How to empower...

How to empower… our PwC LEAP network podcast looks at the themes of Leadership, Empowerment, Action and Progression. We will be joined by special guests to give you practical advice on how you can empower yourself and others to take action and drive change for a more inclusive workplace.

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Rob McCargow, our director of AI and Faye McGuiness, Head of Workplace Wellbeing Programmes (Strategy & Development) at Mind to discuss wellbeing and mental health in the workplace, looking at why people appear to wear a ‘mask’ which can allow them to carry on as usual and ways that you can start a conversation on this important topic so that you and people within your organisation feel empowered to take off the mask.

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Sarah Churchman our UK Head of Inclusion, Community and Wellbeing, and Janet Lindsay, CEO at Wellbeing of Women to discuss why people often find it difficult to broach the subject of women’s health, which can often be seen as a taboo subject in the workplace. In this episode we explore how men and women can be more open about women’s health in the workplace.

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Gian Power, founder of TLC Lions and Heather Melville OBE, Director and Head of Client Experience at PwC to discuss how you can be inspired by stories to help you take action and help create a better tomorrow. Both of our guests share their personal stories, why they've taken action in their careers and provide some useful tips about being open in the workplace and how that can inspire others to create change.

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Allyson Stewart-Allen, Founder and CEO of International Marketing Partners and Anne Hurst, Senior Diversity and Inclusion Specialist at PwC to discuss topics which have been consistent talking points at our PwC LEAP events. Why should diversity become business as usual? What is the difference between mentoring vs. sponsorship? How can you find a mentor? What are organisations doing to support balance for better? What actions can you take to feel empowered so that you can empower others?

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Annie Ross, Founder of Exerk and Team52 and Emily Khan, Beyond Brexit Lead at PwC to discuss what you can to help your work/life balance, a key part of your wellbeing. Emily discusses what led her to devise the #MyPromise social media campaign and Annie shares her views on why sustaining a more active lifestyle can create a better work environment. All three share their top tips on attaining a work/life balance that works for you.

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Ali Camps, volunteer Co-chair of Pride in London and Deputy Chairman of Customer Consultancy Quadrangle and Dipesh Davadra from our Corporate Affairs, Growth team at PwC to discuss their stories and why they believe it's important to have PRIDE when it comes to LGBT+. They discuss whether the LGBT+ community are still facing challenges in the workplace and what further changes they feel are needed within business to create an inclusive environment.

>Suzi Woolfson is joined by Fran Boorman, CEO & Co-Founder of Goal17 and David Adair, Head of Community Engagement at PwC to discuss social mobility. The issues relating to this are complex, and the solutions are many and varied. But hear why they believe businesses have a major role to play in advancing social mobility and in being part of the solution. As major employers and as influencers in the society we serve, how can business empower and effect positive change?

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Anjali Pindoria, Project Surveyor at Avi Contracts and Michael Otadende, a Marketing Executive at PwC to discuss how to approach conversations on ethnicity. They cover topics such as how you as an individual can feel confident in sharing knowledge about your culture and background to others, the impact of the possible introduction of BAME and ethnicity reporting and why a diverse workforce is good for business.

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Rob Stephenson, Founder of InsideOut and Abhijay Jain, Partner at PwC to discuss how to empower your mental wellbeing. They cover topics such as the InsideOut mental health advocates league table, why it's important to let other people know where you are with your mental health, and checking in with your colleagues on their mental wellbeing.

Suzi Woolfson is joined by Graham Allcott, Director and Productivity Ninja at Think Productive and Alastair Woods, Partner in our People and Organisation team at PwC to discuss how to empower your productivity. They share their thoughts on how you can improve your personal productivity, as well as ideas for companies to consider when looking at productivity and engaging the workforce and whether there is a correlation between happiness and productivity.

In this episode, Suzi Woolfson is joined by Sophie Butler, Social Media Influencer and Gymshark Athlete, and Chris Keogh, Relationship Manager at PwC. Both suffered spinal cord injuries and share their stories of how they received their injuries, some of the challenges they have faced, lessons they have learnt as well as sharing tips on what employers and colleagues can do to help those with a physical disability.

