“ Fate has given me an incredible opportunity: to be a woman—Black and disabled! I don’t fit any of the expected standards for success. And yet, I’m thriving! My vulnerabilities are very real, but they’ve become my source of strength. ”
Childhood and Core Values
A Childhood Between Fragility and Strength
Born in Cameroon, Deza experienced vulnerability at a very young age; a serious illness disrupted her childhood and left her with irreversible consequences.
A Strong Family, Founding Values
The seventh of twelve children, Deza grew up in a socially conscious Cameroonian family, where justice, dignity, and solidarity were values lived out every day.
A loving yet demanding home
In this household, respect, hard work, and a love for the community became the cornerstones of his personal development. These values would have a lasting impact on the way he thought, acted, and advocated for causes.
A Quiet Turning Point
Her arrival in France marked a turning point: despite her degrees and skills, the doors to the job market remained closed to her. She was judged based on her disability, her skin color, and her gender.
A flame drives him
As she was about to enter the workforce, another struggle began: hidden behind her resume, all anyone saw was how she was different. So she stepped up to blaze a trail where there was none.
1/5
A journey marked by initiatives with a significant social impact
2005
Entrepreneurship as an Act of Freedom
Deza launches AfrikDEZArts to celebrate cultural diversity through art
2007
The Birth of Committed Artivism
Deza is paving the way for a unique initiative at the intersection of art, activism, and communication.
2011
Entrepreneurship as a Driver of Engagement
Deza launches E&H LAB, a hybrid communications agency dedicated to inclusion
2022
A Step Toward Politics, in the Name of Equality
Deza is running for office in Paris as an independent candidate, without a party or any backing.
Resilience. Boldness. Vision.
The AHADI Foundation: Highlighting Leadership That Is Still Too Often Overlooked
In 2023, Deza established the AHADI Foundation to empower women with disabilities to become agents of change in Africa, Europe, and everywhere else.
Her vision: to unlock the untapped potential of millions of women who are often overlooked, and to use their leadership as a catalyst for social, economic, and political change.
The foundation aims to be a platform for impact, sisterhood, powerful stories, and bold projects.
A dedicated expert, an inspiring speaker
Today, Deza advises organizations, engages with thought leaders, and speaks at major events—from Paris to New York, and from Berlin and Brussels to Dakar—to discuss leadership, resilience, and systemic transformation.
Her approach is as strategic as it is intuitive, as radical as it is deeply human. She helps companies think beyond compliance to make inclusion a true collective performance initiative.
A foundation that reflects who she is
Resilience, boldness, vision. The AHADI Foundation bears Deza’s mark. She is its founder, but above all, the catalyst for a confident, inclusive leadership. A woman who transforms vulnerabilities into sources of action and the margins into spaces of influence. With her, inclusion becomes the summit to reach, and leadership, the rope that leads there.
“ I don't fit into any box. And that's my greatest strength. ”
Deza Nguembock
Quotes from Various Sources – What People Are Saying About Deza
Marine Uldry
Human Rights Officer, European Disability Forum
“But above all, Deza is unforgettable.”
Lawrence Randolph
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Paris
“I had the honor of seeing her turn her ideas into reality.”
Eli Rosalie Nezien
Senior Program Manager, Foundation for a Just Society
“Deza is a natural-born coach.”
Hervé Lisoir
Program Manager for Europe and International Affairs, King Baudouin Foundation
“What's his secret?”
Issa Tall
Physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation & Leader of AHADI Africa
“She turns obstacles into opportunities.”
Édouard Braine
Diplomat and former French Consul General in London | Member of the AHADI Advisory Board
“I decided to open my network to Deza.”
Valérie Tiacoh
Director of Strategy and Innovation, Human Rights, Orange Group | Member of the AHADI Advisory Board
“She has that rare ability to believe deeply in her projects and turn them into reality.”
Alicia Fouletier
Project Manager in the CSR Department, AG2R LA Mondiale | Member of the Board of Directors of AHADI
“That meeting was a revelation.”
Alexis Le Squern
Project Manager, FCINQ
“A conversation with Deza quickly turns into a decision.”
Antoine Barth
Creative Director, La Chose
“When you think of her, one word inevitably comes to mind: respect.”
