Featuring alumni from the Women of the Future Programme and Awards, which recognises distinctive, innovative individuals in their fields. Previous winner Kim Rowell speaks to guests about their careers, big breaks, successes, failures and inspirations.
Episodes
Friday Nov 05, 2021
Friday Nov 05, 2021
Self-titled ‘Polar Preet Chandi’ is nothing short of extraordinary.
A passion and expertise for tennis at an early age saw Preet move to the Czech Republic to attend Novak’s Tennis Academy when she was just 16.
A career in the Army Reserves and a degree in physiotherapy followed; but as her appetite for pushing and challenging herself grew, Preet went on to complete her first half marathon at 20 years old.
From there she progressed on to compete in ultra-marathons, and eventually joined the Regular Army in her late twenties, completing large scale exercises and deployments in places such as Nepal, Kenya and most recently a 6 month UN peacekeeping tour to South Sudan.
Currently based at a Medical Regiment in the North West of England, with a primary role as a Clinical Training Officer, Preet recently completed her MSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine at Queen Mary’s University, but might have to wait to attend her graduation ceremony…
Forever interested in ways in which to push the human body to its limits, Preet will very shortly be arriving in Chile to undertake her biggest challenge to date – being the first woman of colour to complete a solo, unsupported trek to the South Pole, travelling over 700 miles, facing wind speeds of 60mph and temperatures as low as -50c, before returning home with the intention of launching her own adventure grant for women.
Captain Preet Chandi was shortlisted for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in the Sport category in 2020. You can follow Preet’s adventures on her website: www.polarpreet.com
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
Friday Oct 22, 2021
Friday Oct 22, 2021
With previous roles at FitFlop, Puma, Levi Strauss and Timberland; Suzie de Rohan Willner is a hugely experienced global CEO specialising in values-based leadership and meaningful business transformation.
Suzie is currently CEO at TOAST, a purpose driven global lifestyle brand, creating and curating simple, functional, beautiful clothing, homeware and content. She believes that if you focus on your team and your customer, success will follow.
Committed to sharing her experience to equip others to craft and contribute to a more meaningful future, Suzie is an ambassador and judge for the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, and was named on their ’Kindness and Leadership 50 Leading Lights List’.
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
Friday Oct 08, 2021
Friday Oct 08, 2021
Surviving a difficult and challenging childhood in East London, Jack Parson’s mission in life is to make sure no one is left behind by society.
Jack’s work is primarily focussed on the often overlooked 18-30 demographic who, for some, have not had the opportunities that many of their peers from different socio-economic backgrounds have had. Jack, and the Youth Group, are changing this, one young person at a time.
With the core values of: be bold, be honest, be kind, Jack’s Youth Group enables young people in the UK to thrive, develop and build a successful future; and with a connected community of 1.7 million they’re really starting to make a huge difference.
Jacks’ own accolades include being named as the UK’s Chief Youth Officer, listed on the UK’s 100 Business Power List, and as Young Digital Leader of the Year, with Jack also recognised as one of the 50 people on the ‘Kindness and Leadership: Leading Lights’ list, part of the Women of the Future Programme.
*Please be aware that this episode discusses severe mental health issues and has references to suicide*
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
For more information on The Youth Group, please visit: www.theyouthgroup.com
Friday Sep 17, 2021
Friday Sep 17, 2021
Rozella Mahjhrin is a Malaysian singer, songwriter, voice-over artist and the founder of True Complexion, an online social platform that raises awareness of health conditions, disabilities, and body image issues.
Born with a birthmark on her face, Rozella grew up with low self-esteem that initially prevented her from pursuing her love of music and performing.
Eventually finding the strength to embrace her passion, her voice can now be heard on countless radio, television, online commercials, and corporate videos. Rozella also became the face of IT Cosmetics, with her image featured in Sephora stores in both Singapore and Malaysia.
A TEDx speaker and twice nominated for Asia’s independent music awards - the VIMAs; Rozella is also the first Bornean to be accepted for the Eisenhower Fellowships Global Program. She has also been part of the Obama Leaders: Asia-Pacific Program and received the Women of the Future South East Asia Award in the Arts and Culture category in 2019.
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
Friday Sep 03, 2021
Friday Sep 03, 2021
Noreen Mirza is an award-winning British jewellery designer whose creations have adorned celebrities and international royalty; frequently featuring in global press.
Founder of one of the world’s most innovative and empowering fine jewellery brands - the eponymous ‘Noreen London’ - she now acts as the brand’s Creative Director, utilising her expertise and wealth of experience in creating bespoke pieces, high jewellery, and fine jewellery collections.
Driven by a need to shape the world into a more beautiful place, Noreen is committed to working with 'Mosaic', a Prince of Wales charity aimed at mentoring young people to fulfil their potential.
With a Business degree from Kingston University London, Noreen is also a diamond expert and gemologist certified by the Gemological Institute of America, the world’s foremost authority on diamonds, coloured stones, and pearls.
Noreen was shortlisted in the Asian Women of Achievement Awards, part of the Women of the Future Programme, as a ‘Young Achiever’ in 2007.
