SheInspires Launches Groundbreaking Leadership Conference Rooted in Connection, Access, and Community
Manchester, UK – 24 June 2025 — On Monday, 23rd June, over 100 people gathered at The Midland Hotel in Manchester to witness a long-held vision come to life — the inaugural RISE 2025: Women Leading the Future conference, presented by SheInspires.
What began as a scribble in the margins of a notebook quietly stepped into the world as a full-day conference focused on belonging, leadership, visibility, and access. With nearly 60 contributors, the day included panel discussions, roundtables, curated one-to-one sessions, and meaningful moments of connection.
But RISE was never about numbers.
It was about presence — about creating space not just to be seen, but to truly see each other.
“Too often, the same faces are heard — not because others aren’t worthy, but because they’re rarely invited,” said Gulnaz Brennan, Founder of SheInspires and the visionary behind RISE. “At SheInspires, we don’t just give out microphones — we build bridges.”
RISE 2025 was built on the idea that every person carries knowledge — not just academic or rehearsed, but hard-earned, lived-through, deeply human. The event sought to honour that truth by inviting new voices into the room — women from across industries, generations, and geographies who are often overlooked but never lacking wisdom.
Among the highlights:
• Keynotes, panels, and roundtables addressing leadership, resilience, digital equity, finance, sustainability, and care work
• Curated one-to-one sessions led by senior leaders including Lucy Mulligan, Jackie Hyde, Ray Hanks, and Sandra McManus
• A powerful closing message: access must be intentional — to spaces, networks, opportunities, and belief
RISE welcomed attendees from across the UK — London, Liverpool, Scotland, and beyond — many of whom navigated travel disruptions just to be in the room. “You reminded me why this work matters,” Brennan shared.
Special thanks were extended to:
• Rebecca Green, whose calm, poetic hosting shaped the rhythm of the day
• Rob, the live illustrator who captured the heart of each session in art
• Sandra McManus and Paul Hardy, for holding everything behind the scenes
• The dedicated work experience students, led with care by Annabel Jackson
• And to every sponsor, exhibitor, and guest, whose belief made the vision real
RISE will now be an annual fixture in the SheInspires calendar, with RISE 2026confirmed for June next year.
But as Gulnaz reminded attendees:
“The real legacy of RISE lives in the spaces you carry it into — your work, your conversations, your courage.”
This was never just an event.
It was the beginning of something.