Inside the Northern PoWEr Women Awards with Host Nina Hossain

In this episode of the We Are PoWEr Podcast, Simone Roche MBE sits down with journalist, presenter, and Northern PoWEr Women Awards host Nina Hossain. For the past six years, Nina has taken to the stage to guide one of the North’s most inspiring celebrations of leadership, diversity, and change.

Simone and Nina reconnect to reflect on the story behind the Northern PoWEr Women Awards, why meaningful recognition matters and the role the awards play in championing the people and organisations driving progress across the North.

Nina shares how she first became the host of the awards and what the experience has meant to her over the years.

In this episode you’ll hear:
➡️ How Nina became the host of the Northern PoWEr Women Awards
➡️ What the awards mean to Nina after six years on the stage
➡️ Why recognition and celebration are so important for progress
➡️ Reflections and past NPWA stories 
➡️ Insight into the judging process behind the awards
➡️ The importance of celebrating diversity and talent across the North

#NorthernPowerWomen #WeArePoWEr #NinaHossain

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here.  💫

Transcript

Meeting In A Bootle Warehouse

SPEAKER_00 0:08

Well, hello and welcome to I'm not gonna say a really, really, really special, special occasion podcast. I am delighted to be joined by hostess with the most S of six Northern Power Women Awards, Nina Hussain. And it's our 10th anniversary. Can you believe it? I can't believe you dragged me into this. That's all I can't believe. Well, do you know what? Where does it start? It starts with a WhatsApp, doesn't it? Going, hi, hi, as the team always knows that's how I start things. Hi, hi. And there's always that, oh gosh, dot dot dot on the WhatsApp, isn't it? Are you up north anytime soon? No, never, never, never, never, never. It's your fault. You disclosed the information and said, I'm going to be in Leeds on this date. And I'm like, oh, we're not going to be able to get into the studio in Liverpool. So what did we do? If you cannot get Nina to Liverpool to the studio, we will bring the studio to you here in Leeds. Thank you so much. What a wonderful surroundings. It's been great. And we're in God's own country in Yorkshire. Absolutely. Well, you hail from magnificent Hoddersfield, don't you? So indeed. Not too far away, is it? But um thank you. And I want to, this is special, isn't it? Because it's it's our tenth year. And when I think about our tenth year in a decade of having Northern Power Women Awards, 11 years of Northern Power Women and the We Are Power community. But I think about our you might say it was probably a not very salubrious first meeting in a in a back street warehouse in Bootle. But Bootle, think of, you know, Las Vegas, Hollywood, London, Bootle, right? And and I'll put some context to this. It was the fifth Northern Power Women Awards delayed by a year, and it was our first year of working together. So we had booked you for the fifth Northern Power Women Awards at Manchester Central, and then four days before, boom, lockdown. Can we put you on hold? And then a year later, we decided that we wouldn't just do a virtual event from our kitchen table, as many people were doing. And that I it was so important to me, as these awards are, as this community is, to make sure that we didn't make it a lesser year. We wanted to make it warm, we wanted to make it connected actually, because it was at that time, wasn't it, where it was, I think we just we thought it'd be well over by this point. So we're a year into a lockdown, and there we are in a in the wonderful. I can't thank MSP Global studios enough because not only did they host our virtual awards, but they introduced me to you in the first place. Shout out Dave Clatworthy. Um but yes, that's where it started, didn't it?

Pivot To A Live Virtual Show

SPEAKER_01 2:52

First training in the loop. You've said the word warm, but um you missed out the word mad. It was absolutely bonkers. And it was so great and refreshing to feel like you were doing something bonkers in that period. And and at the same time, as as you've just given out uh a great shout out to those guys who looked after us, but they really did look after us. We were super COVID secure in that working environment, and yeah, we had the most fabulous night. It was one of the highlights of my pandemic, it genuinely was, and I think I had done quite a lot of work in that period where I'd hosted virtual awards dues, I'd done them in my pod in my garden, um, I'd done them in in, you know, uh TV studios where I'd done three back to back where I was recording all these links, and they were just unfortunately soulless experiences. They were really hard to I wasn't having any interaction with the winners. Um I obviously wasn't uh able to get involved in in any way with any of the the judges and that kind of build-up and and that special feeling you get on the night and the adrenaline and the innerves and and all of those things. And then suddenly I was chipped off in a in a in a car to, as you say, this uh is it a housing estate in Bootle with a studio? Yeah, that's what I remember. That's well bootle. That's happened twice in my life, once with you, Simone, and once with Simon LeBon. But that's a different story. I just name drop that like that. That was West London, so that was uh slightly different.

