In a world where women continue to break barriers, the story of the Agora Clinic is one that truly exemplifies the essence of empowerment, resilience, and inclusivity.
At the heart of this narrative lies the dynamic mother and daughter duo of Carole Gilling-Smith and Michele Gilling-Ulph
Carole Gilling-Smith, Founder, CEO and Medical Director of the Agora Clinic
As a newly qualified Doctor 40 years ago, I could think of no better career than one spent dedicated to our National Health Service.
I believed passionately in there being no barriers to accessing excellent health care, least of all financial. 20 years later, I was in my dream role as a Consultant Gynaecologist, leading an IVF service in a busy London teaching hospital. I had set up the first UK service for those living with HIV to have children safely and was leading a large clinical research team, passionate about delivering equitable healthcare and breaking down barriers.
However, I was trapped in a broken health care system and witnessing the decline and fall of our beloved NHS. I had so many ideas that I wanted to implement that I knew would improve the care our patients received, but red tape blocked me from making those changes. Middle management was mushrooming out of nowhere, so focused on delivering on targets, they had forgotten the existence of both patients and their own workforce. The final straw for me came in 2004, returning to full time work after maternity leave following the birth of my third child. I was marginalised to a lesser role, no longer allowed to lead, but still expected to work the long hours. Déjà vu, as I had experienced a similar situation after my second child.
That was the catalyst that fuelled a huge leap of faith and why in 2007, during a global recession, and with three young children to raise, I left my secure NHS post to set up the Agora Fertility Clinic in Brighton. I had a very clear vision of what I wanted to do and more importantly I knew I had the balls to do it! I also promised myself I would never work for anyone else again and would move mountains to ensure my staff would never experience what I had been through after having my children. I would enable them to feel empowered to reach their potential and career goals, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, health, or ethnicity. Not only would we help others to have families, but we would also ensure we always looked after our own.
Over the last 17 years the Agora has grown to become the largest fertility centre in Sussex, with an exemplary record for fostering a culture of empowerment and inclusivity and always delivering the best for its staff and its patients.
I feel that much of the dream I had as a young doctor has been fulfilled as across our three clinics in Brighton, Eastbourne, and Worthing, 70% of our patients enjoy fully funded NHS fertility care, delivered with no waiting time, the highest success rates in London and the South-East and exceptional patient support every step of the way. We have also become national and international leaders in the delivery of inclusive fertility care, standing as a beacon of inspiration to so many in the realm of fertility clinics.
My father warmly advised my husband before we got married that I had been a very single minded and obstinate child, never letting things stand in my way. I openly admit that was true and I do also have a habit of challenging conventional thinking. At 16 I was one of only a handful of girls to break with tradition by attending my older brothers all male school and followed this by being one of the first few girls to study medicine at Trinity College, Cambridge. During my specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (the care of women’s sexual and reproductive health) I was repeatedly advised that less that only 10% of women became consultants as, apparently, ‘we have babies’ which it seems is our downfall and barrier to surviving in surgical specialities. It did strike me as an odd reason for career failure as having children does make us rather good at understanding the whole fertility and childbirth thing! I have never viewed my gender as an obstacle, just an excuse to rise to any challenge with the same energy and passion as my male counterparts, with the added benefit of greater stamina which is one advantage our gender confers on us.
Never in my wildest dreams as a medical student did I imagine I would become the only female founder, sole owner and CEO of a large IVF centre in the UK. That happened as a by-product of trying to achieve my vision of a better healthcare system. I don’t care much for the politicians, but I just wish one of them would come down to visit the Agora to learn about how things should be done if they want to mend our broken healthcare system. What they would see is a meticulously organised and highly efficient model of care, making the best use of limited NHS financial resources and one in which both strong leadership and high EQ are key. They would observe empowered, happy staff living our values of wisdom, honesty and compassion every day of their lives and the impact that positive culture has on patient care and staff wellbeing. What they wouldn’t find is ‘middle management’ eating up precious financial resources, just highly skilled and well trained medical, nursing, scientific, administrative and financial teams that enjoy networking together on a daily basis using a quality management system to define, implement, measure and improve every aspect of the care they deliver. They would drop in on a large family, where inclusivity is the norm and everyone commits to serve each other as well as our patients. They would see an independent healthcare provider that can ethically deliver private and NHS services seamlessly side by side, with no difference in patient experience.
I often refer to the Agora as my ‘4th baby’ and watching her grow has also been a huge part of my family’s life so I could not have been more delighted when my ‘first baby’, Michele, chose to join our team 6 years ago after graduating from university. She now works tirelessly as our Director of Operations, with unwavering dedication to our cause, and a passion for always delivering the best for our staff and patients. We couldn’t be more aligned in our vision!
