We Are PoWEr Podcast

powered by Simone Roche MBE and Northern PoWEr Women
  • 4.9 (26)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The We Are PoWEr podcast spotlights voices and perspectives that need to be heard. Our weekly podcast, with listeners in over 60 countries, delivers PoWErful conversations that inspire, challenge, and empower... from personal life stories to business insights and leadership lessons. We share diverse experiences, bold discussions, and real solutions. Whether you're looking for career advice, topical themes, or stories of resilience and success - this is where voices spark change.

  1. 23 HR AGO

    Tech Careers Aren’t Just for Tech People

    The brilliant Sarah Lewis and Emma Cooper join the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing insight, honesty, and a powerful message for anyone who’s ever thought, “I’m not techie enough.” As leaders within MagTech, the technology team at Manchester Airports Group, they’re proving that building the world’s most intelligent airports takes far more than code – it takes communication, curiosity, and courage. From law and public service to leading tech transformation, Emma’s career shows how transferable skills can open unexpected doors. Sarah shares how her role as a “translator” bridges the gap between technical ambition and business outcomes – making sense of the acronyms, aligning people across security, operations, retail, and air traffic, and ensuring technology truly works for everyone. Together, they break down the biggest myths about working in tech, showing that airports operate like entire cities – filled with opportunities for project managers, designers, and problem-solvers of every kind. They discuss inclusion as a driver of innovation, from reverse mentoring and apprenticeships to creating space where every question is welcome. Their conversation is packed with practical advice for anyone looking to upskill, switch careers, or build confidence in a changing world of work. And beyond the terminals and runways, Sarah and Emma share personal stories of resilience – from skydiving for charity to climbing the Three Peaks in 24 hours – proving that growth often starts by saying yes to something that scares you. In this episode: From law to tech: how transferable skills power transformationThe real roles behind innovation – PMO, product, service design & moreMyths about working in technology (and how to overcome them)Inclusion, mentoring, and building confidence in new spacesAirports as “cities”: connecting tech with real people and outcomesSuperpowers: curiosity, courage, and translationFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

    25 min

  2. 10 NOV

    LGBTQ+ at Work: What Inclusion Really Means

    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. 💫

    34 min

  3. 3 NOV

    Representation Matters: Ethnic Diversity and Visibility at Work Victoria Tobin

    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 perspective on building workplaces where every voice matters and talent can thrive. In this conversation, you’ll hear: ➡️ The barriers that still hold back minority ethnic professionals ➡️ Why visible role models can inspire whole organisations ➡️ The different factors that shape people’s career experiences ➡️ Why “bringing your whole self” is more than a slogan ➡️ Why diversity isn’t a tick-box exercise, it’s daily action This episode is both personal and practical. A must-listen for leaders and employees alike, offering inspiration and tools to help create workplaces where everyone can truly thrive. Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

    24 min

  4. 27 OCT

    The Power of Showing Up with Sophie Milliken MBE

    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 Smart Works Newcastle – a charity transforming unemployed women’s lives through interview clothing and coaching – Sophie’s journey proves that visibility isn’t about showing off, it’s about showing up. She shares her insights on building a brand with purpose, why consistent communication can set you apart, and how life’s toughest decisions – including starting her first business and navigating divorce while raising her daughter – shaped her success. Sophie also reveals how she balances entrepreneurship, motherhood, and mentorship with intention and grace, always guided by her belief in taking action and connecting with purpose. In this episode: Building confidence and visibility through storytellingWhy personal branding is about communication, not egoHow Smart Works Newcastle empowers women through confidence and coachingMaking life-changing decisions with courage and intentionThe power of consistency – and why one LinkedIn post a week can change everythingBalancing entrepreneurship, motherhood, and self-beliefSuperpower: connecting with purpose and authenticityFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

    29 min

  5. 20 OCT

    How Ngozi Weller & Wayne Bennett Are Changing Manchester Forever

    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 strengths to co-found The Racial Equity Group (REG) within Pro Manchester. What started as a shared conversation has evolved into RegConnect – a groundbreaking event that’s redefining how inclusion, business, and opportunity intersect. Driven by the sobering reality that while Manchester’s ethnic minority population exceeds 18%, representation in leadership sits at just 5%, Ngozi and Wayne are confronting inequity head-on. Their work is about turning awareness into action – bringing corporate leaders and underrepresented professionals into the same room to connect, collaborate, and create lasting impact. In this episode: How a train journey sparked a movement for racial equity in ManchesterBuilding the Racial Equity Group and RegConnect: collaboration over confrontationThe reality of representation: 18% of the population, 5% of leadershipWhy courage, not comfort, drives meaningful inclusionTurning diversity into business impact – and the data that proves itHow authenticity builds movements that lastThe legacy Wayne and Ngozi are creating for the next generationFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

