No More Hiding

From Admin to Influential Leader: How Visibility Accelerates Internal Career Growth | Gail Pearson As part of celebrating 10 years in business, I wanted this mini-series to reflect the full spectrum of women I've worked with — not just those I met years ago, but women I've worked with recently, where we can see just how quickly things can shift when someone decides to step forward. And that's exactly why I invited Gail Pearson onto the podcast. Gail is the Policy and Research Manager at Magna Housing Ltd. She supports the business to develop and maintain their policy and procedure portfolio to enable them to reflect new business demands and initiatives, ensure that they are operating within legal and regulatory obligations and that they effectively manage risks. In her spare time she enjoys running having completed 3 marathons and 7 half marathons. Something I am surprised we don't talk about more as I am slightly obsessed with running myself. Gail joined the RiSE programme in September last year, and what I love about her story is that she's built her career internally — starting in an admin role nearly 16 years ago and progressing into leadership. This episode is such a powerful example of what happens when organisations invest in the women they already have. When they see potential. When they back it. We talk about the fear so many women have around visibility — especially reaching out to people on LinkedIn or building connections outside their immediate team. Gail shares honestly about how daunting that felt at first… and how quickly that fear dissolved when she realised something simple but profound: people are human. Most people want to connect. They want to share. They want to help. There's a huge lesson in that. For women listening, this is your reminder that you don't have to have it all figured out before you reach out. One message, one conversation, one brave step can create momentum you didn't expect. And for organisations, this conversation reinforces something I say all the time: career progression doesn't just happen because someone has been there a long time. It happens when confidence, visibility and strategic support come together. When you invest in your internal talent, the impact can be both immediate and long-term. Gail's story shows that growth doesn't always mean leaving — sometimes it means stepping up, speaking up, and expanding your influence right where you are. So if you're wondering whether visibility really makes a difference… or whether investing in development programmes actually creates change… this episode is one to listen to. I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

You Don't Need to Be Perfect - The Power of Authentic Visibility | Catherine White As part of celebrating 10 years in business and the incredible women I've had the privilege of working with, there was no way I could not invite Catherine White onto the podcast. And here's why. Catherine reached out to me back in 2019 when she was working in a housing association. At the time, most of my work was with women founders and business owners — but Catherine wanted in. Her organisation invested in her to join the programme… and honestly? That decision didn't just change things for Catherine. It changed things for me too. She became the catalyst for the work I've now done with housing associations for the past seven years — supporting women across the sector to step forward, speak up, and lead visibly. Catherine is the Senior Finance Business Partner to Development and Commercial services at the Guinness Partnership and in this conversation, we talk about what it really means to step forward — especially when it feels uncomfortable. Catherine shares so honestly about moving from perfectionism to progress. About realising that you can't change what's happening unless you're in the room. And about understanding that trying — even if it doesn't work out — is more powerful than standing back. If you've ever held yourself back because you felt you weren't "ready" or "perfect" enough… this episode is for you. And for organisations listening — this is what happens when you invest in your women. Confidence grows. Influence grows. And the ripple effect goes far beyond one individual. Catherine's journey is such a powerful example of what visibility and belief can unlock — not just for your career, but for the legacy you role model for others coming through behind you. I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

From Ambitious to Influential: A Real Visibility Career Story | Lucy Ndlovu I am so excited about today's episode. As part of celebrating 10 years of working with incredible women on their visibility, I knew there was one woman I absolutely had to bring back to the podcast — Lucy Ndlovu. Lucy is a strategic communications and engagement specialist, passionate about connecting policy, people and lived experience to drive meaningful change. She currently works at Vico Homes, where she has held Communications and PR roles. She is the Founder of Progressive Talent C.I.C. social enterprise, and is passionate about volunteering and mentoring initiatives that empower under represented communities. She holds an MA in Public Relations & Strategic Communication and is currently undertaking a PhD in Sociology and Social Policy, deepening her focus on equity, representation and social change. Lucy first came on the podcast back in 2021 — episode 88, if you want to go back and listen — where we talked about her dreams, her goals, and what stepping into visibility really meant for her at that point in her career. And let me tell you… what has happened since is exactly why I do this work. In this episode, Lucy shares how being visible — consistently, authentically, and without overthinking it — has opened doors she couldn't have predicted. We talk about how one post can lead to opportunity. How sharing your story builds credibility. And how growth can sometimes feel… unintentional. You don't even realise it's happening until you look back. We also talk about something so many women struggle with — overthinking what to post, worrying about what people will say, feeling like it has to be "serious" or perfect. Lucy is such a brilliant example of showing up as a whole human being — professional, yes — but also warm, relatable, and real. And for organisations listening in, this is why visibility matters. When women are supported to share their stories, to speak up, to build their presence — confidence grows. Credibility grows. Influence grows. And that impacts not just the individual, but your culture and your leadership pipeline too. Lucy says it best in this episode: Just go for it. You'll be amazed at the doors that open. So if you're sitting on the fence about putting yourself out there… or about investing in coaching to help you do it strategically… this conversation is going to give you the nudge you need. I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

