We Are PoWEr Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Unlock the secrets of successful leadership and career growth with Iwona Szmidt and Michael Howard from Bank of America. 

Discover how resilience and transferable skills can transform your professional journey.

Tune in to hear insightful stories about the role of employee networks in creating inclusive workplaces, especially for the LGBTQ+ community.

Listen to Learn:
- How embracing diversity boosts  leadership and drives success.

- The transformative power of active listening.

- Navigating a dynamic career path with confidence.

- The role of being an ally in inclusive workplaces.

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

This week, we sit down with Julie Baker, Head of Strategic Partnerships at NatWest Group. 

Julie shares her inspiring 42-year journey from aspiring PE teacher to a leading role at NatWest, and her dedication to empowering women in business. 

Discover the power of sponsorship, the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, and how building the right networks can lead to success. 


Listen to learn:
-The importance of investing in women-led businesses 
-The collective efforts needed to empower female entrepreneurs. 
-The life-changing impact of mentorship, peer support, and community-driven efforts
-How Julie creatively balanced her career with motherhood

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

Meet Angela Owen OBE, the founder of Women in Defence UK and a 2024 Northern Power Women Awards finalist!

Discover how Angela transitioned from a military career to founding an organisation advocating for gender equality in the defence sector. 

And hear Angela's story of being the second ever mother to re-join the military...

Listen to learn:
- The evolving policies and attitudes towards women in the military
- About the Women in Defence UK mentoring programme 
- Angela's experience competing at the Commonwealth Games
- How a small LinkedIn group grew into an organisation for gender equality

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

 Simone Roche MBE chats to Mentor Of The Year NPW Award Winner Ali McGrath, Top Mentor on Sabbatical. 

Together Simone and Ali chat about all things mentoring and knowing when to take care of yourself.  

Listen to learn: 

• Ali's on Sabbatical journey and why she did it 
• Why mentoring has been such a big part of Ali's life 
• Why it is important to take care of yourself 
• How being diagnosed with ADHD lifted a weight off Ali's shoulder  

Sign up to our Power Platform to check our out events calendar here.  Download this episode's Cheat Sheet here.  Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram 

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

Simone Roche MBE chats to  One To Watch NPW Award Winner Debbie Rogers, Founder and CEO of Seans Place. 

Together Simone and Debbie chat about all things NPW Awards and Debbie's journey as founder of Sean's Place.  

Listen to learn: 

• How the devastating death of Debbie's brother Sean led her to set up Sean's Place  
• What Sean's Place does to help support others who are also living with grief 
• How Sean's place improves men's mental health and well-being across Sefton and Liverpool City Region  
• What is Debbie's goal for the future  

Find out more about Sean's Place here.  International Men's Day.  Hub Of Hope app. Sign up to our Power Platform to check our out events calendar here.  Download this episode's Cheat Sheet here.  Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram 

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

Simone Roche MBE chats to One to Watch NPW Award Commended Claudia Bartholomew founder of Claudia and Caitlin Build A School.  

Together Simone and Claudia chat about all things NPW Awards and Claudias amazing work building a school in Ghana.  

Listen to learn: 

• How Claudia remained motivated during the pandemic  
• How Claudia came to build a school in Ghana 
• About Claudias extended family 
• What's next on Claudias list of challenges 

Check out Claudias Twitter page here.  Sign up to our Power Platform to check our out events calendar here.  Download this episode's Cheat Sheet here.
Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram 

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

How To Prevent The Exploitation Of Young People To County Lines 

Simone Roche MBE chats to Person With A Purpose NPW Award Commended Collette Devlin-Smith CEO of EDGE NorthEast.  

Together Simone and Collette chat about all things NPW Awards and Collette’s work in preventing the exploitation of young people in the County Line. 

Listen to learn: 

• Why Collette set up EDGE NE  
• What County Lines are and why they pose such a threat 
• About Collette’s success stories at EDGE NE 
• How Collette copes with situations that she hears about 

Find out how you can get involved with EDGE NE here.  

Read more about County Lines here.  

Sign up to our Power Platform to check our out events calendar here.  

Download this episode’s Cheat Sheet here.  

Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram 

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

How To Give Your Imposter Syndrome A Telling Off 

Simone Roche MBE chats to Transformational Leader NPW Award winner Steph Edusei Chief Executive Officer at St Oswald's Hospice.  

Together Simone and Steph chat about all things NPW Awards and Steph’s passion for the involvement of public and patients and how she is a strong advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion. Listen to learn: 

 • What is Black All Year  

 • How you can get involved in Black All Year 

 • How Steph beats imposter syndrome  

 • About the positive impact winning Transformational Leader had on Steph 

Check out Black All Year here. 

Check out St Oswald's Ebay here.  

Sign up to our Power Platform to check our out events calendar here.  

Download this episode’s Cheat Sheet here.  

Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

Simone Roche MBE chats to Sharon Davies Chief Executive at Young Enterprise and commended Transformational Leader of NPWAwards 2022. Young Enterprise is a leading employability and financial education charity empowering young people across the UK.  

Together Simone and Sharon chat about all things NPW Awards and Sharon's career at Young Enterprise. 

Listen to learn: 

• What makes a great leader 
• How business leaders invest in and engage young people 
• About Young Enterprise celebrating 60 years of transforming young peoples futures 

Check out Young Enterprise here.
Sign up to our Power Platform to check our out events calendar here. 
Download this episode's Cheat Sheet here.
Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram 

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

Simone Roche MBE chats to Arlene Bulfin representing ANS Group, who won the Medium Organisation Award at the Northern Power Women Awards 2022. ANS Group provide digital transformation services including public & private cloud, managed hosting, security solutions, applications, DevOps & data services. Together Simone and Arlene chat about all things NPW Awards and ANS Group's diverse working culture. 

Listen to learn: 

• What employees at ANS do to help younger generations in their area 
• How ANS has and continues to build a diverse work culture 
• About Arlene's personal passion for getting young people into tech 
• What barriers exist for people who are looking for a career in tech 
• 
  

Check out ANS Academy here. Sign up to our Power Platform to make your NPW Awards Nominations here.   Download this episode's Cheat Sheet here.  Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram 

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