She Leads

There are partnerships that sit alongside an event, and then there are those that quietly but powerfully shape what that event can become, influencing not just the conversations in the room but the opportunities that emerge from it. It is in that spirit that we welcome the GM Chamber of Commerce as an esteemed partner for RISE 2026, a collaboration that feels both intentional and necessary at this stage of the journey. Greater Manchester has long been a region defined by enterprise, resilience and reinvention, yet its future, like that of many economic centres, depends on how effectively it brings…

There is something quietly unsettling about the way artificial intelligence has entered our lives. Not with a single defining moment, but through a series of small shifts that have slowly changed how we work, decide, create, and even think. It is already influencing who gets seen, who gets selected, what gets prioritised, and how opportunities are shaped. And yet, for many, it still feels like something happening at a distance. Technical. Complex. Not quite theirs to engage with. And that is where the real tension sits. Because the question is not whether AI matters. It already does. The question is…

We are proud to welcome Slater Heelis as a key sponsor for RISE 2026 — and it’s not a token partnership. Their story and values echo much of what RISE stands for.  A Firm With Deep Roots and Modern Values  Slater Heelis is a full-service law firm with more than 250 years of history, serving clients across the UK and internationally from its North West base.  Over those centuries, they’ve evolved with the communities they serve — working with businesses, families, and organisations on everything from commercial and employment law to family matters, real estate, and dispute resolution.  But what really connects Slater Heelis with RISE isn’t just longevity. It’s how they show up.  A Track Record of Inclusion and Social Impact …

Sponsored by Applehead Media We are delighted to welcome Applehead Media as the official sponsor of Voices of RISE, a live, broadcast-quality video podcast series recorded at RISE 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOtlYCMGY5k Hosted by Nicola Sands, co-founder of Applehead Media and winner of the She Inspires Person with a Mission Award 2025, Voices of RISE is a powerful example of purpose-led partnership and giving back to the community that helped shape her journey. With a background in journalism and broadcasting, Nicola brings years of experience in professional storytelling, media production, and on-camera confidence. Through Applehead Media, she has built a reputation for working predominantly with senior leaders, executives,…

For more than a decade, She Inspires Awards has done one thing beautifully: celebrate women who change the world. But as the years went by, a question kept returning: What happens after the applause? Women were winning awards, gaining visibility, and stepping into new confidence. But they were also asking for something more: space to talk policy, trade, leadership routes, funding, health, innovation, and the future of work. Not just in passing, but in depth. That is how RISE – Women Leading the Future was born.  From Celebration to Conversation On 23 June 2025, women from across sectors gathered at The Midland, Manchester for the first…

In a world where supply chains, logistics, and automation are reshaping how we live and work, Dematic sits at the heart of that transformation. And that makes their support of RISE especially meaningful. Who Dematic Are Dematic (often stylised in conversation as DEMATIC/DEMATICS) is a leading global supplier of integrated automated technology, software and services designed to optimise the supply chain.  They form part of the KION Group, with operations and teams in more than 35 countries and a long track record in warehouse and logistics innovation — from robotic picking systems to warehouse management software.  Innovation With Responsibility Dematic’s work is not just about…

If RISE 2025 was the pilot, RISE 2026 is the scale-up. We’re returning to The Midland, Manchester, but this time we’re taking more space, more rooms, and more of the building — because the demand, and the ambition, have both grown. From One Room to a Whole Ecosystem With the expanded footprint, RISE 2026 will be able to offer: Parallel sector streams – so women can choose sessions most relevant to their journey More roundtables – focused on health, trade, tech, education, finance, sustainability, and culture Dedicated spaces for: Youth and early-career leaders International delegates Policy and civic leadership conversations…

“Stage to strategy” is more than a clever phrase. It’s a promise — and a design principle for everything She Inspires is building. Stage: The Power of Being Seen The She Inspires Awards give women something many have never had before: a moment on stage where their story, work and impact are publicly honoured. That visibility is powerful. It can shift careers, open doors, and change how women see themselves. It’s the spark. But a spark on its own is not enough. Strategy: Turning Stories Into Structures RISE was created to take the energy and stories from awards night and…