Embrace. They make this agency smarter, sharper and better every day. They lead, create, push, pull and lift us up. 

Despite women comprising nearly half (48%) of the total workforce in media and communications industries globally, they hold only 37% of leadership roles, and so the gender gap in leadership persists. The importance of championing female talent at every level cannot be understated.

So yes, Saturday is International Women’s Day, and we’re celebrating them. But the reality is true progress happens when we amplify women’s voices, advocate for their growth, and create spaces where they don’t just belong, but lead. The women at Embrace do this every day.