    28 min

  6. 13 OCT

    How Emma Green’s Curiosity Built a Career She Never Planned

    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 story proves that career paths don’t have to be linear to be impactful. What started as a fascination with Media City evolved into working for the very organization that created it – a full-circle moment powered by curiosity, authenticity, and the willingness to raise her hand and challenge convention. With genuine warmth and insight, Emma shares how she’s turned her superpower for connection into tangible impact – from linking local independents with major waterfront developments to turning complex planning projects into national stories. Her mantra, inspired by her late aunt – “There’s value in every experience” – shapes both her career and her approach to life, reminding us that every moment has purpose. Emma also opens up about the importance of community, crediting the Northern PoWEr Women network for providing support and opportunity during challenging times like the pandemic. Her story is proof that powerful storytelling, when rooted in authenticity and connection, can reshape not just brands or places, but people’s lives. In this episode: From film studies to regeneration: finding purpose through storytellingHow curiosity and connection created a career she never plannedCommunicating complex projects in ways that engage and inspireThe power of challenging authority and speaking truth to powerWhy there’s “value in every experience” – personally and professionallyHow authentic communication builds thriving communitiesFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

    25 min

  7. 6 OCT

    Why Your Accent Should Never Limit Your Dreams - Holly Ellis Explains

    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 background and accent should never be barriers to opportunity. She opens up about navigating motherhood after a traumatic birth, her experience with postnatal depression, and why caring for her daughter Ada tested her in ways academia never could. With trademark candor, Holly tackles accent bias head-on, sharing how her Liverpool voice has become both her superpower and a source of prejudice. She reflects on once believing Oxford “wasn’t for people like me,” and how stepping into those spaces gave her the confidence to show others that they can belong too. What began as a handful of social media videos has grown into a movement, as Holly uses her platforms to make science accessible and inclusive for everyone. Now signed with a talent agency, her ambition is to take STEM into mainstream media – showing the next generation that scientists can come from anywhere, sound like anyone, and look like everyone. In this episode: From Liverpool to Oxford: proving she belonged in elite spacesNavigating motherhood and postnatal depression with honestyBreaking down accent bias and why it still mattersMaking STEM accessible through social media and beyondTurning trolls into proof of why her work mattersThe dream of hosting a science TV show that changes perceptionsFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

    25 min

  8. 29 SEPT

    From Bradford Roots to Global Recognition: Saeeda Ahmed’s Story

    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 Asia, and Africa, Saeeda’s story is one of breaking barriers and rewriting the rules. She shares how missing parts of her early education didn’t stop her from thriving at Cambridge, why her father’s wisdom still guides her today, and how her innovative model rejects “copy-and-paste” development in favour of solutions rooted in healthcare, education, and enterprise. With honesty and conviction, Saeeda opens up about facing condescension and ridicule in male-dominated spaces, how she reframes failure as the “nuances of life,” and why she believes every single person is a living miracle. Her work is not just about sustainability—it’s about dignity, inclusion, and creating pathways so others never have to face the same barriers she did. In this episode: From Bradford to Cambridge: defying expectations and embracing faith Why no city should ever be “copy-and-paste” Building tailored, sustainable communities across three continents Facing ridicule and turning hardship into strength Reframing failure as life’s nuances, not setbacks Why “you are already a success today” is Saeeda’s message to the world Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

    26 min
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4.9
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

The We Are PoWEr podcast spotlights voices and perspectives that need to be heard. Our weekly podcast, with listeners in over 60 countries, delivers PoWErful conversations that inspire, challenge, and empower... from personal life stories to business insights and leadership lessons. We share diverse experiences, bold discussions, and real solutions. Whether you're looking for career advice, topical themes, or stories of resilience and success - this is where voices spark change.

Information

  • Creator
    powered by Simone Roche MBE and Northern PoWEr Women
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    343
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 We Are PoWEr Podcast
  • Show Website
    We Are PoWEr Podcast

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