Together we are conceiving and delivering a better future, filled with possibilities, for all those to come to us for help to have a family, as well as for those who join our Agora family.
Michele Gilling-Ulph, Director of Operations at the Agora Clinic
As the Director of Operations at the Agora Clinic, I am privileged to work alongside my mother, Carole Gilling-Smith, the CEO and Founder of our esteemed institution.
Our journey together in running one of the most inclusive fertility clinics in the UK has been nothing short of extraordinary, a testament to the importance of empowerment, collaboration, and unwavering dedication to supporting women in all facets of their lives.
At the Agora Clinic, inclusivity isn’t just a goal; it’s our guiding principle. From our diverse workforce to our unwavering commitment to supporting women at every stage of their reproductive lives, we have created a sanctuary where every individual feels valued and respected.
My passion for supporting women in the workplace runs deep, fuelled by the example set forth by my mother, Carole. Raised by an inspirational woman who defied conventions and blazed her own trail, I am endlessly grateful for the invaluable lessons she has imparted along the way. Working alongside her, I have witnessed first-hand the challenges that women face, particularly when balancing work and motherhood. But my mother proved it was possible. I have such fond memories of the quality family time I had growing up with my parents and siblings. Looking back, I feel inspired that my mother truly was determined to do it all without compromising her time with her children. We truly value family time and know that creating working life that supports this is essential for our employee’s wellbeing. Together, Carole and I are rewriting the narrative, proving that it’s possible to thrive in both spheres without compromise.
Our joint aim to support women at all stages of their lives, including when they have young families, is at the core of everything we do. In a society where the demands of motherhood can often feel overwhelming, the Agora Clinic stands as a beacon of hope, a safe haven, where women can navigate the complexities of their own fertility, and at a later stage in their lives the menopause, with dignity and grace.
At a time when more and more women are wanting reproductive autonomy, the Agora is championing their cause by offering programs such as egg freezing, solo motherhood and egg donation which means women can now choose when and how to have a family.
I am extremely fortunate to have taken on the role on egg donation coordinator in 2020 which not only gave me a huge insight into the gift of egg donation, but also helped me to find ways of overcoming many of the obstacles such as the huge shortage of donors and long waiting times. I am very proud of where the Agora is today with its own egg bank, a wealth of egg donation options and the ability to offer our patients no waiting time to be matched to their ideal donor.
Carole and I have always strived for a vision of inclusivity and belonging. It is for this reason that we have created our clinics as a safe space where we accept that no two journeys are the same. This thinking has enabled us to become welcoming arms to those who may otherwise feel shunned by society. We are proud to be able to offer bespoke and unique services to the LGBTQ+Q+ community such as supporting those seeking a family through surrogacy where our pathway is unique; our intended parents benefit from free Q&A sessions from the outset followed by regular check ins along the way to make sure they and the surrogate and egg donor are all carefully coordinated and supported at every step.
I am in awe of my mother’s unwavering determination and resilience, qualities that have shaped not only her career but also my own journey. I started as a volunteer at the Agora from a young age, working during in the school holidays. During this time, I learnt a great deal about female reproductive health and the challenges of infertility and began to understand the huge emotional toll that a fertility journey can have. I joined her working team full time after graduating from University, and felt privileged to become a part of the world she had created at the Agora along with her wisdom, honesty and compassion that she has shared with me along the way. Working alongside her, I am inspired every day to push boundaries and challenge the status quo, knowing that together, we can deliver a more inclusive future for all.
the Agora clinic is more than just a place of work; it’s a community, a family bound by a shared commitment to making a difference. In the corridors of our clinic, amidst the whirlwind of consultations and treatments, there is a palpable sense of purpose, a shared belief in the power of women to shape their destinies and change the world. I have enjoyed setting up our own Workplace Wellbeing program to support our staff and to educate other businesses on the importance of considering the impact of the fertility journey on their staff through our educational workplace seminars and fertility policies.
As the sun sets on another day at the Agora Clinic, I look ahead with optimism, knowing that the work we do today will pave the way for a brighter tomorrow. Empowerment isn’t just a destination, it’s a journey, and I am honoured to walk this path alongside my mother and the incredible team at the Agora Clinic. Together, we dream of a future where inclusivity knows no bounds, a future where every woman can embrace her reproductive journey, whenever and however she wants, with autonomy, courage and conviction and with our full support.
The above article is from the Sussex Business Times special edition for International Women’s Day.