SPEAKER_00 4:31

But uh you know pinning that and coming back to that. You can't have a Simon and a Simone story in the same Wisterwana car. You really can.

Delivering Trophies To Doorsteps

SPEAKER_01 4:39

So I I turn off on this uh housing estate and there's this study you walk through, it doesn't look like a TV studio. You walk through the door and there it is, all singing, all dancing. And then the the Simone bit of that night, uh, which will forever stay with me, was that I was uh able to interact with the winners. They were all in their homes, in their twinkle in their slippers, which was amazing. But you and you know your regular listeners and viewers will will know this, but on that particular awards due, you had decided that regardless of the fact that it was a COVID awards, you were gonna get those the trophies to those winners. So you did that. And that what because you had people dispatched all around the north in cabs, in COVID, ringing doorbells, and this was all live. This was actually live. This wasn't Av Live. I mean as live, this was live.

Zoom Rooms And Chaos Managed

Why The Night Felt Different

SPEAKER_00 5:34

It's funny when you say it out online, it absolutely sounds bonkers and what on earth. And I remember having to email out random form asking everyone to put their postcode on, you know, and I and and as a you know, we can't dispatch a a film crew with everyone. We just we couldn't do that. But what I found was that willingness of souls, and maybe people just wanted to embrace a bit of mad. So when I had people with that Well, maybe people just can't say no to you. Are you coming up north anytime for a podcast? This is where it starts, isn't it? This is where the day just starts. But I do I'm always very proud of the intention we put into that, and equally the fact actually one of the real bonkers things was, and again, we never thought it through. We're gonna put everyone into Zoom rooms. So they're not just having a watch party, we had 1,500 people just zooming in on um YouTube, but we also had 1,100 people in YouTube rooms, sorry, in in zoom rooms. Um, so we had either people that were using it as a company get together, we had random strangers, but what we didn't factor in was the fact that it was actually impossible that in 30 minutes, which was the welcome at this time, we gave 30 minutes to get 1100 people into Zoom rooms. That is absolutely impossible. And I've got Rob, I remember Rob, my husband Northern Power Man, as you know, was there trying to just admit, admit, admit, oh, people were everywhere, you know. I've got and none of us had done this before. So we were we were making things up as we went along, but all we cared about was trying to create fun. We knew we'd already sent out hampers to everyone attending. Um, and if you were from Yorkshire, you've got um Harrogate gin uh and a and a Yorkshire cheese. And if you were from New And again, we we I I don't know how we managed to make it work, but it's I think that is the power of this community. That's how we're still going, I I believe, because the power of these amazing people will make things happen because they know it's with intent, right?

SPEAKER_01 7:33

It it was a magical night, and I remember thinking, who is this woman and how's this gonna work? Uh uh and and I don't remember the now you've reminded me about the admitting people into Zoom. It's like childbirth, you forget the bad bits, don't you? But in in terms of what really surprised me, and uh and I shouldn't really admit this, but um it it wasn't the kind of the the organization which was flawless, it wasn't the the joy of seeing people have their doorbell ring and then get the the trophy and and all those people involved in that, but it was the calibre of the the the nominees and the winners. And I I suddenly uh you know, read reading the script, I was like, this is the real deal. This isn't some token awards for the North, these are like real serious players getting recognition for what they're doing, and I think that was the moment I thought this this woman needs to be taken seriously.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

So it was just a crazy night, but you're right, the calibre of individuals in that room, it never lessened. Uh, and people were so invested in it. I remember my family were in, and you know, at one point there was other people in that room, they're having that and we talk about networking, it's never no place to network, right? Even my mum, you know, she was breaking conversation over boiled ribs that she just made, you know. That's why foods are leveler, that's where the cheese was important. But you're right, is that people took it, it was really meant, um, it meant it was always been special. And that that's the thing that always resonates with me. That night, it was the first time we'd ever met. I remember thinking, this is the most low maintenance person I've ever met. You didn't need anything, a plug socket and a mirror. You know, I'm thinking, well, like you're, you know, uh an award.