How real women stop hiding to promote themselves and be more visible Welcome to this very special mini-series for International Women's Day but not only that I am also celebrating 10 years in my business. Now, this one feels a bit special to me. Because over the next few episodes, you're not just going to hear from me - you're going to hear from some absolutely brilliant women I've had the privilege of working with over the years. We're catching up. We're hearing what's happened since. We're talking about what visibility has actually changed for them. And honestly? Some of these conversations gave me goosebumps. But before we dive into those interviews, I wanted to kick us off properly. I want to talk about why this matters. Why visibility matters. Why it's not fluffy. Why it's not self-indulgent. And why, if we're serious about women's career progression, it's non-negotiable. Because here's the thing. Women are not lacking in talent. We are not lacking in capability. We are not lacking in qualifications. What we are often lacking is visibility. And that is not the same thing. The Visibility Gap For years - decades - we've been told: "Put your head down." "Work hard." "Don't blow your own trumpet." "Good work speaks for itself." Spoiler alert: it doesn't. Not in the rooms where decisions are made. Not in the conversations where promotions happen. Not in the spaces where opportunities are handed out. And so many of the women I work with come to me saying things like: "I don't want to look arrogant." "I don't want to put myself out there." "I'm not ready yet." "Who am I to say that?" "I hate talking about myself." Sound familiar? And this is where the barriers come in. Because it's not just confidence. It's conditioning. We've been socialised to be modest. To be grateful. To not take up too much space. To not be "too much." And let's be honest - women who are visible often get labelled in ways that men simply don't. Too loud. Too ambitious. Too pushy. Too difficult Too emotional Too confident. But here's what I say - and I've been saying this for ten years now (and those of you that know me well know I have been saying this for a lot longer than that) If you are not visible, you are optional. And I don't want you to be optional. 10 Years of This Work I've been doing this specific work for a decade now. And its all come from my own experience of hiding behind others, employees, behind the brand, behind my fears. Ten years of helping women own their voice, own their expertise, own the space they walk into. And in that time, I've worked with over 5,000 women in some form or another. From right back in the beginning, if you were with me back then and Fiercemums and a random blog I decided to hit publish on after a few wines with my sisters that built a huge community of women wanting to find their fierce, from the threats of law suits because apparently there is a woman who owns the word fierce so I couldn't use it in anymore, and so came The F Movement and you can imagine the F words that came up from that, from facebook lives to awareness workshops, to intimate networking events for introverts in business, From 1:1 coaching sessions where we're unpicking years of self-doubt… To group programmes where women find strength in community and RiSE together… To interactive workshops where lightbulbs go off across the room… To work with male allies because women's career progression and the gender pay gap isn't only a woman's responsibility to sort out, To keynote talks -from Barnsley to Barcelona already this year - and across time zones that have absolutely ruined my sleep pattern but been worth every second. Different industries. Different countries. Different levels of seniority. Different women. But the one thing in common? They want to be seen. They want to be heard. They want the recognition they deserve. They want to showcase how bloody brilliant they are and what they bring to the table. And not in a fake, performative way. In an aligned, grounded, authentic, powerful way. The women usually show up anyway. Why Visibility Matters for Career Progression Because visibility isn't about being famous. It's about being known for what you want to be known for, so that in turn you can make a difference, an impact and influence others in a positive way It's about: Being front of mind when opportunities arise. Being invited into rooms you used to wait outside of. Being considered for promotion. Being asked for your opinion. Being paid properly for your expertise. Because here's the uncomfortable truth: You can't progress in a career where nobody knows the value you bring. You can't influence decisions if people don't associate you with leadership. You can't change systems if you're not in the room. Visibility creates influence. Influence creates opportunity. Opportunity creates progression. And progression is what creates change - not just for you, but for the women coming up behind you. Its ultimately why I do this work