Marine Uldry
Human Rights Officer, European Disability Forum
“Deza embodies a rare form of leadership: feminist, creative, and bold. She is deeply committed to transforming society’s view of women with disabilities and to supporting them so they can exercise their leadership in a variety of ways.
Above all, Deza is unforgettable. I have never met anyone who has heard her speak and forgotten her words. Through AHADI, she fills a critical gap at the intersection of the disability rights and women’s rights movements.”
Lawrence Randolph
Minister-Counselor for Public Affairs, U.S. Embassy in Paris
“Deza is a true beacon of light, determined to ensure that women with disabilities acquire the leadership skills and gain access to the opportunities they need to thrive in a world that still too often seeks to silence them. She understands that leadership and economic independence are deeply intertwined, and that empowering women to build their financial autonomy and stability is an essential prerequisite for lasting change.
I’ve had the honor of watching her turn her ideas into reality and see her projects grow, driven by her determination and vision.”
Eli Rosalie Nezien
Senior Program Manager, Foundation for a Just Society
“To me, Deza embodies determination, self-awareness, and confidence in her intrinsic worth—as a person, a woman, and a leader. When interacting with others, she exudes a strength that inspires confidence, combined with great warmth and a vision deeply rooted in dignity and purpose.
Deza is a natural-born coach. She has the ability to reveal in others what they don’t always see in themselves and to inspire them to reach further. Many people, like me, would benefit from working alongside her and learning from her, both personally and professionally.”
Hervé Lisoir
Program Manager for Europe and International Affairs, King Baudouin Foundation
“I haven’t yet met a single person who has spoken with Deza—even for just a few minutes—without wanting to work with her. What’s her secret? I believe everyone senses her energy and her ability to bring about change where things are unacceptable, with a clear vision and the method to achieve it.
Deza also offers excellent advice, and the King Baudouin Foundation is very pleased to be able to count on her insightful perspective.”
Issa Tall
Physician in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation & Leader of AHADI Africa
“When I think of Deza, I think of a woman who turns obstacles into opportunities. She has shown me that a disability is not a foregone conclusion and that it is possible to take one’s rightful place in society.
Her leadership isn’t just about blazing her own trail—it’s about bringing other women with disabilities along with her. It’s this collective vision that impresses me the most.”
Édouard Braine
Diplomat and former French Consul General in London | Member of the AHADI Advisory Board
“It is with pride and enthusiasm that I support AHADI and its work. I chose to open up my network to Deza because I believe in its ability to bring together very different people and institutions around a shared goal: to foster a new generation of women with disabilities as leaders, in Africa and beyond.”
Valérie Tiacoh
Director of Strategy and Innovation, Human Rights, Orange Group | Member of the AHADI Advisory Board
“When I think of Deza, I see an extraordinarily joyful woman, driven by a determination that never gives way to resignation. She possesses that rare strength to believe deeply in her projects and turn them into reality.
She embodies this simple truth: we all have something essential to offer, but it takes courage to reveal it, the will to embrace it, and the boldness to give it its rightful place. That is what makes her a true role model.”
Alicia Fouletier
Project Manager in the CSR Department, AG2R LA Mondiale | Member of the Board of Directors of AHADI
“I met Deza more than ten years ago when she was speaking at my company. That encounter was a revelation, and ever since, her journey has continued to inspire me.
Bold and creative, Deza is above all a woman of conviction, deeply committed to her values. She possesses the rare ability to pursue what she believes in with courage and determination, without ever giving up. That is what has inspired me, over the years, to stand by her side and to support her work with AHADI today.”
Alexis Le Squern
Project Manager, FCINQ
“What stands out to me is how quickly a conversation with Deza turns into a decision. On many projects, energy gets lost in back-and-forth discussions; with her, every exchange moves something concrete forward.
Deza knows exactly what she means. Our work mainly consisted of finding the right format to convey her ideas. That’s rare, and it’s what sets this project apart from the others I’ve worked on.”
Antoine Barth
Creative Director, La Chose
“When I look back on our collaboration on the film *Les Objets*, Deza is the first person who comes to mind. Her fighting spirit, her perseverance, her dedication, and her kindness. A Black woman with a disability who navigates today’s world with strength and determination, while maintaining a profound sense of humility. When you think of her, one word stands out above all others: respect.”