Despite decades of progress towards workplace equality, women remain woefully underrepresented in the UK’s technology workforce. In the first episode of the second series of How to empower, new host Chris Keogh is joined by Jing Teow, Economist at PwC and Wincie Wong, Head of Rose Review Implementation at Natwest to explore PwC's Women in Work Index, as well as discussing what can be done to address the gender balance in technology careers.

In this episode, Chris Keogh is joined by Michael Vermeersch, Digital Inclusion Lead at Microsoft, and Aeron Vale, Data Analyst Consultant for PwC to discuss neurodiversity. This is the concept that neurological differences are recognised and respected as any other human variation. Both Aeron and Michael share their experiences of living with autism and how you can feel empowered to engage in a conversation on neurodiversity and support those around you.

Chris Keogh is joined by Dr Kamel Hothi OBE, Non Executive Director at TLC Lions and Laura Hinton, Head of People at PwC. Kamel and Laura share their professional and personal stories which helped shape them into the leaders they are now, who their heroes are and why sharing your vulnerabilities is a strength not a weakness.

Chris Keogh is joined by Cecil Adjalo, Director of Operations at Foundervine and Shamela Kylassum, owner of Pansophia Associates. Cecil and Shamela share their experiences and learnings from lockdown, their tips for building their resilience and the impact the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement has had on them.

Chris Keogh is joined by Dennis Owusu-Sem, Founder of Success Talks and Monique Malcolm-Hay, Multicultural Business Network Co-Chair at PwC. To celebrate Black History Month, Dennis and Monique share their thoughts on the importance of black role models in business, who their role models are and how their work is having a positive impact on those around them.

Chris Keogh speaks to Caroline Nokes, Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee and Asim Siddiqi, Partner and Co-lead for Diversity and Inclusion in the South East Audit practice at PwC about inclusion, common challenges in the workplace and how we can all work together to create inclusive workplaces.

Chris Keogh is joined by Rachel Briant, Founder of Get Synergised, Jerry During, CEO and Co-Founder, Money A+E and David Adair, Head of Community Engagement, PwC who’ll be sharing more about their own experiences of working with, and creating, social enterprises, and the important role social enterprises play in the community and to economic growth.

Chris Keogh is joined by Emily Diamond, 400m and 4x400m Olympic athlete, Dr Michael Johnston, physical performance lead at UK athletics and Alex Cooke, a data intelligence partner at PwC, to talk about making rest and recovery a priority in 2021, and how to find the right balance.

In this episode host Chris Keogh is joined by Larice Stielow, Economist at PwC, and Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director at Women’s Budget Group, to discuss the challenges facing women in work today, and what governments and businesses can do to change things.

In the final episode of series 2, Chris Keogh speaks to Paul Scrivens, Commercial Director at LoveLocalJobs Foundation, Fiona Camenzuli, Partner and New World. New Skills programme lead at PwC, and Danielle Quinlan, Audit Manager and Digital Accelerator at PwC, about the skills that the next generation need in an increasingly digital age, and how the current workforce can upskill themselves to be future ready.

In the first episode of series 3, host Dipesh Davadra speaks to Bernadette Kelly CB, Permanent Secretary at Department for Transport, and Brenda Trenowden CBE, Partner at PwC, about why it is so important for organisations to have gender diversity, with a focus on what the Department for Transport has been doing to increase and sustain their gender diversity

In this episode, host Dipesh Davadra speaks to Helena Chan, Associate at PwC Operate, and Paris Capleton, a NHS Cognitive Behavioural Therapist to discuss mental health in some cultures and communities, the challenges of talking openly about wellbeing & how age, religion & gender can impact someone's decision to seek support.

In the latest episode of series 3, host Dipesh Davadra speaks to Emma Charlesworth, Head of the PwC UK Alumni Network and Ambassador for the charity Widowed and Young, about her story of being widowed at the age of 39 and why it is so important for everyone to feel empowered to be more open in talking about grief and bereavement.

Trigger Warning: This episode deals with the topic of suicide. In the first episode of series 4 of the How to Empower podcast series, new host Katy Bennett, spoke with Alice Hendy, Founder and CEO of sucide prevention charity R;pple, and Sean Maywood, a Mental Health First Aid Instructor at PwC. Alice shares her inspiration for starting R;pple following the suicide of her brother, and both Sean and Alice provide practical advice on how you can start a conversation with someone you might be concerned for. To speak to someone for more support, text Shout on 85258, a confidential 24/7 text message service, call the Samaritans on 116123, or you can download the stay alive app, which is packed full of useful information to help you stay safe. You can also check out the Ripple website.

