We Are PoWEr Podcast

In this We Are PoWEr podcast episode, we sit down with Natasha Jonas MBE, world champion boxer, trailblazer and proud Liverpudlian, to explore the mindset behind success, resilience and creating lasting impact beyond sport. Natasha reflects on the highs and lows of an extraordinary career, from becoming one of the most influential figures in British boxing to receiving an MBE for her contributions...

In this episode of the We Are PoWEr Podcast Simone Roche MBE sits down with Ann Miller-McCaffrey to mark Armed Forces Day and trace almost four decades of Royal Navy life from the WRNS era to the reserves.  We talk honestly about change, belonging and how sport, service and family shape the person you become.  Ann reflects on the personal highs and challenges that come with military life, from nav...

In this episode, Simone Roche MBE sits down with Leanne Lucas, Founder of Let's Be Blunt CIC for a powerful conversation about authenticity, purpose and turning lived experience into meaningful change. Leanne shares her journey from the classroom to founding Let’s Be Blunt CIC—a campaign with a simple but transformative idea: redesign everyday kitchen knives to help prevent lethal harm, witho...

In this special episode of the We Are PoWEr Podcast, Simone Roche MBE is joined by Natasha Hamilton, formerly of Atomic Kitten and now Founder and Mentor of Morpho Records. Natasha and Simone talk about how a muddy founders festival and a giant cube sparked a new kind of record label and why leading with duty of care can reshape pop. Natasha opens up about bias, mentorship and turning past experie...

In this episode of the We Are PoWEr Podcast, Simone Roche MBE sits down with Carter Goodby BEM and Paula Bullock from London North Eastern Railway (LNER) to explore what the rail industry really looks and feels like when people are placed at the heart of the work. From “cake-box kindness” to inclusion networks and leadership in action, this conversation shares how small, everyday choices can shape...

In this episode of the We Are PoWEr Podcast, Simone Roche MBE sits down with Renee Preston, CEO at Gallaway Construction and Founder of Construction for Women, to talk about changing the landscape of the construction industry and creating more opportunities for women to thrive. Renee shares her personal journey into construction, the experiences that shaped her career, and the work she’s doing to...

In this episode of the We Are PoWEr Podcast, Simone Roche MBE sits down with journalist, presenter, and Northern PoWEr Women Awards host Nina Hossain. For the past six years, Nina has taken to the stage to guide one of the North’s most inspiring celebrations of leadership, diversity, and change. Simone and Nina reconnect to reflect on the story behind the Northern PoWEr Women Awards, why meaningfu...

Trigger Warning: Mentions of mental health and suicide In this episode of the We Are Power Podcast, Simone Roche MBE sits down with Jodie Hill, Founder of Thrive Law, to explore her journey into law, her neurodivergence diagnosis and how she transformed personal challenges into powerful leadership. Jodie shares how experiencing a mental breakdown became a turning point that reshaped not only her l...

Trigger Warning : Themes of mental health and suicide On this week's podcast episode we sit down with Kirsty Collin, Global Head of CRM at Gleeds, who talks about her path from undiagnosed ADHD and dyscalculia to global client listening leader and Lead of Women at Gleeds. Grief, burnout, boxing and everyday kindness shape Kirsty's story and ongoing resilience. We dive into the love and l...

On this week's episode with Matt Carroll, CEO at Nimble Approach, we explore how inclusive leadership, AI adoption and early-talent pathways create real outcomes in tech and consulting.  Matt has advocacy at the forefront of his mind and has worked to collaborate to make the tech space a safe inclusive place for everyone. On this episode Matt shares how small, consistent actions can shift cul...

In this episode of the WeArePoWEr Podcast we talk with Vivify founder Russell Teale about turning idle school facilities into living community spaces, from choirs to junior football and why profit and purpose work better together. The journey runs from redundancy to scale, with lessons on traction, leadership, and values‑aligned investors. Here's what you can expect to hear: ➡️founding Vivify...

In this episode of the WeArePoWEr Podcast, we’re joined by Asia Sharif, a Software Engineer, public speaker, mentor and all-round force of nature. Asia shares the story behind the origin of her name, how identity has shaped her confidence and her honest experiences with imposter syndrome in tech. She reflects on building self-belief, navigating underrepresentation in engineering and the importance...

In this episode, we speak with Peter Jackson, Partner & Non-Executive Director at Hill Dickinson LLP, strategist, and proud Scouser, about a career shaped by graft, humour, resilience, and deep connection to the city of Liverpool.  Peter shares how imposter syndrome, preparation, and the ability to communicate clearly became defining traits of his leadership, and why “doing the homework” still...

In this episode, we speak with Figen Murray OBE, psychotherapist, campaigner, and the driving force behind Martyn’s Law — about transforming unimaginable tragedy into national change. Figen shares how her son Martyn’s death in the Manchester Arena attack reshaped her life’s purpose and how determination, kindness, and what she calls her “mosquito mindset” helped move entirely new security legislat...

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...

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 wh...

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...

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 unde...

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 ski...

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 sc...

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 authentic...

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...

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:  ➡️...

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 authenti...

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....