SHINE Together CIC

09/12/2025

Join us this Thursday 11th December for our December SHINE Together CIC Webinar: The Women's Awards Effect ✨

We will celebrate the impact of The Women's Awards, from the incredible achievements of our winners to the dedication of our sponsors and everyone who helps bring this community to life.

In this uplifting session, you’ll hear directly from:

🌟 Sandra Po***ck OBE MA: Founder of the Women’s Awards and Co-Founder of Shine Together CIC

🌟 Debbie Moore: Director of Debbie Moore Coaching, award-winning entrepreneur, and Headline Sponsor for 2025 & 2026

🌟 David Hayes: Director of David Hayes Export Controls and Judge & Headline Sponsor for 2025 & 2026

You’ll also meet some of this year’s remarkable winners and gain an inside look at how you can help shape 2026, our 10th year of the Women’s Awards, into our most impactful year yet.

Whether you’re a past nominee, a supporter, or simply passionate about empowering women, this webinar is a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired.

Reserve your spot here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/web-dec-25/

Join us for the return of our SHINE Webinars, as we discuss the impact our Awards on its Winners, Sponsors, and all who get involved.

02/12/2025

✨ Save the date for our December SHINE Together CIC Webinar: The Women's Awards Effect

🗓️ 11th December 2025 | 1-2 PM

We’re thrilled to welcome you back to our SHINE Webinars this December for a heartfelt look at one of our most inspiring years yet.

Join us as we celebrate the impact of The Women's Awards, from the incredible achievements of our winners to the dedication of our sponsors and everyone who helps bring this community to life.

In this uplifting session, you’ll hear directly from:

🌟 Sandra Po***ck OBE MA: Founder of the Women’s Awards and Co-Founder of Shine Together CIC
🌟 Debbie Moore Certified Woman-Centered Coach MSc FCIPD: Director of Debbie Moore Coaching, award-winning entrepreneur, and Headline Sponsor for 2025 & 2026
🌟 David Hayes: Director of David Hayes Export Controls and Judge & Headline Sponsor for 2025 & 2026

You’ll also meet some of this year’s remarkable winners and gain an inside look at how you can help shape 2026, our 10th year of the Women’s Awards, into our most impactful year yet.

Whether you’re a past nominee, a supporter, or simply passionate about empowering women, this webinar is a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired.

Reserve your spot here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/web-dec-25/

Join us for the return of our SHINE Webinars, as we discuss the impact our Awards on its Winners, Sponsors, and all who get involved.

10/03/2025

The SHINE Together CIC International Women's Day 2025 Conference was a powerhouse of inspiration, resilience, and empowerment ⭐

From perseverance in the face of bias to breaking barriers and driving change, our incredible speakers shared stories that resonated deeply.

Our Keynote speaker, Director of People, Policy and Culture at YMCA, Nicola Thompson-Windley spoke of her journey through adversity: navigating bias, feeling like an outsider, and ultimately finding spaces to thrive and uplift others.

I. Stephanie Boyce FKC, FRSA, Honorary Professor of Law and former President of Law Society of England and Wales, reminded us that success isn’t always immediate...it took her four attempts to achieve her historic milestone.

Linda Neville, Founder and CEO of Strive with SanaMente shared how gender inequality in the workplace drove her to build her own business: one that now supports people in managing mental health and leading productive lives.

David Hayes, Director of David Hayes Export Controls, talked about his long-standing passion of supporting women to develop their businesses.

Nikhil Mistry, a global award-winning filmmaker, reflected on the strong female leaders in his life and how they shaped his perspective on leadership and achievement.

But this conference was more than just a gathering: it was a catalyst for change.

✨ Every story told was a reminder of the power of persistence.
✨ Every insight shared paved the way for greater equity.
✨ Every success story inspired another to rise.

As we move forward, let’s take these lessons into our workplaces, communities, and personal lives: lifting others, creating space for every voice, and driving the change the world needs.

