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Give to Gain: The women who opened doors for me

Our new COO, Laverne Thomas, reflects on what this year’s International Women’s Day theme - Give to Gain - means to her
6 March 2026
Laverne Thomas is the Chief Operating Officer at The Film and TV Charity

When we talk about giving to gain, I think first about the women who offered me access, encouragement, and trust long before I believed I belonged in certain rooms. 

Their generosity didn’t just shape my career; it shaped my philosophy. I’ve learned that when we give others opportunities, we gain thriving teams, stronger organisations, and more balanced perspectives – especially when women are empowered to lead.

At the Film and TV Charity, we see every day how wellbeing and progress grow through equity, connection, and collaboration. 

So, for International Women’s Day, I want to share some of the moments and mentors who taught me that when women are given a seat at the table – and when men consciously make space for that – our industry becomes smarter, more creative, and more compassionate.

My first lesson in opportunity

My first real lesson in giving to gain arrived unexpectedly while I was helping my mum grow her catering business. At the time, I was pursuing a legal career and had chosen Business Law as part of my Legal Practice Course. I quickly learned it wasn’t my strongest area – I couldn’t even get my balance sheet to balance during assessments! 

To make sense of what felt complex, I turned to something familiar: my mum’s business.

When I realised she didn’t have a balance sheet at all, I used it as an excuse to deepen my understanding by creating one for her – mapping out profit, loss, and cashflow in a way that brought the theory to life. In the process, I helped turn her creative vision into something sustainable.

That experience taught me a foundational lesson: structure can empower creativity. And giving my skills to support someone else helped me gain confidence, clarity, and a future way of working that has stayed with me ever since.

My career so far, and the women who opened doors

Throughout my career – from managing talent, to joining Warner Music, and now stepping into the COO role at the Film and TV Charity – I’ve been fortunate to work alongside women who embody the spirit of ​‘Give to Gain’.

At Warner, inspiring leaders like Kimani (Kay) Ikazoboh and the powerhouse Temi Adeniji showed me what strength through collaboration looks like. 

Later, I hired Febe Oluwagbemi, whose Audiogirl Foundation champions women in the music industry. Watching her build a platform that lifts others has always reminded me that when you give confidence, it multiplies.

Why women don’t rise alone

Recently, as I moved into the charity sector, the support I received from women both inside and outside my network – including our Chair, Claire Tavernier, and trustees Sara Putt and Emma Hoyle – reaffirmed something important: women do not rise alone. 

We rise when we lift one another.

Giving to gain in the film, TV, and cinema industry

Real change in our industry happens when we work together – across studios, streamers, production companies, industry bodies, and independent creatives. 

When we recognise that one organisation’s wellbeing is connected to another’s, giving becomes not just generous, but strategic. 

I’ve seen first-hand how shared purpose and open collaboration can transform both creatives and companies. 

It’s also what’s guiding our new strategy at the Film and TV Charity: making sure that every act of giving – whether it’s sharing insight, providing funding, or mentoring – builds sustainable wellbeing and a stronger, more inclusive creative community.

When women are supported in film and TV, the entire industry becomes more sustainable.

International Women’s Day: a final call to action for the screen sector

And to the men in our sector, I want to offer a specific call to action this International Women’s Day: don’t just champion women behind closed doors – open the doors. 

Make space at the tables where decisions are made.

Women’s ideas, empathy, and lived experiences are essential to the sustainability, success, and future of our screen industries. 

At the Film and TV Charity, we see giving as the first step towards building a thriving, equitable, and resilient screen sector. 

This International Women’s Day, I celebrate the women who gave to me – and commit to doing the same for those coming next.

Because when we give opportunities, we gain stronger industries.

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