SPEAKER_01 9:26

Can I just clip that bit for my husband, please?

Calibre Beyond Tokenism

SPEAKER_00 9:29

Yes, you can. Low maintenance. Low maintenance, Stuart, low, the lowest minimal. She's like a goddess. But I remember that. And I there's just all those things, and I think it wasn't until like last year's awards, and you you mentioned you said literally last year was my favourite. Uh, and your husband came along last year, and and I think you were almost explaining, you know, talking to him, and he got it. Uh, because you've talked about these awards for years, you've talked about bringing your daughter along as well. Because it I think it should be open to everyone to be part of. The whole reason that the awards were created to encourage people to high-five their achievements and to have that visibility and awareness of absolutely amazing humans with all the flaws.

Energy Of The Room IRL

SPEAKER_01 10:15

And I think I think for me, after meeting you that first time and doing that first awards and seeing the caliber of um the people that were nominated and the winners, um, I then obviously was very kindly asked back to do it for the first year post-COVID. Uh, and I do a lot of awards all around the country, so this is kind of like part of the gig. Uh, and some are really great and some are really inspiring, and others are a bit dull, and it depends who the people are and what and what the kind of area is. But I didn't know what to expect when I rocked up in Manchester to do your awards, but in real life, and again, just that first year and every year since, it has just blown me away, which is why I do say it's you know my favourite night of my working year, because it just is this room full of absolute energy, and people like there's some people are gonna lose and some people are gonna win. Everyone in the room's been nominated or is there to support somebody, and just that kind of collective um feeling of empowerment, which is genuine, it's not kind of a tick-box lip service exercise, and I think everyone feeds off each other, and there's always a bit which is difficult being the host, there's always a bit that makes me cry, and it's never the bit that I expect. And when you see some of I I always feel like I'm so disappointed for the brilliant people that didn't make it to the stage, and then so often with your awards as opposed to some of the other awards, which are are often more male-dominated in different areas and organizations and industries, a lot of the winners who come up on stage at the Northern Power Women Awards just don't expect to be there. They don't think that they're gonna win. So they're not like walking on stage, high-fiving everyone, going, Yeah, this is my moment. They're like, What, why me? I don't deserve this, and they're in tears, and it's all really kind of like, no, you really, really do deserve this. Do you realize what you've contributed to society, to your workplace, to to helping others who who don't even know necessarily who you are, but you have made that change. It's incredible to be in the room.

Tears, Hugs, And Genuine Shock

SPEAKER_00 12:37

And the one thing that I noticed, because I'm sat next to you when you're not on the stage, um, and I'm sat cl you know, sort of closest to you on the stage, and everyone sees it though, the whole room sees it. You are never the host. You are literally the tear wiper, the hugger. Uh, you were the first person to congratulate these individuals, whether they be an individual, whether it be a group. And like you say, we've had people dancing to the stage, congering to the stage, like floods of tears. Um, I remember Anne Stonehouse last year. It was her first, fourth time nominate being nominated. And, you know, she never she didn't also didn't care either. She just always wanted to be part of it. And last year, when she won, and I saw her because she was familiar with you as well, and she said to me afterwards when I I had her on a podcast, um, I didn't have to go to Newcastle, she came to me in Liverpool. But anyway, it's okay. It's okay, we won't say anything about the deal.

SPEAKER_01 13:37

Any gin, Harrogate, or otherwise, okay, by the way. Just if we're kind of like putting it out. We did have pizza.

SPEAKER_00 13:43

Come on, that night, we did have pizza. Um, but there was the one thing she's she talked about was just your she's I can't always she's I couldn't really remember, but I just remember the empathy and the love and the hug that Nina gave me. And I see that every year. Everybody does. That whole room sees the hugs and the love. You don't just go and give piecemeal, like sort of fill in a few words and off you go, have your picture in the middle. You spend time talking to them. I always observe that every year because you're speaking the words that are bringing them up, but I often think that you react not about what you've just said, but what they're what they how they've approached the stage.

