In Los Angeles, where innovation and storytelling intersect, Keely Cat-Wells has turned her lived experience into a blueprint for inclusion. The founder and CEO of Making Space—a talent acquisition and learning platform for Disabled professionals—has been named a 2025 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honoree, part of the program’s 20th anniversary class celebrating changemakers across the country.
Creating Career Pathways, Not Just Promises
“Diversity statements don’t change culture—systems do,” Keely told me, sitting in her Los Angeles office, where the walls are covered with artwork created by Disabled artists. “We founded Making Space because inclusion shouldn’t be performative. It should be measurable, actionable, and built into the infrastructure of every company.”
That’s what makes Making Space revolutionary. Beyond advocacy, it’s a talent and learning platform that connects major employers—like Netflix, Microsoft, and Walmart—with Disabled professionals seeking meaningful careers. The platform provides accessibility training, career resources, and consulting that turns intent into implementation. “We’re not just talking about hiring,” she said. “We’re talking about retention, leadership, and belonging.”
Changing the Narrative, One Story at a Time
Keely’s work doesn’t end at the office door. Through Making Space Media, a division she co-founded, she’s producing authentic disability-centered stories that move beyond tokenism. The team’s documentary Fight to Fly—which chronicled barriers in air travel for Disabled passengers—helped influence UK government policy and sparked global conversations about accessibility in transportation.
Now, the company has secured a first-look deal with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, expanding its mission to bring more Disabled voices into mainstream entertainment. “Representation isn’t just about casting,” Keely said. “It’s about ownership—about who writes, directs, produces, and profits from these stories.”
Resilience as a Foundation
Keely’s advocacy is rooted in lived experience. At 17, a medical condition left her Disabled and forced her to leave a performance career behind. When she later moved to the U.S., she lost a job due to disability discrimination—a moment that would define her purpose. “It was one of those painful turning points,” she reflected. “You realize that if the system doesn’t include you, you have to build your own.”
She went on to found C Talent, a first-of-its-kind talent agency representing Disabled artists, which became the largest Disabled-led acquisition in U.S. entertainment history. From that foundation, Making Space was born—a natural expansion of her belief that equity has to live beyond art, into every boardroom and every company.
Recognition, Reflection, and What Comes Next
As one of ten L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honorees this year, Keely will receive $25,000 in funding, mentorshipfrom the L’Oréal Paris community, and access to a national platform to share her message. But she’s quick to frame the award not as a personal milestone, but as a collective one.
“This isn’t about me—it’s about proving what Disabled professionals can do when the barriers come down,” she said. “It’s about showing companies that accessibility is innovation. That equity benefits everyone.”
When asked what “worth” means to her, she paused. “It means impact without ego,” she said. “It means building things that outlast you.”
In a world where inclusion is often a tagline, Keely Cat-Wells is building the blueprint for what real inclusion looks like. Through Making Space, she’s not just hiring people—she’s reshaping systems, rewriting policy, and reimagining representation for generations to come.
For more information, visit making-space.com
Photo credits: Photos courtesy of business
