I’m the Poster Girl for Social Mobility – But I Shouldn’t Be - Donna Scully Joint Owner, Director Carpenters Group

In this powerful episode of The Impact Room, Michelle Ansell sits down with the remarkable Donna Scully, Joint Owner and Director of Carpenters Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of legal and insurance services.

From the tenement streets of inner-city Dublin to the top of the UK legal sector, Donna’s story is one of courage, resilience, and unapologetic ambition. Leaving school at 16 with just GCSEs, she defied the odds and proved that social mobility isn’t just possible, it’s essential for building truly inclusive businesses and leadership teams that reflect the real world.

With refreshing honesty, Donna speaks about:

• Her working-class upbringing and the battles she faced navigating professional spaces.

• How she built her career without the “right” background or connections.

• Why we must rethink traditional hiring, qualification pathways, and what "professionalism" really looks like.

• How kindness, integrity and hard work still matter in today’s cutthroat business world.

💥 Donna's Quote: "I'm the social mobility poster girl. I’m grateful for every opportunity, and I’ve worked hard because I know how lucky I am – but it shouldn’t be about luck."

This episode is a must-watch for business leaders, HR professionals, educators, and anyone passionate about diversity, equity and inclusion. Donna’s journey challenges us to see people’s potential beyond their postcode or qualifications and to rebuild access routes into business with heart, fairness, and intention.

💡 The Impact Room is brought to you by Douglas Jackson, a founder led, independent boutique recruitment consultant and Executive Search firm. We help organisations hire more impactful, diverse leaders who stay longer and succeed.

👉 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/6DAPJ9scVRc

Follow Donna here: (35) Donna Scully | LinkedIn

Learn more about Carpenters Group https://www.carpentersgroup.co.uk/

Learn more about Douglas Jackson and the regulated sectors we serve including, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance here. https://www.douglas-jackson.com/practice-areas-douglas-jackson-executive-search/

#TheImpactRoom #DonnaScully #SocialMobility #WomenInBusiness #LeadershipWithHeart #DiversityandInclusion #KindnessInLeadership #CareerInspiration #LegalLeadership #DouglasJackson