Making Space For The Moment

SPEAKER_01 14:25

I think it is just uh when you realize that these uh and most of them are women but not exclusively, but these individuals who are genuinely doing the day job, and then as part of their role, they might be doing something extra, uh, or they might be doing the extra on top of the day job, um, or they've created something out of nothing, or um they are juggling whatever we all juggle, whether it's elderly parents or young children, um, or a disability, or a hidden disability. Um, and and these people are just um they they absolutely deserve everybody in that room to be silent for their moment, for the the pins to drop, to be able to have that moment of you you you did it for whatever reason, whatever motivated you, however you got here, um whatever hardship you've suffered, what whatever hardship you think is going to be in the future because things are not equal and and and we don't live in a fair society and we don't live in a fair world and we live in a really turbulent world, however, whatever got you to the stage, you just deserve this moment of utter um celebration and joy and and recognition, and I think that's why there are other awards ceremonies who uh do it for the sake of it, and it and it is the emphasis is on the networking. But if you've ever been nominated or or won an award or or you know, imagine going to the palace and getting uh an MBE, imagine that. If if that's ever happened to you, then then you you really understand, I think, that those moments matter, they really do matter, and I think when you come up on stage to accept an award, it's it's kind of like an out-of-body experience. You don't ri because because there's the nerves as well, isn't there? There's a thousand people watching you, you don't want to trip up the stairs and fall on your heels or whatever. Um, so it is that kind of trying from my point of view. You talk about Anne and always the bridesmaid and suddenly she was the bride, but it's like a wedding where you just want to slow that moment down for people so that they don't feel like they have to rush on and off the stage, that they feel like this is this just just savour that tiny bit of of of celebration, it's all about you. And that's all I try to bring to the table.

Rigour Behind The Judging

SPEAKER_00 17:02

And and I and and that's so fit. I think that's why you're such a beautiful fit for what we do. Because I remember I go back giving Dave Clatwith had two shouts out here two for your husband, two for Dave. You know, come on, snow score. Only one for my husband, Rob. There's gonna be murder afterwards. Um, but I remember when I was was looking for a host, and Dave, for a couple of years, he talked about you because there was a particular war that he used to um, I think they used to run, I think it was a Huddersfield on WhatsApp, I think. And he says, Simone, Nina will fit with everything that you're trying to do. She would get your vision, she would get everything. Um, but what you need to do is you know just trial her out in a COVID year and see if she'll work in a warehouse first. Then you're then you're really testing the resilience of it. Um and that and and I and and I I'm always so grateful for that because I've when I set this business up, I only wanted to ever work with people that I enjoyed spending time with uh that would set up a podcast studio in Leeds for. You know, I'm not gonna mention that again. Uh no, but I would be a third timer. It is. Oh well, I'm just trying to beat the other two. So just to give some, you know, make sure that stays in the edit. It does, I will stay. But there's something so important about that because that's where the authenticity comes from, doesn't it? That's where you get those true stories and those real stories. And do you have one? Um, is there any conversation? Uh because I'm sure some of the conversations you're hosting, you've got a lot of pressure on, there's time to keep, there's there's so much, you know, to to say, isn't there? Uh and to keep the room, a giddy room at time in in check as well. Uh, because that's a thousand people in a room is a giddy room. Um, but are there any standout or any standout conversations that have stood out for you over the years? And when someone's come to that stage?

SPEAKER_01 18:52

No, I think it's just the the the when people just don't think that they deserve to be there and and you have to like literally look them in the eye, and and this has happened time and time again, and say that they're like shaking and crying and and just don't think that they should have won. And it's like the the opposite of the BAFTAs, isn't it, or whatever. Yeah. Where people kind of not that they're entitled, but they they genuinely think and they have done a really good performance, did a really good job, and and they they're a contender. Whereas so many of the the people that you're giving awards to just have been nominated by other people, wouldn't necessarily know they've been nominated until they get the invite. Um and and don't think they deserve to be there. And I think you know that that comes down a lot to, you know, you've you've managed to persuade me a few times to to to be involved in the judges.

SPEAKER_00 19:48

It's not mission easy, is it?

