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, we’re already preparing for a major milestone: the 10th anniversary of the Northern PoWEr Women Awards on 12th March 2026!

This episode leaves you with one clear, practical takeaway: implementation intentions, a simple tool to help you follow through when motivation dips... plus a final send-off with Penny and Simone on the DJ decks.

In this episode:

• What this year’s 1,800 Award nominations revealed
• Behind the judging, the roadshow, and why celebration still matters
• Confidence from trying something new (including DJing!)
• A simple networking approach that saves time and energy
• The 10th anniversary Awards coming in March
• Implementation intentions and how to put them into practice
• How to take 2025’s lessons into 2026 with focus and momentum

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

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 approach to supporting others.

Lauren discusses how she mentors and empowers young leaders across sectors, why networking needs a rebrand, and how genuine curiosity and human connection create relationships that endure and make a real difference. She also explores how small daily practices, advocacy, and intentional visibility can amplify impact and drive systemic change.

You’ll hear:

➡️ How travel and adventure build perspective, resilience, and leadership
➡️ Ways to support young leaders and foster growth across sectors
➡️ Why networking works better when curiosity and human connection come first
➡️ How small daily actions, visibility, and advocacy create meaningful impact
➡️ Lessons in empathy, courage, and leading with kindness in professional life

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

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 explains how she carved her own path into nuclear, through specialist education, an apprenticeship, and a move into project management while self-funding her degree.

We also dive into confidence, visibility, and the importance of speaking up early in your career, practical lessons for anyone looking to make an impact in competitive, high-stakes industries.

You’ll hear:
➡️ What nuclear work really looks like day to day
➡️ How apprenticeships create early credibility and real-world skills
➡️ Why nuclear’s safety culture is stronger than people assume
➡️ The sector’s skills gap and why new voices matter
➡️ How self-advocacy, preparation, and visibility accelerate your career
➡️ The power of role models, outreach, and saying “yes” before you feel ready

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

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 two days look the same. From coordinating VTs in the intensity of live athletics broadcasts to travelling globally for major sporting events, Kate’s career is filled with “pinch me” moments she never imagined at the start.

But her story is also about navigating identity, confidence, and belonging. As a woman in sports broadcasting, Kate opens up about finding the balance between fitting in and staying true to herself, and how self-awareness has shaped both her storytelling and her leadership.

You’ll hear:
➡️ How to break into competitive industries
➡️ The reality of working behind the scenes in elite sports broadcasting
➡️ Why saying “yes” can open doors you didn’t know existed
➡️ Navigating authenticity, confidence, and visibility as a woman in sport
➡️ Why mentoring younger women is essential to industry change
➡️ What makes great sports storytelling and why concise, human stories matter

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

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 impact.

Sam shares the story behind FAB’s creation, the power of structured peer support, and why women in business often need both a safe space and a serious space to grow.

She lifts the lid on what happens inside these curated sessions, where women from different sectors challenge each other, reveal blind spots, and turn insight into action, with results ranging from personal breakthroughs to hundreds of thousands in new revenue.

You’ll hear:
➡️ The moment Sam realised women needed their own peer board
➡️ How structured accountability transforms confidence and performance
➡️ The barriers that stop women investing in themselves
➡️ Why vulnerability is a strategic strength for leaders
➡️ The philosophy behind Sam’s mantra: “Change it, rearrange it”
➡️ What it takes to build equitable spaces where women can thrive, collaborate, and lead with power

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

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 development strategies that are genuinely inclusive
➡️ Why recognising neurodiverse strengths benefits teams and individuals alike
➡️ The power of transparency in career pathways and progression
➡️ How early- and mid-career voices reveal what inclusion looks like in practice
➡️ Why building equity is essential

This conversation is both insightful and actionable, offering inspiration for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to help create workplaces where every voice is heard, and every person can flourish.

Listen/Watch the full We Are PoWEr x Manchester Airports Group series via the links below ⬇️

Listen on audio platforms:

Representation Matters: Ethnic Diversity and Visibility at Work

LGBTQ+ at Work: What Inclusion Really Means

Tech Careers Aren’t Just for Tech People

Leading for Everyone: Inclusion in Action

Watch on YouTube:

Representation Matters: Ethnic Diversity and Visibility at Work

LGBTQ+ at Work: What Inclusion Really Means

Tech Careers Aren’t Just for Tech People

Leading for Everyone: Inclusion in Action

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

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 to public service—can open doors in tech
➡️ The critical role of “translation” in connecting technology with business outcomes
➡️ How airports operate like cities, offering opportunities for project managers, designers, and problem-solvers of every kind
➡️ How inclusion, mentoring, and curiosity drive innovation
➡️ Why stepping outside your comfort zone—whether skydiving or tackling a new career challenge—can spark growth

This conversation is both practical and inspiring, offering advice for anyone looking to upskill, switch careers, or gain confidence in a changing world of work. Sarah and Emma’s stories show that technology is for everyone—and that courage and curiosity are just as important as coding.

Listen/Watch the full We Are PoWEr x Manchester Airports Group series via the links below ⬇️

Listen on audio platforms:

Representation Matters: Ethnic Diversity and Visibility at Work

LGBTQ+ at Work: What Inclusion Really Means

Tech Careers Aren’t Just for Tech People

Leading for Everyone: Inclusion in Action

Watch on YouTube:

Representation Matters: Ethnic Diversity and Visibility at Work

LGBTQ+ at Work: What Inclusion Really Means

Tech Careers Aren’t Just for Tech People

Leading for Everyone: Inclusion in Action

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

The brilliant Emma Preston and Maxwell Crowson join the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing honesty, courage, and compassion to a powerful conversation about what real inclusion looks and feels like in everyday life. As part of Manchester Airports Group, Emma and Max are helping shape a culture where colleagues and travelers alike can breathe, belong, and be their authentic selves.

From the security queue to the departure gate, they show how inclusion isn’t about grand gestures – it’s built through small, consistent actions. A smile, a pronoun badge, a leader who listens – all signals that turn workplaces from promises of belonging into lived experiences of safety and respect.

Emma shares her remarkable journey from darkness to light, opening up about surviving two suicide attempts and the turning point that began when someone simply said, “let me help.” Her story of resilience and self-acceptance – learning to stop being the “best transgender woman” and start being the best Emma – is both powerful and deeply human.

Max brings his perspective as a dad through adoption, exploring how confidence at work and home allows his son to face tough questions with pride. Together, they reflect on the courage it takes to bring your full self to work, to challenge bias, and to choose employers and leaders who truly see you.

Through their work with Fly with Pride, Emma and Max are turning policy into practice – offering guidance, allyship, and visibility that goes beyond parades and posters. Their message is simple but profound: inclusion doesn’t start with a strategy, it starts with people showing up.

In this episode:
From survival to self-acceptance: Emma’s journey to living authentically
Parenting, pride, and identity: Max’s experience as an adoptive dad
What inclusion really feels like day to day
Why small signals create big impact at work and in travel
Turning equity from posters into practice through Fly with Pride
How leaders can listen, learn, and make space for others to thrive

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