How allyship is always a verb and allies do more with effective accountability with Teagan Robinson-Bell Today we have a returning guest on the show because she's just brilliant and I could talk to her all day about DEI, gender equity and inclusive cultures because it's her speciality! Teagan Robinson Bell has been Anchor's Diversity and Inclusion Manager since 2021 and has been with the housing association for nearly 6 years. She has led Anchor's inclusion agenda that supports colleagues with their career goals and personal development whilst being their authentic selves and supports residents to live lives that allow them to thrive in later life. Her ethos is that everyone's voice should be heard and that cognitive diversity allows organisations to provide great places to work and provides the best outcomes for customers. On the show today we are focusing on the importance of male allyship - the actual behaviour and difference that men can make in the workplace and beyond. We chat about the things that can stop them doing more such as power imbalances in the workplace or this lack of self awareness about the privileges they hold. But ultimately if we can't focus on it being a moral obligation to challenge bias and discrimination - which we all hope would be the standard set, we can still link this to money and impacting the bottom line from a commercial point of view. Listen in as Teagan shares some great advice and tips on how to deal with banter and how we can make sure that there is accountability for all allies especially those in more leadership positions. Let us know what you think and what you will be doing about it! Connect with Teagan Book Reccomendations: https://thefixpodcast.org/episodes/laura-bates-everyday-sexism-project/ | Laura Bates on her Everyday Sexism Project Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men | book by Caroline Criado Perez Women Don't Owe You Pretty | book by Florence Given We Should All Be Feminists | book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie ---------- Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

How to address 'banter' in the workplace for a truly inclusive culture Today we have Tim Hartley on the show. With 20 years experience in the rail sector, Tim led the growth of GB Railfreight since 2020, as Business Development Director. He has had full P&L Accountability for the Intermodal market which has doubled in size during his tenure. He was accountable for growing revenue across the business by over 50%. Tim led sales activity across all market sectors. He ran the HR function, Marketing, Public Affairs and Communication as well as Chairing the technology review group. Prior to joining GB Railfreight Tim had a career in Management Consultancy and has advised senior leaders in Rail and Infrastructure sectors around the world. Today we are talking to Tim about his thoughts and experiences on the importance of male allies particularly in more male dominated industries ; do boys clubs still exist and how do we really challenge banter in the workplace to ensure a truly inclusive culture - listen in and let us know what you think about our discussion today Connect with Tim ---------- Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

How being an ally can literally change lives Abbie is today's guest and she is a communities and placemaking manager with 20 years of experience in social housing. She is inspiring and passionate about supporting individuals and communities to thrive. She uses this passion to support women both in and outside of Home Group Housing Association to realise their potential. She hopes to widen the scope of the women's network to engage and support as many women as possible. Today we talk about those allies that really made a game changing difference to her life and how this has helped shape her own leadership style. Let us know what you think. Connect with Abbie --------- Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

How building allies builds your inclusive culture On today's episode we are chatting with the amazing Natalie Quilter. A diversity and inclusion specialist Natalie is an accomplished operations and inclusion leader within the housing sector, currently leading the G15s inclusion strategy. Motivated by her own mental health challenges and being a caregiver for her mother, Natalie uses her lived experience and specialist knowledge to support employees both within the sector and beyond. She partners with organisations ranging from small to global enterprises – delivering impactful talks and workshops on topics in the ED&I and wellbeing realm - specialising in supporting carers in the workplace. Natalie has also authored impactful case studies for the National Housing Federation, CMI and Carers UK, and earned recognition from Investors in People, Working Families, Reward Gateway and recently was named Unpaid Carers Ambassador of the year 2024. Listen in to hear more about Natalie's own experiences of how allies have shaped her career progression and the powerful and often life changing impact that they can have on individuals. Connect with Natalie --------- Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

How accountability is the best way to build male allies in the workplace Today's guest as part of this allyship series is the incredible Josh Nesbitt. Josh is a software engineer and technical leader based in the UK. He's been working on the web for the last 19 years, and during that time, he's worked with a wide range of clients, from indie start-ups to some of the largest organisations in the world. His work spans from hands-on projects building large platforms to leading some of the best-performing teams in the industry. Alongside his work as a consultant, he also runs an internationally recognised conference called All Day Hey!, which brings people from all over the world to the heart of Leeds to learn, inspire and share stories. Which I can highly recommend attending! We chat about why allyship is important, the threat to DEIB initiatives, calling BS on excuses, how to be a better one - and how to create a culture that makes it more accountable and less performative. Listen to this fab conversation where Josh shares some great actions you can start taking today. Let us know what you think. Link to Josh's event we mention; https://heypresents.com/conferences/2025 Link to connect with Josh; https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-nesbitt/ --------- Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