SPEAKER_01 19:50

I mean, I just again I I do different judging panels for different organisations, mostly within the broadcasting industry, because obviously that's that's the area that um I know best. Uh but in terms of people have different ways and different strategies for how to do the judging. And I think yours is one of the most rigorous and fair that I've ever come across. Uh and it's just really intense because people genuinely care about everybody that submits, and they take the time to to read the submissions, um, shortlist, and then fight. I mean, really elbows out. It's an unrest, isn't it? And it and it feels so personal at the time that you really, really campaign for individuals, uh, and you're often in a virtual or or real room full of some really strong personalities who were on your judging panel for a reason. Uh, and so everyone can kind of hold their own in that environment, and you you're just wanting to like speak up for the person that you really think deserves a place uh in the room, not you know, not necessarily as as the winner, but deserves a place at the table.

Visibility As The Core Goal

SPEAKER_00 21:07

And I think that was a surprise to you. I remember when I invited you the first year, and I remember when you came along the night on the awards, we're like, I had no idea how it is how sort of robust it is. So that's why I always say it's not northern flaky women, right?

SPEAKER_01 21:21

You know?

Mentoring That Changes Lives

SPEAKER_00 21:22

Well, there are none of those. Are those have you ever met a northern flaky woman? Absolutely not, definitely not. Um and I think that's where that's what it would be on unfair of us not to put that robustness into it. And and equally I always feel I always feel it's a bit awkward because it gets to a point in some of the categories we ask them to do a video as well, which then the judges were reviewing remotely, and then there's more scoring. So there's many layers to it. But the whole idea is even just to have that recognition in in the brochures, everyone's name, we have the big name all outside. It's all about if we think about the fundamental aim of what this organization is about and continues to be about, is about. Visibility and being seen. Visibility, nothing more than that. But that's key. And you know, we talk about winners, and you know, I don't think there's such a thing as a loser. We have a mentoring program that sits around. So we have um it's supposed to be about 50 pairs. We've had 95 in this year's mentoring poll, and it's brilliant because we always have so many mentors. Everybody wants to give back that everyone wants to, you know, sort of offer opportunities. But this is mentors for people that could be right at the top of their game, as well as people on the way up. And I'm really proud of that. And I love mixing the sector. So somebody rail being mentored by somebody from retail and someone from broadcast from someone from nuclear. But that's where that's where the magic happens because and that's the benefit. And I one of my favourite um, you know, we love our socials and our selfies, oh, the selfie scrambles on the stage. One of the one of them, they're bonkers as well, aren't they? But one of my favourite uh nights, there's a lady called Jane Slimming, a Yorkshire lass, and she was an entrepreneur of the year category a couple of years ago, and I remember putting a post out saying, Um, I've had the best night tonight winning absolutely nothing. You know, I've been part of an entrepreneur circle, I've been part of a mentoring programme, and and this is a straight, no-nonsense talking Yorkshire lass. And that meant a lot to me. Because I get that. Put that on your post all the time. Lovely lady last year, Louise Clagg, who literally rugby tags. You do a big selfie at the end of the awards, right? Everybody come on stage. And it literally becomes you basically left with no one in the room because everyone's trying to be on stage. And again, she literally came. Well, she was doing press-ups at one point on the stage. I'm not quite sure why. Anyway, I remember having a chat with it, and she went there. She says, I've had the best mentor. I have had it has changed my whole concept and my whole world of what I do. And she works for a blood cancer charity. And through not winning a Northern Power Women Award, she has raised the awareness around blood cancer. And you know, when you talk about six degrees of separation, I actually believe there's two. And we had a young woman, Asia, who's on the podcast recently. She's thank goodness, uh, in remission, stage four, she was stage four cancer. Um, but through this whole awareness, blood cancer, uh just through conversation, uh, she's had a tran uh you know, a transplant and is in remission, and you never know. Uh you know, it's not just a nomination and you never know. We're we're about storytelling and the art of storytelling, irrespective of we're in turbulent times and difficult times and uh many people stepping away from inclusivity and diversity, and you know, I think we have to just find a different way to uh storytell. I've got a question for you. Oh, have you now?