In this episode, host Katy Bennett speaks to Ann O'Neill, CEO and Founder of Adora Digital Health  (www.adora.health) , and Rachael Hampton, Partner at PwC, about their experience with the Menopause. Ann shares what drove her to develop the Adora app to help other women, and Rachael shares her experience of perimenopause, what organisations can do to support women, and why she is hopeful for future women.

In episode 3 of How to Empower podcast series 4, Katy Bennett interviews Katherine Wilson, Head of Employers for Carers at Carers UK, and Michelle Beardwood, a Tax Senior Manager at PwC. They discuss supporting employees with caring responsibilities and share personal experiences. This episode offers practical advice for employers and employees. For more info, visit Carers UK website.

In this episode of the How to Empower podcast series, host Katy Bennett is joined by Danielle Obe, co-founder and chair of the Black Swimming Association, and Lois Geraldo, a Senior Associate at PwC. Every two minutes, someone tragically drowns worldwide. 400 people drown every year in the UK, with these numbers disproportionately affecting those from the African, Caribbean and Asian communities. In this episode, Danielle and Lois share their personal experiences where they were faced with the impact of water safety, and discuss the importance of empowerment, education and engagement with this topic. Please remember, if you ever see someone struggling in water, call 999 and ask for the Fire Service for inland waters, or the Coast Guard for outland waters. Do not attempt to rescue someone yourself.

In this inspiring episode of the How to Empower podcast series, host Katy Bennett engages in a crucial conversation about the often-overlooked challenges of working with cancer. Joining the discussion are speakers Barbara Wilson, Founder and Director of Working with Cancer, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting individuals affected by cancer in their return to the workforce, and Martin Groom, Director at PwC. Together, they unpack the unique journeys of those living with cancer, exploring the hurdles and misconceptions. This episode highlights the struggles and emphasises the importance of creating a workplace culture that fosters understanding, support, and recovery. Tune in to discover how Working with Cancer is making a difference and how employers can contribute to a more inclusive and compassionate work environment.

In the sixth episode of Series 4 on the How to Empower Podcast, host Katy Bennett sits down with leaders Hemione Hudson and Deanna Oppenheimer, to celebrate International Women's Day. Discover how these senior executives have navigated the challenges of staying authentic in business. Gain valuable insights into their personal and professional journeys, uncovering the intricacies and societal expectations faced by women on the path to corporate success. Tune in for an empowering episode of triumphs and challenges encountered by women breaking barriers in the business world!

In the final episode of Series 4 on the How to Empower Podcast, host Katy Bennett sits down with Leo Johnson and Dr. Ali Budjanovcanin to discuss emotional intelligence. Join us as we learn how mastering our own emotions and those of our colleagues can lead to more effective leadership, and explore whether there's a downside to being too emotionally perceptive.

In celebration of 175 years of PwC, this special episode of the How to Empower podcast sees host Katy Bennett joined by People Networks Lead at PwC, Riteesh Mishra, with two representatives from PwC's people networks, Suwei Jiang and Nicky, to talk about the role of people networks in demonstrating care. Discover how people networks can play a pivotal role not only in supporting their members, but in shaping company strategy, and explore how the role of these networks is changing in the future. Tune in for a thought-provoking episode uncovering personal stories and broader reflections on the vital role of people networks.

In the premiere episode of Series 5 of the How to Empower Podcast, host Katy Bennett welcomes Marcus Read, Director in Workplace Financial Wellbeing at Close Brothers AM, and Char Srahan, Senior Associate in Inclusion, Culture, and Wellbeing at PwC. Together, they explore the critical topic of financial wellbeing and its impact on employees' overall quality of life. Discover how reducing financial stress can lead to improved mental and physical health and learn the importance of financial literacy in empowering employees to make informed decisions. This episode provides valuable insights into enhancing financial preparedness for major life events and encourages responsible financial behaviour. Join us as we delve into how you can gain control over your financial situation, absorb financial shocks, and make choices that bring enjoyment and stability to your life.