Why I am talking more about men for this years International Women's Day. In all transparency, last IWD I wasn't thrilled at the prospect of celebrating another day filled with purple balloons, cupcakes and being told to hug ourselves. The whole thing was starting to make me cringe. How will all this smash the patriarchy? Now this sounds crazy to you and me both because I know how important days like this are for raising awareness - thats the whole point of awareness days / weeks / months, but that's just the thing - has it lost it's way? For me its about reminding everyone why it's still important to work on gender equity because we are still not there yet and the recent and some that seem neverending events around the world where by women and children are the ones really feeling the dire and often demoralising consequences are enough to make anyone think why bother? However this is exactly why we need to. The time is NOW. There's a lot of despair in the world right now around women's rights and gender equity. I cannot believe what I am seeing.I feel like we are going backwards; although maybe this is what others want us to believe; in fact maybe it's just the opposite. This concerning pushback threatens bodily autonomy, sees increasing gender-based violence, and systemic barriers that hold women and marginalised communities back. So this moment is not just about defending progress; it's about driving change forward. And as change gains momentum so does pushback. And in Florence's words "It's always darkest before the dawn". And this is why I see the huge and powerful place for male allyship now more than ever. Those men that get it. Those men that can see the harmful impact that lack of inclusivity and equity has for women in the world. I have started sharing male allies when I see them over on my insta stories @nomorehiningco and saving them in a highlight in case you ever need a reminder that they are out there. Because that's the thing - No More Hiding isn't just about women being more visible, it's about everyone being more visible for the things that matter - speaking out and sharing their lived experiences and ideas about how we can be more inclusive and hear more perspectives around those decision making tables. Thats how we make a difference and thats how change happens So in this series we explore the crucial role male allies play in creating more equitable workplaces. We'll dive into why male allyship is essential—not just for women's career progression, but for building healthier, more successful organizations overall. When we talk about workplace gender equality, the focus often falls on policies and initiatives. But true change doesn't happen without action—and that's where male allies come in. In this series, we'll unpack what real allyship looks like, why it's not enough to just "support" women behind the scenes, and how visibility and advocacy from men can make all the difference. Throughout the series, we'll be joined by industry leaders, workplace culture experts, and professionals who have firsthand experience with allyship in action. We'll explore the challenges, the impact, and the simple yet powerful ways men can step up in their workplaces. From amplifying women's voices in meetings to actively advocating for equal opportunities, we'll break down what meaningful allyship looks like—and why it benefits everyone. I saw a quote that struck a chord with me from Lilly tomlin and she said " I always wondered why somebody doesn't do something about that..theh I realised I was somebody" So, if you're ready to learn, challenge assumptions, and take action, you're in the right place. -------------- Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility and build more allies. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/company/no-more-hiding/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/gemmastow.bsky.social

How to make sure women in midlife get the recognition they deserve with Nina Evison Today we have our last but by no means least conversation with a fabulous woman to finish up this mini series all about the importance if visible leadership for women in housing and finishing off with a bang all about whether women in or approaching midlife and also the impact of menopause can affect visibility. Nina Evison is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years' experience of driving strategy, culture change and performance in the housing, manufacturing and utilities sectors. Since joining Yorkshire Housing in September 2019, she has helped the organisation to transform and become known for challenging out-dated and traditional approaches to the world of work. Nina is passionate about creating environments where people are trusted and empowered to do their best work for their customers, removing the cultural and process barriers that get in the way. As a female leader who began her own people management journey at the tender age of 23, Nina's personal experiences have influenced her passion for creating inclusive workplaces, spotting and developing talent and championing women and diversity in leadership roles. This is a great conversation where we discuss the changes and barriers that can come in midlife for women and how this can impact career progression and visibility but more importantly how this precious time in life actually brings wisdom, experience and prime time career opportunities that women can embrace. Turning negatives into positives - listen in and let us know whether you can relate to any of the topics discussed! -------------------- We have recently finished the RiSE for Visible Leadership April cohort coaching programme which had ambitious women from different Housing Associations and they have been taking actions they never dreamed they would in terms of visibility and self promotion - it's a win win for both them and their organisation! The following episodes are exploring the importance of visible leadership in housing for women's progression. Tune in and let us know you what you think! There are 4 women in this mini series you can get to know better; Ep 147 Intro and why visibility is important for women in housing with Gemma Stow Ep 148 with Sarah Roxby, Executive Director for Housing from WDH Ep 149 with Teagan Robinson, Diversity and Inclusion Manager from Anchor Ep 150 with Alex Greenwood, Senior People Business Partner from Places for People Ep 151 with Nina Evison, Executive Director Culture & Performance from Yorkshire Housing What is RiSE for Women in Housing? The housing association collaborative RiSE programme for visible leadership has a proven success rate previously internally in housing associations and it helps support women to own their expertise, identify barriers for self promotion and increase their visibility so that they can develop their career progression within the company. The impact of the programme for housing associations include: Increased retention of top female talent Promotions of more women into senior roles Reduction in the gender pay gap Pro active employees ready to take on new opportunities Talented employees who feel confident to speak up and share opinions and ideas in meetings More female role models who showcase their own achievements and are not backing away from self promotion Committed and motivated staff who want to progress their careers at their company Increased business opportunities from women getting more involved in networking to promote their company and its values. Some HAs have found the programme so successful that they have us facilitate internal cohorts every year. If you can think of women in your organisation who are struggling to own and showcase their experience, are not taking control over their career or are avoiding next level opportunities and you'd like to discuss putting them into RiSE to help them achieve their potential, reduce recruitment costs and attrition then get in touch - email me at [email protected] or direct message me in LinkedIn. Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear fro

