We Are PoWEr Podcast

Ethical AI, Burnout, and the Resilience Every Entrepreneur Needs

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 hype.We also talk honestly about the climate impact of AI, the realities of burnout, and how resilience and purpose guide the next stage of her leadership.You’ll hear: ➡️ How a self-taught coder built, scaled, and pivoted with purpose ➡️ Why small businesses shaped her growth strategy during COVID ➡️ Her story to becoming an 'Outstanding Entrepreneur' ➡️ The hidden climate costs of AI and the need for practical guardrails ➡️ What burnout taught her about resilience, clarity, and staying in the gameFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

End of Year Special with Dr Penny Trayner (aka DJ Penny PoWEr)

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 revealedBehind the judging, the roadshow, and why celebration still mattersConfidence from trying something new (including DJing!)A simple networking approach that saves time and energyThe 10th anniversary Awards coming in MarchImplementation intentions and how to put them into practiceHow to take 2025’s lessons into 2026 with focus and momentumFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

Career Lessons from Travelling the World

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 lifeFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

The Realities, Risks, and Rewards of Nuclear Careers

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 readyFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

What It Really Takes to Get Into Sports Broadcasting

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 matterFind out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