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Chantal Epp is an award-winning entrepreneur and the founder of ClicknClear.
She set up her first company Synergy Sounds, a music production company for cheerleading, whilst at University. Following her time working in sync licensing, Chantal took the opportunity to merge her two passions, cheerleading and music, and founded ClicknClear, providing global music licensing within performance sports.
Chantal is still an active athlete and advocate for ParaCheer - disability inclusive cheerleading - and has travelled the world helping National Federations start teams, as well as building ClicknClear into a global solution across multiple sports.
Chantal was the recipient of the ‘Women of the Future Award’ in the Entrepreneur category in 2019, she also featured on the ‘Kindness and Leadership: 50 Leading Lights’ list in 2020 as a ‘Rising Star’.
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
Friday Aug 06, 2021
Friday Aug 06, 2021
Layla Yarjani is Chief Operating Officer of Little Bridge, a company focused on allowing millions of children around the world to learn to read, write, listen and speak English through a social, immersive, games-based community.
Prior to Little Bridge, Layla spent five and a half years in consulting, during which, as an advisor to UNICEF, she founded the NEXTGen London network of young professionals supporting UNICEF’s work in Europe, also advising on refugee integration and entrepreneurial projects.
A graduate of the University of Texas, with vast and diverse international experience having lived in the UK, Iran, Spain and several major US cities; Layla’s philanthropic journey started when she was just 14 in founding ‘Club Hope’ – standing for ‘Helping Out People Everywhere.’
Winner of the Women of the Future Award in the Technology and Digital category in 2020, Layla believes education is an enabler to the pursuit of happiness and has a huge passion for improving the lives of children through education and sustainable development.
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
Friday Jul 23, 2021
Friday Jul 23, 2021
Kara Owen CMG has been the British High Commissioner to Singapore since June 2019.
As High Commissioner, Kara acts as the UK government’s representative and is responsible for everything from political work, trade and investment, to press and cultural relations, as well as visa and consular services.
Before taking on the role, Kara was most recently Director for the Americas at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, having also previously held high-profile government positions in Paris and Hanoi and as Private Secretary to the UK’s Foreign Secretary from 2003 to 2005.
For her services to British foreign policy, Kara was awarded the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s list in 2020.
A self-confessed ‘proud Cumbrian and mother’ and as her Twitter profile proclaims: Liverpool FC fan, food obsessive, history junkie, hiker and reader; Kara is also an ardent supporter and ambassador for the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives.
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For more information on the Women of the Future , please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
Friday Jul 09, 2021
Friday Jul 09, 2021
Dr Leor Zmigrod is a Junior Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge. Her research combines methods from experimental psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience to investigate the psychology of ideological adherence and group identity formation. In particular, she is interested in investigating cognitive characteristics that might act as vulnerability factors for radicalisation and ideologically-motivated behaviour.
She holds a BA in Psychological and Behavioural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and has published work on the neuroscience of agency, creativity, and hallucinations. Leor has also conducted research at Stanford University, Harvard University, and University College London.
Leor went on to complete her PhD at Cambridge, with her doctoral research exploring the psychological processes underpinning political, religious, and nationalistic beliefs.
For the academic year 2020-2021, Leor will hold the Gretty Mirdal Junior Chair in ’Brain, Culture and Society’ at the Paris Institute for Advanced Study.
With numerous other accolades to her name, Leor was listed on Forbes '30 Under 30' in the Science & Healthcare category, awarded the ESCAN 2020 'Young Investigator' Award by the European Society for Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience as well as the 'Glushko Dissertation Prize in Cognitive Science' by the Cognitive Science Society.
Leor is passionate about encouraging young people to pursue STEM and founded the Cambridge Cognitive Science Research Assistantship Scheme to offer research experience and mentoring to young people interested in a scientific approach to the human mind.
Her research has been featured in The Guardian, TIME, New Scientist, Financial Times, LSE British Politics and Policy, The Times and many other international outlets.
Leor was the recipient of the Women of the Future Award 2020 in the Science category.
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk
Friday Jun 25, 2021
Friday Jun 25, 2021
Sukki Singapora is a burlesque performer and activist.
Born to a Singaporean Indian father and an English mother, Sukki has achieved world-wide recognition as the first international burlesque performer from Singapore; founding The Singapore Burlesque Society in 2012, to protect Asian women (and men) wanting to pursue a career in burlesque.
Sukki’s television debut came as one of the cast for Netflix’s unscripted docuseries ‘Singapore Social’; following the lives of young, successful Singaporeans and notable for being the first docuseries with an all-Asian cast based in Asia for global release - it gained Sukki legions of fans around the world.
Sukki has worked to change the stereotypes and misconceptions about Burlesque and to encourage others to try the performance style. Speaking on her activism in this space, Sukki has stated: "This is not just an opportunity to prove that Burlesque can make a difference, it is a responsibility.”
Her outspoken political views on freedom of expression for women in socially restrictive countries saw her recognised on the shortlist for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards in 2013.
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For more information on the Women of the Future Programme and initiatives, please visit: www.womenofthefuture.co.uk