We Are PoWEr Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Reshma Mahapacha, IBM strategist and author of The Second Brain, about the real skills that drive complex transformations: emotional intelligence, quiet leadership, and the ability to read a room. She shares how timing, perception, and cultural fluency shape multi-million-pound programmes and why letting results speak often creates the strongest influence.

Reshma’s global career brings a fresh and expe...

In this episode, we speak with our Northern PoWEr Women Awards 2025 Outstanding Entrepreneur winner, a self-taught coder who built her first products from a bedroom, grew a software platform during COVID, and later made a bold pivot into robotics when the market shifted. 

She shares what values-led growth looks like in real life, from backing small businesses to building an 80% women team, and why staying power matters more than hyp...

This end-of-year special looks at what 2025 has really taught us across business, health, public services, and our wider Northern PoWEr Women community. 

We reflect on a full year of Northern PoWEr Women activity, from the Awards Roadshow , where Dr Penny stepped confidently into her new alter-ego, DJ Penny PoWEr, to reading 1,800 nominations that showed the scale of impact being created in every sector.

And as we close out the year,...

In this episode, we speak with Lauren Rosegreen, Senior Project Manager for Inclusion and Climate Justice at SOS UK and National President at JCI UK, who shows how kindness, courage, and curiosity can shape leadership and personal growth. 

She shares how six months traveling across twelve countries in Central and South America became a masterclass in resilience, perspective, and staying calm under pressure, while also shaping her ap...

In this episode, we speak with Aimee MacFadyen, a nuclear project manager showing that one of the most misunderstood sectors can also be one of the most exciting places to build a bold, meaningful career.

She demystifies what nuclear work really looks like, why safety standards are among the highest in any industry, and why the future of clean energy relies on trust, transparency, and diverse skills, not just engineers.

Aimee explain...

In this episode, we speak with Kate McKenna, a BBC Sport assistant producer who went from Liverpool FC tour guide to working on some of the world’s biggest sporting events, without industry connections.  Kate shares how saying “yes” to unexpected opportunities helped her break into one of the most competitive industries, and why careers rarely unfold in a straight line.

She takes us behind the scenes of life at BBC Sport, where no t...

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Addy, founder of the Female Advisory Board (FAB), who is reshaping how women leaders support each other’s business growth. After realising that traditional peer advisory boards had almost no female representation, Sam set out to build the UK's first in-person peer board exclusively for women, creating a space where ambition, accountability, and authenticity come together to drive real impa...

In this episode, we speak with Alicia McDonnell, from Manchester Airports Group, who shares her experience supporting neurodiverse employees and amplifying voices across early- and mid-career stages. She explores how organisations can move beyond diversity statements to meaningful, day-to-day action, and offers practical insights into recognising and nurturing talent in all its forms.

You’ll hear:
 ➡️ How to design talent develo...

On this episode of the We Are PoWEr Podcast, Sarah Lewis and Emma Cooper bring insight, honesty, and encouragement to a conversation about finding your place in technology. As leaders within MagTech, the technology team at Manchester Airports Group, they show that building the world’s most intelligent airports takes more than code – it takes communication, curiosity, and courage.

You’ll hear:
 ➡️ How transferable skills—from law...

On this episode of the We Are PoWEr Podcast, Emma Preston and Maxwell Crowson bring honesty, courage, and compassion to a conversation about what it truly means to belong at work and beyond. From shaping culture at Manchester Airports Group to turning policy into practice through Fly with Pride, Emma and Max show how small, consistent actions create workplaces where everyone can be their authentic selves.

You’ll hear:
 ➡️ Emma’s...

What does it mean to truly belong at work? For Victoria Tobin, Senior People Partner at Manchester Airports Group, the answer is shaped by nearly 20 years of HR leadership across the UK and internationally. 

From steering complex transformations to shaping cultures where people feel seen and valued, Victoria brings a wealth of insight into how representation and authenticity drive lasting change. Her journey offers a powerful perspe...

The brilliant Sophie Milliken MBE joins the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing a conversation about the power of visibility, storytelling, and taking bold action to create lasting impact.

As an award-winning entrepreneur, author, and founder of Mojo, Sophie helps leaders and professionals communicate their value and build authentic personal brands that drive opportunity. From running writing retreats in the Yorkshire Dales to chairing ...

The brilliant Ngozi Weller and Wayne Bennett join the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing honesty, courage, and vision to a powerful conversation about racial equity, authentic leadership, and creating real change in Manchester and beyond.

Their partnership began on a train journey – a chance meeting that sparked a movement. Wayne, a visionary entrepreneur, and Ngozi, a fearless strategist and advocate, combined their complementary stre...

The brilliant Emma Green joins the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing creativity, courage, and a passion for storytelling that’s transforming communities across the North and beyond. As Communications Lead for Peel Waters, Emma combines her love of connection and communication to shape places where people truly belong.

From a film studies degree to leading communications for one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects, Emma’s ...

The brilliant Holly Ellis joins the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing honesty, resilience, and a fierce commitment to breaking barriers in science. Known to her growing online community as The Scouse Scientist, Holly is redefining what it means to belong in STEM while balancing the realities of motherhood, identity, and advocacy.

From Liverpool to Oxford University, Holly’s story is one of challenging perceptions and proving that back...

The brilliant Saeeda Ahmed joins the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing faith, resilience, and a bold vision for building sustainable cities that put people first. As Founder and President of Sustainable Cities Global and a trailblazer named on the global stage, Saeeda is transforming how communities are designed, governed, and grown.

From the inner cities of Bradford to international contracts across Latin America, Southeast...

The brilliant Nazir Afzal OBE joins the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing honesty, courage, and a lifetime of fighting for justice and inclusion. Chancellor of the University of Manchester, Chair of the Lowry, and tireless advocate for equity, Nazir refuses to let diversity become a tick-box exercise – instead, he challenges leaders to make allyship active, authentic, and accountable.

From calling out institutional misogyny ...

The brilliant Catherine Millan joins the We Are PoWEr Podcast - bringing resilience, empathy, and a mission to change workplaces for the better. Founder of Be What You See Consultancy and winner of the 2025 Northern PoWEr Women Awards Person with Purpose Organisation Award, Catherine is dedicated to creating psychologically safe environments through innovative active bystander training.

From becoming a young carer at just ...

The brilliant Alison Lowe OBE joins the We Are PoWEr Podcast - bringing energy, honesty, and a lifetime of serving others with courage and compassion. Based in Leeds and named on the 2025 Northern PoWEr Women Awards PoWEr List, Alison has spent her career challenging injustice, leading with heart, and showing that authenticity is a strength, not something to dial down.

From growing up in a political household to becoming D...