Carline Deal
To celebrate International Women’s Day on Saturday 8 March, we put out an open call to women within the Company's membership, asking them to tell their stories, share what motivated them to join us, and fill us in on interesting facts about their lives, careers and aspirations. We were lucky to receive responses from a wide range of members, which we will be publishing in the lead up to International Women’s Day 2025.
Our second member interview is with Freeman, Carline Deal.
Tell us about you and your career
I have a portfolio career and hold several executive board appointments, acting as an advisor on business strategy, international development and growth planning for several companies. I am also an MD of my own early-stage med-tech company – we work with clinicians, patients, and hospitals to design and develop better diagnostic and rehabilitation tools.
As a firm believer in civic duty, I am also active in local and central government politics. Supporting one’s community is very much like tending to your garden, look after it and it will bring joy in the seasons to come. This may be remnant of being a military veteran, of which I’m also proud.
I’m a great of fan of “paying-it-forward” (a good turn shall be repaid by having it done to others) and this has guided me in some of the voluntary roles I hold. I’m a Rotarian and Lay Canon of the Diocese of Rochester. In supporting these organisations my small, individual contribution joins the might of many others and enables them to further their charitable causes through philanthropy and participation. It’s great to be a part of something bigger when it’s for the greater good.
How did you first come to hear about the Goldsmiths’ Company?
I have known about the Livery companies of the City of London, particularly the Great 12, for many years ago and became a Liveryman of another company before joining Goldsmiths. My first introduction to Goldsmiths was when a dear friend of mine (who is a Liveryman and member of the Goldsmiths’ Company) invited me as their guest to a Livery dinner at Goldsmiths’ Hall. It was the start of a tradition between us of exchanging invitations to each other’s Company’s events.
Why did you become a member of the Company?
To have the opportunity to join the Goldsmiths’ Company really can’t be summed up in one sentence. The Goldsmiths have a wonderful legacy surrounding their philanthropic work and charitable endeavours, which made an immediate impression on me. As a member, I can see how much more they are doing, and giving, than what the public might see.
I admire the craftsmanship, the history behind some of the famous (and the not-so-famous) pieces created by members of the Company and how it has continued to consistently provide space for young and up and coming artists and designers. The Company’s history and heritage span seven centuries and if one looks deep enough, the Goldsmiths’ Company seems to have played a role in many significant moments. Its awe-inspiring and exciting being a member.
What are you involved in at the Company?
I attend as many social events as I can, which have helped me learn more about the Company and my fellow members. Most recently, I took part in the Trial of the Pyx as a juror [one of the UK’s oldest judicial procedures where the Royal Mint submits coins for testing]. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Since becoming a member, I’ve also had the chance to get involved in Company matters. I support a committee that is exploring the dynamics of the existing members and how the Company can better engage its members.
How would you describe the Company in three words?
Some 30 years ago during my paramedic training while in the Armed Forces, before every march or morning run, we would sing and chant our motto alongside other cadence songs, “We Set The Standard”. This was meant as a motivational tool to both help through the misery of a 10-mile run at 5:00am and instill pride in what we were being trained to do. While not quite three words, I believe the best way to describe the Goldsmiths’ Company is just that, the Company “Sets the Standard”. Not just in terms of jewellery making, but in aspects of charity, philanthropy and legacy.
What women have inspired / been important to you in your life and career, and why?
There are many women who continue to inspire me - those who achieved so many firsts and paved the way for the rest of us. Two that immediately come to mind are Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State under president Bush’s administration and Madeline Albright, also a former Secretary of State (US president Clinton administration) who, sadly, is no longer with us.
These two women had depth, defined grace and tactfulness and not unsurprisingly shared a great friendship that began before both of their political careers did. Ms. Rice was born during a time when her having such a role was unfathomable, and Mrs Albright was the daughter of Czech immigrants who fled to the US after a communist coup after WWII (1948). Their professional lives and experiences were championed at a time when women in front line politics weren’t as commonplace as it is now. Despite being members of oppositional political parties, they were long standing friends, supportive and respectful of one another. These women paved the way. They embodied resilience and diplomacy, and I can only hope to emulate that same statesmanship in my own political endeavours.
What advice would for women who are interested in joining the Goldsmiths’ Company?
Set aside what you think you know about the Goldsmiths’ Company for a moment. While we all adore the great hall, the legacy and pomp and circumstance that comes with it, know that the Goldsmiths’ Company has so much more to offer than what you can readily see just by attending events. Should you come on board, I urge you to get involved in Company life, from joining committees to taking part in its various clubs. Find a way to remain active, however that may look to you. I promise you will find many like-minded individuals with whom you can share life experiences, form new friendships and be part of a community.