How do you know if you need a female focused leadership development programme with Alex Greenwood. Today we are talking about those leadership development programmes that are designed to help high performers learn the skills and strategies to further their career and be the best leader they can be. The main topic of this discussion today is whether we really need these types of programmes that are for women only? You can probably guess my own personal opinion on this topic seen as though I have my RiSE group programme for visible leadership which I have been running internally for many organisations including housing and we now offer this as a collaboration for different housing associations to come together and share a group so that women are already networking across their sector before we've been got to the visibility and networking techniques! It's really great and I love love facilitating it - I think for me the best bit is when I see the women grow. They grow in themselves, in their confidence but also in how they recognise their strengths and that its ok to show others what they are capable of! The absolute impact and influence that ambitious women can have in organisations is pretty off the charts when they are given the opportunity to shine and rise! So what better person to talk to about these types of leadership development programmes than the incredible Alex Greenwood who I have known for a good number of years now. Alex started her career working within sport and hospitality in operational roles. She then moved into the HR profession and has over 20 years experience. She has progressed her career into senior HR roles working within different industries / sectors. She has been accountable for the full people infrastructure within SME Businesses and has a breadth of knowledge within the HR space. We would love to hear from you and your ideas or experience on the ideas we discuss on today's show - come and connect with us both over on Linkedin and drop us a message or even better share this episode and get others talking about this all important topic! -------------------- We have recently finished the RiSE for Visible Leadership April cohort coaching programme which had ambitious women from different Housing Associations and they have been taking actions they never dreamed they would in terms of visibility and self promotion - it's a win win for both them and their organisation! The following episodes are exploring the importance of visible leadership in housing for women's progression. Tune in and let us know you what you think! There are 4 women in this mini series you can get to know better; Ep 147 Intro and why visibility is important for women in housing with Gemma Stow Ep 148 with Sarah Roxby, Executive Director for Housing from WDH Ep 149 with Teagan Robinson, Diversity and Inclusion Manager from Anchor Ep 150 with Alex Greenwood, Senior People Business Partner from Places for People Ep 151 with Nina Evison, Executive Director Culture & Performance from Yorkshire Housing What is RiSE for Women in Housing? The housing association collaborative RiSE programme for visible leadership has a proven success rate previously internally in housing associations and it helps support women to own their expertise, identify barriers for self promotion and increase their visibility so that they can develop their career progression within the company. The impact of the programme for housing associations include: Increased retention of top female talent Promotions of more women into senior roles Reduction in the gender pay gap Pro active employees ready to take on new opportunities Talented employees who feel confident to speak up and share opinions and ideas in meetings More female role models who showcase their own achievements and are not backing away from self promotion Committed and motivated staff who want to progress their careers at their company Increased business opportunities from women getting more involved in networking to promote their company and its values. Some HAs have found the programme so successful that they have us facilitate internal cohorts every year. If you can think of women in your organisation who are struggling to own and showcase their experience, are not taking control over their career or are avoiding next level opportunities and you'd like to discuss putting them into RiSE to help them achieve their potential, reduce recruitment costs and attrition then get in touch - email me at [email protected] or direct message me in LinkedIn. Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women

