Keely Cat-Wells

Keely Cat-Wells is an Entrepreneur and Disability Rights Activist dedicated to driving social, systemic, and economic change. While in the hospital, she founded a company that evolved into C Talent. Acquired by Whalar in 2022, C Talent represents Disabled talent, reshaping perceptions of Disability. Under her leadership, C Talent had an artist roster with a combined following of over 50 million people and placed talent in thousands of projects for brands like Savage X Fenty, HBO, and Disney, and they’ve represented Academy Award and Emmy-nominated Disabled talent. The acquisition marked a significant investment in Disabled talent and a pivotal milestone for the creator industry.

Following the acquisition, Cat-Wells established Making Space, a venture-capital-backed talent acquisition and learning experience platform designed to bridge the education-employment gap. Specifically tailored for the media, entertainment, and advertising sectors, Making Space creates tangible pathways to employment and career advancement through employer-supported courses. By emphasizing pre-qualification for roles and providing accessible education the platform enables companies to access underrepresented talent pools. Making Space is a Techstars Economic Mobility 2023 company.

In collaboration with award-winning TV Host, Author, and Disability Rights Advocate Sophie Morgan, Cat-Wells co-founded Making Space Media, a division of Making Space, which is led by two Disabled women. They produce film, TV, and promotional content that centers the Disabled voice. Making Space Media has secured a first-look deal with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.

Cat-Wells’s expertise has led her to participate as a Disability subject matter expert in discussions with notable figures such as President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She has had the privilege of serving on the Advisory Board for Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and currently holds positions on the Board of Directors for No Barriers USA, 2-Gether International and Reelabilities Film Festival.

Cat-Wells played a key role as a youth leader in the inaugural Mental Health Youth Action Forum, hosted by MTV Entertainment Group in collaboration with the Biden-Harris Administration and leading mental health nonprofits. Selena Gomez, First Lady Dr Jill Biden, Surgeon General Dr Murthy and President Joe Biden were in attendance and conversation. The forum took place at the White House, driving mental health awareness to action through storytelling and media.

Cat-Wells became a laureate of the Youth Activist Summit at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on the eve of the International Day for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This summit celebrates remarkable young individuals driving sustainability and human rights advancements. In 2023, Cat-Wells became a Storyteller in Residence at the Clinton Global Initiative.

Cat-Wells has received numerous awards and honours. Among these is The Diana Award, established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales. It is renowned as the most prestigious accolade a young person can achieve for their humanitarian or social action endeavors. Other accolades include Forbes 30 Under 30 , AdWeek Young Influential, Great British Entrepreneur of the Year and recognition as a ‘most powerful executive in the creator economy’ by Fast Company. Additionally, she has been acknowledged as a Linkedin Top Voice, One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year, Meaningful Business 100, Tory Burch Foundation Fellow, Aerie Changemaker, Rebel Girl Changemaker and was featured in their best-selling Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls series.