Storytelling With Real-World Impact

SPEAKER_01 24:48

Oh, this is a turn the table. Um I d I just want to know when when do you think this awards won't need to exist? And and I'm asking you that, uh not because of what's changed in terms of our uh people's focus within business on diversity, but I'm asking I I still feel as if it's 2026, you're on your tenth awards, uh, and I feel like we're still living in a very London-centric country. So it is amazing what you've achieved. Uh an amazing, just that one story is incredible, isn't it? But there's there's countless from all over the years and all the work that you've done. But when do you think we won't need to have Northern Power Women, Northern Powerhouse? When will we be taken seriously by the people in in the South?

Will These Awards Ever Be Redundant

Funding Headwinds And Reset

SPEAKER_00 25:39

And I I actually think it's it's gone I feel like we've almost come a bit full circle. When I first started the organisation, I slapped a lot to London. I spent a lot of time in London, and I think for the last few years I've not had to do as much of that. But in the last 12 months, absolutely, I feel we have to go back we have to go back down and beg for some sort of funds, opportunity partner. We were only funded by partnerships. Um and you know, there's no grants or you know, sort of um you know, we're not on membership or you know, in in in such of that. And um, but I feel like there's a lot of having to go begging again, and that's it doesn't feel comfortable with me because this is not transactional. Partnerships have to work both ways and they have to be all about elevating and amplifying. I think we're I think there's an opportunity or I think there's a there's a time to reset because I think last year was really tough. I think really tough. And you know, many partners we've had for many years are have not been at the tables or have been at the tables but not been able to partake, even though they want to, just because of the global geopolitical situation and challenges. So I actually think then we have an opportunity to disrupt. And you know, there's the whole adage about, you know, taking Coles to Newcastle. I think we can, I think we go on tour. I I think there's elements of um I reflected recently, I I I took the opportunity, we'd be doing this whole re-re-evaluation and measurement on our social value and social impact, which we're really proud of. But it me and meant for three weeks I went through my calendar, and in those first four or five years of the business, I was solo, like there was there's no member of the team. And I went through my calendar for every single thing I'd done. And I forgot we did northern parts. MPW in London, MPW in Brussels. We were everywhere, and I think there's an element of being agile again because I think, and especially in the world, it's been a it's been a while since the pandemic. Um, but there is still a people are there's a different way of working, and I think we we have to do things in different ways. So I don't think there is ever a way uh that I would look at that we would not be storytelling because I think the power of that storytelling and the visibility that we give individuals, the individual, the causes, the immensely powerful humans out there that are have suffered immensely through personal tragedy, who transform that into light for others, so no one should have to walk in those shoes. You know, the there's so much out there that we we will never stop doing that. We may have to re-look at how we do things or we amplify or we change. But I think storytelling is is never going to go out of fashion of fashion as long as we're authentic, um, as long as well, we are never gonna run out. We're never gonna run out of northern power people, uh northern power organizations, never, and really focused on looking forward into the next gen. Always have been since we did Northern Power Futures back in 2018. You know, so we think there's, you know, there's there's times where you just think, gosh, it's too difficult. Um, but actually there's always a way to disrupt. And look, 18, 1800 nominations for these awards, we're not running out. So, you know, and yes, you get you get some, you get you see the same name some year, but every year I'm never, I'm never more amazed than seeing, you know, train drivers, um, and I don't mean to, you know, but train nuclear um sport, um, grassroots organizations doing all the whole kind of reinvigoration around um fashion and retail accessibility. It's it's all coming through. And I think if we weren't doing that uh in some form, then that would be wrong. I think we haven't come this far to get this far. Um so sometimes it's been troubling, and last year was troubling. Last year was troubling, and you just say, gosh, which way do we go? And I I don't want to, I never want to pivot into something that is not right. We've always got to do stuff that sits with our heart. But equally, I actually think I think there's momentum right now to to be really bold.

SPEAKER_01 29:54

Do you think that's your military mindset? The the the kind of the embracing change, also trying to find a new plan, knowing what is absolutely at the heart of it, the core, which is the the storytelling, but also having the the kind of uh foresight to think I'm a really good disruptor, and if I've put all those together, that's quite a you know powerful thing. Do you know?

SPEAKER_00 30:16

I think now you ask, yes, but if I probably wouldn't think like that because um I often think I I'm not really sure. Sometimes I uh where does this motivation come from? Why? Because it's easy just to do the same thing. But I don't want to do the same thing if if there's a block and we can find another opportunity, then why would we not? We've got to make a plan B and a C. So yeah, I think I think you're right, but sometimes I I don't think about that until you go, oh yeah, that's probably why I never really realised that.

SPEAKER_01 30:44

That's why we work well together, because I I love anyone with a military mindset, and uh some people have a military mindset because they're from the military, and other people just operate like that. And when I can work with people like that, I'm like, yeah, this is gonna work because there's always a way. And we'll try and make it fun along the way as well.

Disrupt, Tour, And Adapt

SPEAKER_00 31:04

Oh, I think it has to be, and I think that's where that that's you're right, actually. Now I'm gonna reset my home thinking about that because it is that's it's the camaraderie. You want people. I always think about let's focus on what we can do. Because if we keep focused on everything we can't do, then we're not gonna win any war. You know, we're not gonna we're not gonna not gonna make any progress. And this organization, this movement is about the individuals and the stories and the achievements. Many I know not about, you know. I know what we unleash every year and what we connect through the mentoring or the the work that we do with colleges and universities and the programs that we run. I love all of that. But when I find out about the stuff I don't know, I have massive FOMO. It's like I'm like fuming. I do not know about that. I'm just starting on an invite there. But I'm thrilled that I know that we've stimulated the wonderful Corinthians that we had on the stage at the awards a few years ago, two years ago, uh the the the the the ladies, as they call it, the ladies' football team from the the 50s to the 70s, who were football was banned for 50 years, yet these women were like carried on playing uh through a great male advocate, by the way, who took him took the team globally. And literally just this month, they've released a film, you know. But here they were two years ago. We got them on stage, we gave them a platform, and on that night they got a partner, a sponsor, advocates, and you know, so it's when things like that happen. We may not have signed a check, we may not have opened every door, but we've enabled something. And I think, but I think that's the message that we have to pass on. Everybody has to do that, everybody has a gift to um pass on or do that one small thing because those one small millimetres just add up to the magic, you know. So we think, oh, I haven't got the experience to do that, or a self-belief, or the funds, but actually we can all do something because actually the best thing we can ever do is like give time, for example, on a couch.

SPEAKER_01 32:57

And a rather nice couch. Rather than do you ever, and I appreciate you said it's been a it's been a hard 12 months since the uh since the the ninth awards, but do you ever kind of take stock of you're talking about everyone's got a role to play in small steps, baby steps, and uh uh and kind of contributing to that. Do you ever take stock of the impact you've had personally on this kind of like spider web of lives?

Military Mindset And Plan B

Focus On What We Can Do

SPEAKER_00 33:23

Um I think I do it through the story, so I get fair back, or I was at an event or quite a long day in Manchester yesterday, running round, and somebody came up to me at one of the events and just said, I just want to know how amazing you are, and I just want to thank you for what you've done. And and I felt quite, oh, I didn't know what the right answer was. And she's people must say that all the time, and I'm like, Oh no, then but then I get another thing where someone voice memos me and says, 'Hi, you don't know me, I'm one of your finalists. I've just had my first session with my mentor. I didn't know these things were available for me. This has changed my whole reset and thinking. I've been having a real tough time. Like when I get that, I'm my cup is is is running over. And so I maybe I I think I just do it as I go, and I feel I think if I ever didn't feel like that, then that's the time to sort of go, well, actually, I'm I need to refigure in a different direction. But you know, my work's not done. My work is not done. It can't be done. You only have to look at what's going on out of the world. So we're our focus on what can we do. Uh, and I think it was a good few years ago at probably one of the first awards that we did together. And we did a whole what is the we can campaign, using our we, you know, what is the we, you know. So I think we need to kind of reset and revisit that. Let's not focus on everything that is not possible for us and not in our gift, and let's focus on the stuff that we can do because I think that, and it's not just being positive for positive sake, but it is that positive mindset and believing and having that self-belief because that becomes contagious. And I think, you know, ripple effects, growth mindset, all of that. But you know, I think it is just let's create that the overwhelm. That's all I ever wanted to do. All I ever wanted to do was overwhelm the world with the fact that there were amazing humans, organizations, causes, innovations in and across the north of England. I'd never wanted anyone to say there wasn't anyone for them. And that was the sole purpose of this. No business plan, no model. Still pretty much the same. But I think as long as that cause in your heart and the team you have around you enable that to happen, then why would it stop? That that would be my question, you know. Why would it? There would be no reason.

SPEAKER_01 35:34

It's a it's a great answer, but you've not actually you like the award winners who don't think they deserve to be on the stage. You don't really accept the recognition. You're a truly amazing person, and it's fantastic to have ever come across you.

SPEAKER_00 35:47

Oh, now I have one final question for you. So every year we have such fun in the office uh debating uh what the song that everyone is gonna walk up to. Like brilliant, you know. Well you think about these things. Oh my goodness, yeah. We um we debate about them. Talk about the judging. We have oh, you know, we have so many discussions about it, you know, water company, we have waterfalls, um, you know, I think advocacy, what a man, you know, it just brilliant. Like, and we like giggle that some of them don't even make sense, but you know, we get it in our head. What would be your what because we also pick yours. We put oh, oh, I don't know. One year we had the wonderful professor Diana, and we had she was Queen of the Night by Whitney Houston. Uh, you know, just that last n last year's mine was she works hard for the money when she doesn't get paid, but that's okay. You know, so we do, we we think about it all, and I've got I know I've got members of our audience who message me who notice it. They notice it and they they recognise it because they know I do it with we do it with a bit of humour. Uh, but what would yours be?

SPEAKER_01 36:51

Oh, you've really put me on the spot now. Um, goodness, for different re Oh, I know what I'm gonna pick. I know, I know. So, have you heard of Noah Kahn? You know I'm a massive music fan. Massive. Like it's okay. You're gonna say someone.

Overwhelming The World With Talent

SPEAKER_00 37:04

I'm gonna have to pretend I know them, aren't I?

SPEAKER_01 37:06

Well, you might know it or not, but if you don't know it, this is your homework to go away. So uh there's uh an artist called Noah Khan, he's American, he's amazing. Uh he's done collaborations with uh the likes of Sam Fender, you know, the Northeast Sam Fender, he's like my number one, he's my goat of kind of single um artists. Um but Noah Kahn has done uh a song, and you can either have the hosier version where he does a clo collaboration with him, or the OG Noah Kahn. It's called Northern Attitude. Oh and it's perfect for me. You need to you need to hear the song, read the lyric, uh, and it's perfect for for for the awards.

SPEAKER_00 37:50

Well, that is my homework. My homework to take away, and I have one final task for you uh before we take our time to reflect about this amazing decade and the time that we have worked together. The power jar is a question being left by one of our previous guests. Are you prepared to delve into the power jar?

SPEAKER_01 38:10

I feel like I'm on the live lounge at Radio 2 where the the artist before has to um ask a question of the next artist. Oh goodness, what a picked. Oh, that's a good one for me. Uh what food do you associate with celebration or good news? I mean, the I'm I'm a pescatarian, so I would say all food that is not meat, um, because I just love food. It's like music travel food and my priorities. Uh I just I do like my bubbles, so any excuse to have a bit of champagne'cause I think.

SPEAKER_00 38:50

Oh my gosh, hell yes. Hell yes, was it food?

SPEAKER_01 38:53

Was it food or drink? Oh no, sorry. Hello you got straight to champagne. Hello, straight to champagne. Well, in that case, it has to be um it has to be like crisps.

SPEAKER_00 39:04

Oh, I thought it was going to be a pie, because we had this conversation just before we started rolling about pies.

SPEAKER_01 39:10

All food cheese, all all veggie pies. A buffet. I've got it, I've got it, I've got it, I've got it. Greg's vegetarian sausage roll.

Walk-On Songs And Northern Attitude

SPEAKER_00 39:19

There you go. See? Keep it northern. Keep it northern, keep it real. Nina, thank you so much for being awesome. Always awesome. And thank you so much for just being so just you, uh, because you compliment everything that we do and all the Power Women Awards, and we are power. Big heart to you. Thank you for having me.