How to make sure you have the best role models for an inclusive culture with Teagan Robinson Today's episode with have the fab Teagan Robinson who has been Anchor's Diversity and Inclusion Manager since 2021 and has been with the housing association for nearly 6 years. She has led Anchor's inclusion agenda that supports colleagues with their career goals and personal development whilst being their authentic selves and supports residents to live lives that allow them to thrive in later life. Her ethos is that everyone's voice should be heard and that cognitive diversity allows organisations to provide great places to work and provides the best outcomes for customers. In our conversation today we discussed the importance of role models and if you can see it then you can become it - a crucial role that visible leadership has to play. As well as allies and how its not only men that need to be better allies but we also need to see more women supporting more women because the impact can be huge especially if there is judgement and criticism around different ambitions, and recognising that we don't always look at this through an intersectional lens. Teagan explains the importance of positive action to address diversity gaps and shares great tips on how companies can do things differently. We also look at the part that clear career pathways can play in moving the needle on gender parity too and ensuring that everyone is granted the actual time and space to be involved in and make the most of career development opportunities. Let us know your thoughts after tuning in? -------------------- We have recently finished the RiSE for Visible Leadership April cohort coaching programme which had ambitious women from different Housing Associations and they have been taking actions they never dreamed they would in terms of visibility and self promotion - it's a win win for both them and their organisation! The following episodes are exploring the importance of visible leadership in housing for women's progression. Tune in and let us know you what you think! There are 4 women in this mini series you can get to know better; Ep 147 Intro and why visibility is important for women in housing with Gemma Stow Ep 148 with Sarah Roxby, Executive Director for Housing from WDH Ep 149 with Teagan Robinson, Diversity and Inclusion Manager from Anchor Ep 150 with Alex Greenwood, Senior People Business Partner from Places for People Ep 151 with Nina Evison, Executive Director Culture & Performance from Yorkshire Housing What is RiSE for Women in Housing? The housing association collaborative RiSE programme for visible leadership has a proven success rate previously internally in housing associations and it helps support women to own their expertise, identify barriers for self promotion and increase their visibility so that they can develop their career progression within the company. The impact of the programme for housing associations include: Increased retention of top female talent Promotions of more women into senior roles Reduction in the gender pay gap Pro active employees ready to take on new opportunities Talented employees who feel confident to speak up and share opinions and ideas in meetings More female role models who showcase their own achievements and are not backing away from self promotion Committed and motivated staff who want to progress their careers at their company Increased business opportunities from women getting more involved in networking to promote their company and its values. Some HAs have found the programme so successful that they have us facilitate internal cohorts every year. If you can think of women in your organisation who are struggling to own and showcase their experience, are not taking control over their career or are avoiding next level opportunities and you'd like to discuss putting them into RiSE to help them achieve their potential, reduce recruitment costs and attrition then get in touch - email me at [email protected] or direct message me in LinkedIn. Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: W

How to authentically embrace visible leadership in the workplace with Sara Roxby (WDH) Today's episode is part of the mini series we have focusing on the importance of visible leadership for women in housing. If you are tuning in and work in the housing sector and know that there are women in your organisation that would benefit from from by increasing their confidence with visibility, raising their profile and proactively seeking out opportunities to further their career progression at your company then do get in touch about the RiSE collaborative coaching programme that is having a big impact in this space. Now on today's show we have the incredible Sarah Roxby who is the Executive Director for Housing at WDH and leads a team of almost 600 housing and health professionals, whilst continuously banging the drum to put housing and health on the agenda. Sarah is also the Senior Responsible Officer for the Housing and Health Programme for the West Yorkshire Integrated Care System and has influenced investment from the NHS into key housing related roles. Sarah began her career in housing at 16 years old. After discovering a passion for connecting housing and health she has dedicated her career to putting that on the agenda, both at a local level developing relationships with the NHS and nationally, supporting others to follow her lead. Sarah is a well-respected woman in housing and was a finalist at last year's Women in Housing Awards. We talk about the struggles and support Sarah has had on her career journey and also she's still learning to embrace visibility and how important visibility can be for women in housing who are keen to progress their careers. We also manage to chat briefly about how awesome strength training and running is too - because ultimately wellbeing matters! -------------------- We have recently finished the RiSE for Visible Leadership April cohort coaching programme which had ambitious women from different Housing Associations and they have been taking actions they never dreamed they would in terms of visibility and self promotion - it's a win win for both them and their organisation! The following episodes are exploring the importance of visible leadership in housing for women's progression. Tune in and let us know you what you think! There are 4 women in this mini series you can get to know better; Ep 147 Intro and why visibility is important for women in housing with Gemma Stow Ep 148 with Sarah Roxby, Executive Director for Housing from WDH Ep 149 with Teagan Robinson, Diversity and Inclusion Manager from Anchor Ep 150 with Alex Greenwood, Senior People Business Partner from Places for People Ep 151 with Nina Evison, Executive Director Culture & Performance from Yorkshire Housing What is RiSE for Women in Housing? The housing association collaborative RiSE programme for visible leadership has a proven success rate previously internally in housing associations and it helps support women to own their expertise, identify barriers for self promotion and increase their visibility so that they can develop their career progression within the company. The impact of the programme for housing associations include: Increased retention of top female talent Promotions of more women into senior roles Reduction in the gender pay gap Pro active employees ready to take on new opportunities Talented employees who feel confident to speak up and share opinions and ideas in meetings More female role models who showcase their own achievements and are not backing away from self promotion Committed and motivated staff who want to progress their careers at their company Increased business opportunities from women getting more involved in networking to promote their company and its values. Some HAs have found the programme so successful that they have us facilitate internal cohorts every year. If you can think of women in your organisation who are struggling to own and showcase their experience, are not taking control over their career or are avoiding next level opportunities and you'd like to discuss putting them into RiSE to help them achieve their potential, reduce recruitment costs and attrition then get in touch - email me at [email protected] or direct message me in LinkedIn. Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase

Why visible leadership should be a priority for women in housing! Today I am letting you know about something exciting we have coming up - its a new mini series I have pulled together with some incredible guests. Its been a while since I was in your ears and I am always so grateful to get messages of how people have only just found the podcast and are binge listening to my episodes - it blows me away because I have been doing this podcast for a long time now and although I am not as regular as I used to be on our weekly get togethers I do still enjoy being here with you so much! We have recently finished the RiSE for Visible Leadership April cohort coaching programme which had ambitious women from different Housing Associations and they have been taking actions they never dreamed they would in terms of visibility and self promotion - it's a win win for both them and their organisation! The following episodes are exploring the importance of visible leadership in housing for women's progression. Tune in and let us know you what you think! There are 4 women in this mini series you can get to know better; Ep 149 with Sarah Roxby, Executive Director for Housing from WDH Ep 148 with Teagan Robinson, Diveristy and Inclusion Manager from Anchor Ep 150 with Alex Greenwood, Senior People Business Partner from Places for People Ep 151 with Nina Evison, Executive Director Culture & Perfromance from Yorkshire Housing What is RiSE for Women in Housing? The housing association collaborative RiSE programme for visible leadership has a proven success rate previously internally in housing associations and it helps support women to own their expertise, identify barriers for self promotion and increase their visibility so that they can develop their career progression within the company. The impact of the programme for housing associations include: Increased retention of top female talent Promotions of more women into senior roles Reduction in the gender pay gap Pro active employees ready to take on new opportunities Talented employees who feel confident to speak up and share opinions and ideas in meetings More female role models who showcase their own achievements and are not backing away from self promotion Committed and motivated staff who want to progress their careers at their company Increased business opportunities from women getting more involved in networking to promote their company and its values. Some HAs have found the programme so successful that they have us facilitate internal cohorts every year. If you can think of women in your organisation who are struggling to own and showcase their experience, are not taking control over their career or are avoiding next level opportunities and you'd like to discuss putting them into RiSE to help them achieve their potential, reduce recruitment costs and attrition then get in touch - email me at [email protected] or direct message me in LinkedIn. Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ LinkedIn: Business Page https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gemmastow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco

Why employees feeling safe to be themselves at work benefits companies too Today on the show as part of our inclusion at work mini series we have the fabulous Ali Bowen, who describes herself as a wife, cat mother, holiday lover, hedgehog fosterer and general wildlife enthusiast…. She recently embraced country living and her role as a Sector Commercial Manager for VINCI Facilities funds all the above! She has Over 20 years experience working in Construction and the Built Environment and her wife says she used to read contracts for a living and now manages a team that does! She was recently appointed as a Trustee for the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the trustee lead for D&I. Ali would say "I'm a gay woman and made by dyslexia" and I love that. We chat about the launch of the LGBTQ+ network, where her ideas came from and the importance about feeling included and being able to bring your whole self to work. This isn't just about performance its about mental health. Listen in to hear about her experiences and golden nuggets she shares about how companies can be better allies. How to celebrate Inclusion Week with interactive workshops / sessions If you are a leader in your organisation or maybe part of an internal network or Employee Resource Group (ERG) we are taking bookings for Inclusion week at the end of September. We are particularly focusing on the importance of networking and making sure ALL employees have access to building those all important stakeholder relationships for career progression! So get in touch sooner rather than later if you fancy chatting about what would benefit your organisation and its people the best! Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. 5 Steps to being more visible at work - Your HOW to guide! Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gemmastow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco

How to be better and work towards full inclusion in the workplace Today's guest is the fabulous Mulima Muyunda - who is the Race & Diversity Lead at South Yorkshire Housing Association. She oversees the delivery of their Race Action Plan, working in an intersectional way to support SYHA to deliver on their overall commitment to equality and Diversity. She specialises in driving change at a structural level by collaborating with leaders to understand how inequalities are upheld through everyday decision making. What a conversation this and In am so excited for you to join us where we discuss how there is always work to do when it comes to inclusion - even when incredible steps have been taken and needles have been moved it's important to keep working hard and driving for change. How to celebrate Inclusion Week with interactive workshops / sessions If you are a leader in your organisation or maybe part of an internal network or Employee Resource Group (ERG) we are taking bookings for Inclusion week at the end of September. We are particularly focusing on the importance of networking and making sure ALL employees have access to building those all important stakeholder relationships for career progression! So get in touch sooner rather than later if you fancy chatting about what would benefit your organisation and its people the best! Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. 5 Steps to being more visible at work - Your HOW to guide! Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gemmastow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco

How companies need to recognise the importance of flexible working On the show today we have an incredible inspiring woman and that is Isobel Gunn Brown. Isobel is ACCA qualified and has over 30 years' experience in financial services. She is a Partner at Triple Point Investment Management and heads up the Fund Finance team acting as CFO for their Listed Funds with £2bn Assets Under Management. Listen in to hear more about her career journey that started off in a male dominated industry in the days when it was not only common practice but more acceptable for sexism and gender bias to happen in the workplace. She shares with us her own experiences of imposter syndrome and we chat about the can we have it all - raising a family whilst building a career and how she believes a little bit of imposter syndrome can go a long way - she is basically living proof that this is true! Keep listening and then let us know about your own experiences and how you can relate. How to celebrate Inclusion Week with interactive workshops / sessions If you are a leader in your organisation or maybe part of an internal network or Employee Resource Group (ERG) we are taking bookings for Inclusion week at the end of September. We are particularly focusing on the importance of networking and making sure ALL employees have access to building those all important stakeholder relationships for career progression! So get in touch sooner rather than later if you fancy chatting about what would benefit your organisation and its people the best! Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. 5 Steps to being more visible at work - Your HOW to guide! Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gemmastow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco

How Neurodiversity plays an important role at work and gives companies the edge As part of our inclusion mini series I have an incredible woman on the show today - Laura or Loz Shallcross is on a mission for more people to understand what it means to be Neurodiverse and to make workplaces more accessible. She is a Support Team Supervisor at WDH and has worked there since 2008. Loz has both Tourette Syndrome and ADHD and I have invited her to talk and educate me and you on what life's like and how this can impact career progression and how women especially feel about themselves. She has taught me so much in this single conversation that I know she will be going on to do so much more to raise the awareness of neurodiversity so that everyone can be treated with the understanding and respect. We talk tics, language, misdiagnosis, misunderstanding and how workplaces can do so much more to make sure that all their employees feel included and are using their strengths to their advantage! Employers are missing a trick and missing out on having the best people in their teams! Thank you Laura for such an open and honest conversation - you rock! How to celebrate Inclusion Week with interactive workshops / sessions If you are a leader in your organisation or maybe part of an internal network or Employee Resource Group (ERG) we are taking bookings for Inclusion week at the end of September. We are particularly focusing on the importance of networking and making sure ALL employees have access to building those all important stakeholder relationships for career progression! So get in touch sooner rather than later if you fancy chatting about what would benefit your organisation and its people the best! Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. 5 Steps to being more visible at work - Your HOW to guide! Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gemmastow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco

How your company can and should make everyone feel recognised and included I am back with an exciting mini series especially for Inclusion Week this year which runs from 25th Sept - 1st October. The theme this year is all about Taking Action and Making Impact, a call to action for everyone in the organisations to do what they can to make a difference for and positive impact for their colleagues. I talk alot about gender and more specifically the importance of visibility for women's career progression - and I wanted to create something that not only gave me the chance to learn more from incredible women but also to highlight the importance of intersectionality when it comes to inclusion. How to celebrate Inclusion Week with interactive workshops / sessions If you are a leader in your organisation or maybe part of an internal network or Employee Resource Group (ERG) we are taking bookings for Inclusion week at the end of September. We are particularly focusing on the importance of networking and making sure ALL employees have access to building those all important stakeholder relationships for career progression! So get in touch sooner rather than later if you fancy chatting about what would benefit your organisation and its people the best! Let's get more diversity around those decision making tables and more importantly let's create inclusive workplaces that recognise everyone for who they are and the value they bring. #Resources for YOU and your team! Click HERE to get the monthly 'Visibility Matters' Newsletter > that shares the latest around the gender pay gap, visibility, allyship, self promotion and good practice that is happening all over the place that support more women to step up and companies to recognise the value they bring. 5 Steps to being more visible at work - Your HOW to guide! Take the Test > How good is your visibility and personal branding quiz? Book a chat with Gemma - This is the place to book a call to see how Gemma can help you or your company support female leaders to raise their profile, increase performance and visibility. Get the White Paper > 'Visibility at Work: The Importance of Self Promotion for Women's Career Progression I want to hear from YOU so get in touch with me: Connect with your host Gemma Stow: Website: https://www.gemmastow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemmastow/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/gemmastow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomorehidingco