We Are Power Podcast
The We Are Power podcast is the podcast for your career and your life. A weekly podcast with listeners in over 60 countries worldwide where you'll hear personal life stories, top-notch industry advice, and key leadership insight from amazing role models. The podcast not only aids your personal and professional development but also delves deep into conversations around Gender Equality and Social Mobility. Each week the We Are Power Podcast will bring you a new interview from a leader within the 100,000-strong We Are Power community, hosted by Simone Roche MBE.
We Are Power Podcast
2025 Northern PoWEr Women Awards Special with Bank of America and Barclays
Join us on the We Are PoWEr podcast as Amy Williams, Managing Director at Barclays and Iwona Schmidt, Managing Director at Bank of America talk about their roles as co-headline partners for the 2025 Northern PoWEr Women’s Awards. 🌟
Amy and Iwona share...
✨ Their excitement for the night
✨ The power of role models
✨ Why the partnership is important to them personally and professionally
✨ Their companies' commitment to diversity and inclusion
The 2025 #NPWAwards is on 6th March, don’t miss this episode as we build up to the largest celebration of gender equality in Europe!
Chapters:
0:00 Celebrating Gender Diversity and Inclusion
8:43 Recognising Excellence and Community Impact
18:54 Empowering Northern Leaders
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Hello, hello and welcome to the we Are Power podcast. If this is your first time here, the we Are Power podcast is the podcast for you, your career and your life. We release an episode every single Monday with listeners in over 60 countries worldwide, where you'll hear personal life stories, top-notch industry advice and key leadership insight from amazing role models. As we Are Power is the umbrella brand to Northern Power Women Awards, which celebrates hundreds of female role models and advocates every year. This is where you can hear stories from all of our awards alumni and stay up to date with everything. Mpw Awards and we Are Power Never imitated, never replicated singularly wonderful, everybody's wonder girl. I am delighted to welcome Amy Williams and Yvonne Schmidt from Barclays and Bank of America respectively. Or did I get that the wrong way around?
Speaker 2:Might need a flip, but I'm sure we're in to change it. I'm sure they'll never notice who turns up.
Speaker 1:It's amazing this year because you are both our co-headline partners for the ninth Northern Power Women Awards. And the frenzy is building, isn't it? The frenzy is building Absolutely. How is it? At Bank of America and Barclays HQ, everyone getting frock ready?
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, there's a lot of chat like sequins, glitter, green, blue, red gold. Yeah, there's a lot going on. There's a lot going on.
Speaker 3:There's a lot going on, oh right.
Speaker 1:Okay, we've got a huge amount of excitement.
Speaker 3:actually Frocks suits the lot. Who's going to be sitting where? Who's going to meet who?
Speaker 1:Well, one of the funniest things last year was when we launched our advocacy list, which Mark is the founding partner of. Oh my goodness, the WhatsApp group I had the male advocates in was one of the most hysterical groups, like and before any of the other whatsapp groups, because we put all of our finalists, all of our power lists, future lists, the game changers, all into into whatsapp group, our judges, just to chat. Is that's part of that? It's part of the networking.
Speaker 3:It's part of that community building and it was the.
Speaker 1:It was the advocacy male advocacy group was the first group that broke the seal on the clothes. The clothes discussion.
Speaker 2:I didn't know there were so many versions of velvet. Not going to lie. No, velvet, surely is velvet.
Speaker 1:So maybe actually you know us three on the purple carpet with the wonderful Michelle Eagleton as they come in, we could maybe give scores, who knows, I could rate my velvet, we could.
Speaker 2:We could maybe give scores, who knows I?
Speaker 1:could rate my velvet. We could, we could Rate my velvet. I'm in my pyjamas, I'm all ready to go. Amy Williams, managing Director of Barclays, and Yvonne Schmidt, as I introduced, as Managing Director of Bank of America. I am delighted to have known you for the last few years, but now, like creating this co-headline and it's I feel like we're becoming a little little girl gang army, haven't we? Oh, definitely, absolutely.
Speaker 1:And you've both been to the awards on. You've been a couple of times, amy, you've been a couple of times. And the Covid or the pandemic year, yeah, where we ridiculously tried to put 1100 people into zoom rooms to create viewing parties, which was absolutely, and it was at the start, where we were all still got used to Zoom and stuff, but it was. It was phenomenal. And our wonderful host, nina Hussain it was her first year of hosting. She always says that was one of her standout awards ever because of the detail that went into that. I said also, yes, it was totally crazy. But, yeah, what would you? How would you describe the awards? So people who are having those conversations, whether they're in your organizations, whether they're our finalists, listen to this starting to get GDOT ready. What? How would you describe it?
Speaker 3:do you want. I think there's two parts to it. To me. On one hand, there's the excitement of the night, um. So I remember last year arriving and just walking through the underground car park and there was already a buzz there and you know people walking in. And then you walk in and it's like arriving at a festival. There's so much energy and what really stood out for me is the people greeting each other like long lost friends, the introductions, and it's just fantastic, right, and that goes back to the point that we talk about. It's not one night, it's about creating that network, that community, um, and and and sort of taking it forward. Uh, from there, the, the other side, the other side, that really stands out. It's just such an amazing event to celebrate people who are really moving the dial, changing things, being brave, and it's really empowering as well. And it's having that celebration, putting that spotlight on people, that makes it so amazing. And then having such an enormous event in the north of England, it just makes it kind of even more special.
Speaker 1:Hashtag the largest event celebrating gender equality in Europe, Absolutely yeah, the Oscars for gender equality. I like that.
Speaker 2:Like, honestly, the feeling when you walk in it is nothing but pure magic. And, Ivonne, you're absolutely right. The fact that everyone there is unified by a single purpose, right, the the fact that everyone there is unified by a single purpose, which is to celebrate, nurture, foster gender diversity and inclusion in the north of england. That is what we're all to show up for, and celebrating the people that are really championing that from the forefront. Um so no matter if you're in competing industries small business medium business.
Speaker 2:You know, working for yourself, working for a charity.
Speaker 1:That that's what the awards night is about, which is an amazing unifying purpose and are there any standout moments that you've had from either the the virtual or the in-person events, whether it be finalists, whether it be colleagues? What? Oh, amy, you've got one. I can tell I did.
Speaker 2:I've been sitting here, sort of reflecting on doing the podcast today. Simone, what spending, and it's lovely to actually take a moment to reflect on previous years and relive the magic For me. I'm going to pick a top three, which is very hard to choose from. Number one has got to be the Corinthians and their stage presence, which was utterly amazing. Like what pioneers and what trailblazers.
Speaker 1:It was illegal, wasn't it For women to play football?
Speaker 2:It was so actual lawbreakers for championing like gender diversity and inclusion, amazing.
Speaker 1:And they're now making a film about that. Yes, and one of the reasons they came to the awards last year was because I'd got good old LinkedIn isn't it the good old power of networking? I got a message to say we want to tell a story about these amazing women. Is there any chance that one of them could come along on the night and I might bring them all? Uh, you know, I said bring them all, bring the whole team, because you're talking, some of them are 80s, 90s here. Bring them all and they. We had them in all day. Uh, we had students from the Manchester College doing hair and makeup. The Manchester Central put on afternoon tea for them. They were absolutely just amazing Fun. I think they thought it was never going to end you know, but now for that film to be made.
Speaker 1:But you just never know. And they started singing, do you?
Speaker 2:remember they started singing. They did, and then that got the whole room up and singing, which was incredible. Other two highlights so it was an Honest Be A Judge. At last year's awards Someone won to watch the fabulous Tasnim who won that category for the work that she's done in the legal profession, which was just a mind-blowing story. And then it's got to be Dance Syndrome, like the live performance. We had Simone at the partners event after um where they had again everyone up on their feet celebrating inclusive and sort of equitable dance, and I thought the performances, the magic, the vibe, I thought that was amazing and recently, uh, sort of at the end of last year.
Speaker 1:uh, for those who don't know, I'm an honorary captain in the Royal Navy and we had a big giant uh warship in HMS Prince of Wales and Dan St Joan got to perform on that warship because of the awards, because of that partner event. So sometimes you know you've got to be careful what you wish for, because you never know where it's going to go. Yeah, you'll be everywhere, any standout for you or any of those stories from individuals or quotes that you've picked up? Do you?
Speaker 3:know what, or quotes that you've picked up. Do you know what? I thought about this quite a bit, and there were standouts like the Corinthians were amazing, but to me, almost the standout was that there were so many amazing people and that the broad range of of achievements. So you had people who were standing up for female lawyers. You had individuals who were working with teaching children STEM. There was a lady who made wigs for cancer patients. It was the breadth and depth and that's what I think was unexpected, but in a good way, and very inspirational that you don't have to be in business or you don't have to be working in a charity. It's everything. And then I think I also I love the power lists because everyone's a winner, because everyone on the list is on the list, and I think you know you've talked about the WhatsApp groups and the community and I think that's the real. It's not. You don't just win on that one night, you don't just become part of a list on that night. That's the start of then, a forever community.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're not for Christmas. You know, that's not what this is about, and it's really interesting. Actually, one of our advocates we ask our partners like yourselves to be part of the mentoring program, because not only is the WhatsApp groups, not only are the sort of pre-virtual events, but we also uh, everyone in the finalists gets the opportunity to be matched with a mentor as part of a 12-week mentoring program, because this is all about how do we enhance, how do we share those stories. And actually one of our advocates was a mentor this year and I I spoke with him recently and he was like I'm now, in essence, like a non-exec board director for this organisation.
Speaker 1:So it is amazing, I think there's no prescribed sort of route or there's no prescription that comes with this, and is this one of the reasons why you both wanted to kind of go right. Well, we're leaping into this co-headline partnership here, we're going to play nice and we're going to do great stuff together.
Speaker 2:I'm totally right. I think we've got the benefit of having two hugely valuable global brands, yes, and I think that the way that we can use that as a force for good to amplify talent in the north and what what the Northern Power Women Awards are about, I think, is phenomenal. It also, from a Barclays perspective, aligns really closely to our core values and our purpose as well. Driving an improved, like diverse and equitable environment in the workplace globally for us is hugely important, and finding a way to celebrate role models and talent in the north of England that help drive that specifically in this region, but with a global reach, really really tightly couples with what we're about and what's important.
Speaker 1:And both global brands. We've talked about this, yet this is so important.
Speaker 3:And I really agree and it really resonates what you say. I think diversity and inclusion is so part of our DNA at Bank of America and genuinely we believe we're a better company because we really pursue that and we have lots of internal networks supporting women and allies. But actually what drew us and what really wants us to support the awards is that, as Amy says, when you have a large brand like Bank of America and Barclays do, being able to put the weight of that brand and your resources behind something I think adds so much strength and I think helps empower. And for us specifically at Bank of America, we've grown significantly in the region in the north of England in the last five years. So we really want to focus not just doing on our internal focus on internal diversity, but actually now paying it forward externally as well, in the community. We really believe that wherever we have offices, we want to get involved in the community and make things better and we think through this sponsorship, through this partnership, we can really do that.
Speaker 1:And it's the start, isn't it? And we've worked together, both organisations, for a number of years and sometimes it's been a pinch me moment for me. Sometimes I think of years and sometimes it's been a pinch me moment for me. Sometimes I think gosh, and then I kind of stand up. I think gosh, we're 10 years into Northern Power Women and next year will be the 10th awards. This year is the ninth, you know sometimes. I was having this conversation recently over dinner and there was a point where I thought are awards dying out? You know, is there a need for awards anymore? Because there was a point where I thought are awards dying?
Speaker 1:out you know, is there a need for awards anymore, because there's a lot out there and I know when I first set the awards up I was thinking is this really needed? And and it was the wonderful James Timpson actually who I spoke to and I remember he was just his advice to me was do it your way. And I did that and then probably had more, more ways on along and bells on along the way.
Speaker 1:But is there still? Because there are so many different awards out there and there's a lot of calls on your time and pockets and budgets and resource and people and colleagues and nominations, marketing departments. But why are awards important? You've talked about role models.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's simply a means to celebrate.
Speaker 2:I say simply, it's a means to celebrate and recognise, unashamedly, the pioneers out there and I think without recognition of that and a cause to celebrate them, it's going to be really difficult to create more Like this. The awards should create and I know within Barclays it's created a ripple effect. So you sit up and you take notice, like last year we were really fortunate to have five of our colleagues on short lists or on the power list, on the advocacy list, on the future list, and that sent a message internally to say hey, we've got people that are out there driving change. It goes on our internal news boards, it goes in our internal recognition systems and it causes a bit of a pause and reflect. For are we really doing all we can and should be doing to drive forward and create that sort of environment where people can thrive and we are really embracing inclusion and equity? But it's because we've done that celebration bit, I think, simone, it's because we've recognised the people that are going above and beyond, driving change and those allies that are supporting driving that change.
Speaker 1:And I think the thing I see from both of your organisations you've both got wonderful people right.
Speaker 2:You do.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you really do.
Speaker 1:And of different levels, of different sectors, different backdowns, different stories, sectors, genders, everything along the way. And I've seen there's particular on both sides that I've seen some of your younger women that are growing through the wonderful Anjali, the wonderful Sinead, and you know I'm just gosh. That's awful. It's like picking my favourite child kind of thing.
Speaker 1:But you know, there's people who just you've seen I've seen them grow and thrive and really want to jump on and drive this. It's not an ROI relationship like that, I suppose. I guess it's kind of hard to measure, but I see it's your people getting involved. And when we sit around a table at Bank of America or Barclays with the gang, it's amazing because they're all one of you.
Speaker 3:Part of it.
Speaker 3:It is, and I think it has to become part of the DNA and the culture of a company.
Speaker 3:You're not just coming into the office or working from home to do your job, to do your work, but actually it's about creating a community, it's about making things better, it's about inputting your views and actually driving change and then, importantly, also taking that out to the community, because that's where you live and that you want to take all of that there. So we really want to encourage people and the young people coming through to really strive for their goals, but also to ensure that we're inclusive, because that's what it's all about inclusivity and diversity. And then, going back to the point about the awards, it's that spotlight. As Amy said, if you can shine a spotlight on someone, they become an example, a role model, and then other people go oh, maybe I can do that, or maybe it's okay for me to do that. And again, as large organisations, as senior leaders in large organisations, I feel it's our responsibility to do that, because then we set the example and people can look up and go oh well, if she did it, maybe I can.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It's that mirror, I feel like, and I think, if I go back to gosh, where are we? 2016,? When I set the awards, I set them up completely and totally focused on encouraging people to high-five their achievements. Yeah, because I think sometimes you think, oh, I'm not going to win, it's not for me. You've talked about some of your colleagues being nominated. It's a very robust judging process. It's tough, you know it's not. Northern Flaky women out there.
Speaker 1:You get nominated and you have to fill the answers in. Then it goes to judges round one, then another round. It's quite tough, isn't it? But I am proud of that and I think have we over engineered it too much? There's there's too many layers to it, but I feel like there's a real part of the whole process is it's almost a bit of catharticness. I've made that word up.
Speaker 1:Please forgive me right now, but there's something in that about when people come back to you and say, gosh, just knowing that someone thought enough to put their fingers to a keyboard or to do a voice memo, to do an audio nomination, whatever it may be, just it means a lot. Yeah, you know, and that for me, sometimes is what the difference is having that recognition and celebration.
Speaker 2:Absolutely right, and it shouldn't be easy, because making change isn't easy. It's a tough job. It takes grit and determination. You have amazing days where I've finished work and I think I did something good today. There'll be some days where I'll finish work and say not sure what I did today, but I think that's reflected in the awards and the process, simone, because it should be rigorous. It should be also an opportunity to write down every good thing about amazing people that are getting on the short list and winning absolutely, it's it, yeah, it is amazing and I think.
Speaker 3:I think what's important also is that sometimes it's not just one big thing that someone does. It's lots of little changes that actually, in the end, mean something phenomenal. And I think and I'm generalizing here but sometimes, as as women, we say it's just my job, that's just what I do, and we're really good at playing down what we've done. And actually I think having that rigorous process and then having the finalists and the winners actually says you might think it's small, but it really isn't, and you've been sort of put through this test of being nominated and then being chosen as a finalist or or even a winner, that really means something.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah and you it's the dreaded word. Just yes, you know we'll, we're doing. Oh, I just did that. Oh, I, I just did this deal, or I just spoke in front of this amount of people, or I just did a an amazing podcast with we are power whatever it may be, but we have to find and replace, just yes especially.
Speaker 1:Yes, because we need to be kind to ourselves. So what are you looking forward to about this year? Every year we, I think I always like to think our awards are quite intentional and entitled, and we'll always like go back and think are these the right titles? Are we able to celebrate everyone from grassroots to entrepreneurs, to trailblazers, to leaders? Can we try and represent on unearth all those role models? So we've got a new category this year, which is empowerment champion. Yeah, you know those people who are just that's what they do. They're not not mentoring, but they're just empowering. They're creating that small little things that will empower. Um, you know, people we've.
Speaker 1:We've created inclusive innovation into a people focus this year and also a tech for good focus. And then personal purpose, which has always been the hardest category, like 200 nominations out of 1,600. We've broken it down into public service, because we want to look and find our academics, our military, our firefighters, our NHS. We want to find all of those individuals and their stories. And then charity, cics we want to find. And then we've also got this year, for the first year, our public spotlight. So we've got Mel B Scary Spice Can't believe. People asked me Amazing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because we've got Vicky Patterson, we've got Jane Couch the boxer, we've got Tani Grey Thompson. We've got Jane Couch the boxer, we've got Tanni Grey Thompson, we've got Molly McCann and Dame Sarah Story and well remembered, I know there was my Rolodex in my head and that's where I should write things down.
Speaker 1:But the whole idea is what are people doing outside? You know you've got that public spotlight. We talked, you know we talked about using your power for good. What are they using? So that's that's exciting as well. It's a different. It's a different world for us. We've never sort of gone into that celebrity world, but these are people that are using that either influence status or celebrity status for good. So that's a that's new for this year as well. So we're excited to see sort of what that can empower, enable, because we know the power of that influences can be quite key out there, isn't it? So who knows what that might unlock as well? So what are you looking forward to?
Speaker 3:well, the new categories now.
Speaker 1:Thank you, I won't ask you to remember them all. It's not like go?
Speaker 2:I think I think we should.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'll leave that to you um, look I, every time I've attended the awards, even the virtual ones, I finish the evening feeling like an energy, an inspiration of what can I do next. I also feel a bit humbled, um, because I think some of the some, some of the things that people achieve are really quite amazing. So what am I looking forward to? I'm looking forward to being inspired. I'm looking forward to hearing all the stories, because I think that's what it's all about.
Speaker 3:I'm looking forward to meeting more people that I haven't yet met, being introduced to individuals who are amazing but who I might not cross paths with in sort of a normal life. And I think this year particularly, I'm really looking forward that Bank of America is a co-sponsor. And I think this year particularly, I'm really looking forward that Bank of America is a co-sponsor and I can walk around going, yeah, we're part of making this happen this year. I mean, simone, you're the full energy behind it. Let's not get that wrong. But that just is going to make me feel just that bit prouder of being there.
Speaker 2:I completely echo that. I think the partnership between Barclays and Bank of America being co-headline sponsors, I think it's an absolute magic moment for me this year, as well as all the new awards and the new stories and sort of the feeling energised, inspired and in awe of what our people out in the north are doing. I think for me it's the force multiplier of who's on the future list, who's on the power list and who's on the advocacy list, because that is like a load more people in the North with a badge that are going to be the future talent driving forward the agenda that we're all getting behind. The power women who were there as the role models and the sponsors helping our future list thrive, and our new allies that are there to help us all work towards a more balanced and equitable society.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I cannot wait. 6th of March Better be in your diary.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, it has been for a while.
Speaker 1:I feel like we need to convene a time and a date for our happy dance on the purple carpet. We absolutely will.
Speaker 2:I have no dance moves at all so I will literally let you look at it. We'll figure it out. We were good we were good.
Speaker 1:But Ivana, amy, thank you so much. Thank you for everything you've done to enable and support us and help us grow, help us do more, reach more, change our bit of the world and beyond. So thank you so much for joining me and I will see you on the 6th of March, see you on the 6th. See you then. Subscribe on YouTube, apple, amazon Music, spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, leave us a review or follow us on socials. We are Power underscore net on Insta, tiktok and Twitter. We are Power on LinkedIn, facebook and we are underscore Power on YouTube.