🌟 Together, we shine brighter. Together, we make an impact 🌟

Huge thanks to Paul Brown, CEO of YMCA Leicestershire who so graciously hosted us this year, and to Leanne Bonner-Cooke MBE and Sandra Po***ck OBE MA, Co-Directors of Shine Together CIC for bringing us such an excellent panel of speakers again this year.

08/03/2025

Happy International Women's Day to our wonderful community 💜

05/03/2025

⭐ 2 DAYS TO GO! 🗓️

We’ll be holding our annual International Women’s Day Panel Discussion and Networking event at the YMCA Leicestershire, on 7th March.

The campaign theme for 2025 is ‘Accelerate Action’ for women worldwide: a call to raise awareness of the current level of gender parity.

Join our panel of speakers as they discuss this topic and share their experiences and ideas of how we can together speed up the rate of gender parity.

It’s a great opportunity to meet many of our The Women's Awards Winners, Shine Members, and speak with our panelists.

Book your ticket here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/international-womens-day-conference-accelerate-gender-parity/

Venue sponsor: YMCA Leicestershire

28/02/2025

⭐ 7 DAYS TO GO! 🗓️

We’ll be holding our annual International Women’s Day Panel Discussion and Networking event at the YMCA Leicestershire, on 7th March.

The campaign theme for 2025 is ‘Accelerate Action’ for women worldwide: a call to raise awareness of the current level of gender parity.

Join our panel of speakers as they discuss this topic and share their experiences and ideas of how we can together speed up the rate of gender parity.

Book your ticket here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/international-womens-day-conference-accelerate-gender-parity/

Venue sponsor: YMCA Leicestershire

27/02/2025

⭐ WILL YOU BE JOINING US NEXT FRIDAY? 🗓️

We’ll be holding our annual International Women’s Day Panel Discussion and Networking event at the YMCA Leicestershire, on 7th March.

The campaign theme for 2025 is ‘Accelerate Action’ for women worldwide: a call to raise awareness of the current level of gender parity.

Join our panel of speakers as they discuss this topic and share their experiences and ideas of how we can together speed up the rate of gender parity.

Book your ticket here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/international-womens-day-conference-accelerate-gender-parity/

Venue sponsor: YMCA Leicestershire

26/02/2025

⭐ Meet Our Gender Parity Panel Members ⭐

Today we’re spotlighting Sandra Po***ck OBE MA

Sandra is a serial entrepreneur: Founder of Open Mind Coaching UK, The Women's Awards, Co-Founder of SHINE Together CIC, a leadership, Diversity, and Inclusion Advisor and Consultant.

Sandra also holds several N.E.D. roles which include Director Trustee of Bamboozle Theatre Company, Diversity Advisory for Porsche Club Great Britain (PCGB), Advisory Council Member of the Employers' Initiative on Domestic Abuse, and Co-Chair of the Strategic Independent Advisory Groups (SIAG) at Leicestershire Police.

Sandra is listed in the ‘100 Black Women Who Have Made a Mark’. She’s also a Motivational Speaker, a Reiki Master Practitioner, a Freelance Radio Presenter, an Author, and Poet.

Sandra was awarded an OBE for Services to Equality in 2021.

Hear from Sandra at our Accelerating Gender Parity International Women’s Day event in March.

Book your ticket here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/international-womens-day-conference-accelerate-gender-parity/

Venue sponsor: YMCA Leicestershire

25/02/2025

⭐ Meet Our Gender Parity Panel Members ⭐

Today we’re spotlighting Nikhil Mistry.

Nikhil is an award-winning global filmmaker and entrepreneur with a passion for storytelling that sparks change. Launching his career at 17, he has collaborated with global brands like NHS, Porsche, and Amazon Prime, crafting mini-documentaries around the world and commercial films that captivate audiences and ignite conversations. His talent for connecting with people from all walks of life allows him to create visually stunning, emotionally resonant, and socially impactful narratives.

Beyond filmmaking, Nikhil is committed to mentoring future entrepreneurs and championing gender equality. As an Enterprise Advisor for schools across Leicestershire, he helps young people develop the confidence and skills to succeed in business. He also collaborates with a CIC that supports women and works alongside a UN Women’s board panel to advocate for gender equality and women-led initiatives.

