Schnel Hanson Appointed Interim Executive Director of Dress for Success Greater London

Dress for Success Greater London is pleased to welcome Schnel Hanson, Chartered MCIPD, as Interim Executive Director.

Schnel joins the organisation with more than two decades of experience across the charity, education and public sectors. A Chartered HR professional, Executive Coach and organisational development specialist, she brings a depth of expertise that spans people strategy, governance, coaching, organisational development and strategic partnerships.

Her appointment comes at a moment when the need for confident, practical and compassionate leadership remains as important as ever. The women who are referred to Dress for Success Greater London arrive with different experiences, ambitions and barriers. Some are returning to work after a significant break. Some are moving forward after a difficult chapter. Others are preparing to take their next step towards employment, training or a new direction altogether.

Schnel’s leadership is grounded in a clear understanding that economic opportunity is never only about finding a role. It is also about confidence, identity, support and the conditions that make it possible for women to thrive.

Leadership rooted in women’s working lives

Throughout her career, Schnel has coached and trained hundreds of people as they prepared for their next career step. She has worked closely with Boards, senior stakeholders and delivery teams, helping organisations strengthen governance, build resilience and stay focused on the people who rely on their services.

She holds an MA in Human Resource Management and a PGCE. Her doctoral research explores organisational culture, professional identity and leadership through the experiences of women returning to work after significant career breaks.

That work asks an important question. What do women need in order to return to work with confidence and succeed once they are there? It also asks something equally important of employers and institutions: what needs to change within organisations so women are genuinely supported to return, progress and lead?

For Dress for Success Greater London, that insight speaks directly to the heart of the mission. The organisation works through a network of referral partners to provide professional attire, coaching and practical employment support. The aim is to help women walk into interviews and workplaces feeling prepared for what is ahead.

But the work is never simply about clothing.

“Every woman who comes through our door brings her own story and her own barriers. No two women arrive the same way. What we offer isn’t simply an outfit, it’s an opportunity for a woman to recognise herself again, sometimes for the first time in a long while.”

Schnel Hanson, Interim Executive Director

For Schnel, that moment of recognition can be powerful. It can change how a woman sees herself, how she approaches an interview and how confidently she steps into her next opportunity. It can also reach beyond the individual, supporting independence, strengthening families and contributing to communities.

A strategic and people-first approach

Schnel is known for being calm and steady, particularly when organisations are navigating change. Her approach brings together the practical disciplines that strong charities need, including good governance, clear people strategy and resilient delivery, with the human understanding that should never be lost behind a plan or process.

That balance will be central to her leadership at Dress for Success Greater London. She brings the ability to work across the organisation, with staff, volunteers, sponsors, referral organisations and corporate and community partners, while keeping the women the charity serves firmly at the centre of every conversation.

Safeguarding and wellbeing are also central to the work. Every woman’s circumstances are different, and support needs to be delivered with care, respect and an understanding of the individual behind the referral.

As Schnel explains: “We listen first, we recognise every woman’s circumstances are different, and we work to make this a place where women feel safe, heard and supported.”

Building on a shared commitment

Dress for Success Greater London is sustained by a community of people and organisations who believe in women’s economic independence. From volunteers who give their time, to referral partners who connect women with support, to sponsors and donors who help create opportunity, every contribution matters.

Schnel’s experience in strategic partnerships and organisational development will help strengthen those relationships while supporting the organisation’s continued focus on meaningful, lasting impact.

Her appointment as Interim Executive Director marks an important next chapter for Dress for Success Greater London. It brings experienced leadership to an organisation built on the belief that every woman deserves the chance to move forward with confidence and dignity.

Please join us in welcoming Schnel Hanson to the role.