Blending creativity with curiosity, Nikhil uses film to amplify voices, challenge perspectives, and inspire meaningful change. His global experience and entrepreneurial mindset fuel his mission to make storytelling a powerful force for impact.

Hear from Nikhil at our Accelerating Gender Parity International Women’s Day event next week!

Book your ticket here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/international-womens-day-conference-accelerate-gender-parity/

Venue sponsor: YMCA Leicestershire

24/02/2025

⭐ Meet Our Gender Parity Panel Members ⭐

Today we’re spotlighting Linda Neville, founder and CEO of Strive with SanaMente. Her passion lies in unlocking the full potential of individuals in their personal and professional lives.

With an extensive career, in a variety of Mental Health clinical settings, managerial and leadership roles within the NHS, and now in Private Practice, Linda is skilled in understanding the context of complex human challenges, obstacles and ambitions. She has a passion for helping people to overcome adversity and challenge, assisting them to recognise and use their unique skills and talents to thrive in work and life.

Strive with SanaMente a flexible and responsive online programme that guides people to better mental health by learning to understand it themselves. Each member is assessed on enrolment and then given direction on what they need to learn to help them. Members are pro-actively engaged via text, email and a private Facebook group that offers the support of a community should they need it. They also have access to 1-2-1 support with mental healthprofessionals and fortnightly events that are designed to practically address life skills.

Linda is the Winner of The Women's Awards 2022 Outstanding Woman in Care Services – East Midlands, and The Women’s Awards Inspirational Female Leader of the Year East Midlands 2022.

Hear from Linda at our Accelerating Gender Parity International Women’s Day event in March.

Book your ticket here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/international-womens-day-conference-accelerate-gender-parity/

Venue sponsor: YMCA Leicestershire

24/02/2025

⭐ Meet Our Gender Parity Panel Members ⭐

Today we’re spotlighting Nicola Thompson-Windley, Director of People, Policy, and Culture, YMCA Leicestershire

Nicola Thompson-Windley is a dedicated HR leader and advocate for inclusive workplaces, with over 20 years of experience in human resources, organisational culture, and leadership development. As the Director of People, Policy, and Culture at YMCA Leicestershire, she is committed to fostering an environment where people feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.

With a strong focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion, Nicola has been instrumental in driving policies and initiatives that promote fairness and opportunity for all. She is passionate about creating meaningful change, ensuring that workplaces are not only legally compliant but also spaces where individuals—especially women and underrepresented groups—can reach their full potential.

Throughout her career, Nicola has worked across both the charity and public sectors, leading transformative projects in employee engagement, well-being, and leadership development. She has also dedicated time to supporting community initiatives that help young people and vulnerable individuals build brighter futures.

Nicola is honoured to be attending this year’s International Women’s Day event, joining in the conversation on accelerating women’s equality. As someone who champions the importance of inclusive leadership and positive workplace culture, she looks forward to engaging with and learning from other inspiring women and allies ✨

Hear from Nicola at our Accelerating Gender Parity International Women’s Day event in March. Book your ticket here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/international-womens-day-conference-accelerate-gender-parity/

Venue sponsor: YMCA Leicestershire

22/02/2025

⭐ Meet Our Gender Parity Panel Members ⭐

Today we’re spotlighting Leanne Bonner-Cooke MBE: Founder of LBC Mentoring Ltd, and Co-Founder of SHINE Together CIC, Leanne was awarded MBE for Services to Women in Business and Technology in 2018.

As a multi award winning serial entrepreneur, Leanne has worked in the corporate world and start-ups, leading innovation and growth.

LBC is about Leading Businesses Consciously and believes that people and their teams are at the core of success. Now after 35 years, she uses these skills and knowledge at to mentor and coach business leaders.

Hear from Leanne at our Accelerating Gender Parity International Women’s Day event in March.

Book your ticket here: https://shine-together.co.uk/events/international-womens-day-conference-accelerate-gender-parity/

Venue sponsor: YMCA Leicestershire