What a night! Last week WeAreTheCity welcomed over 350 guests to The Intercontinental Hotel in Mayfair to celebrate the winners of this year’s Rising Star awards. Recognising excellence across a diverse range of industries, the Rising Star Awards celebrate the achievements of women who have made a significant impact and overcome hurdles, inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. This year’s winners are shining examples of courage, resilience, and innovation, and we are honoured to acknowledge their extraordinary contributions. You can see pictures of the event here.
This year’s awards were entered by over 1,445 individuals and were judged by a panel of over 40 independent judges. Over 15,000 public votes of support were received for the 200 shortlisted nominees from across 115 countries over a two-week period.
Funds raised from the raffle and everyone’s generosity will help to save and change the lives of women and girls affected by domestic violence and abuse.
We would like to once again thank our guests for you amazing generosity!
The awards are headline sponsored by the Royal Bank of Canada, with support from Barclays, BAE Systems, Merkle, 3M, Citi, Northern Trust, LSEG, National Grid, Lloyd’s, Bloomberg, Wellbeing of Women, CMI Women, WBS, IHG, HSBC, Accenture, ReedSmith, Dentsu, Oliver Wyman and Marie Claire.
Our celebrations were expertly hosted by the incredible Julia Streets, CEO of Streets Consulting. Guests were entertained by ex-Strictly Come Dancing stars, Kristina Rhianoff and Robin Windsor, and power duo Old Hat. There was ample advice from the keynote speakers, which included “don’t whisper your wins”, and “own your success” as well as words of encouragement to use the awards as a platform to do more! Vanessa Vallely OBE, founder of the awards also encouraged the companies in the room to continue to open doors of opportunities for the winners via mentorship and sponsorship.
This year’s list of winners showcases remarkable women within the UK representing different industries and professions. Those highlighted include Natasha Day in our Defence category who is a Paramedic in the British Army. Natasha set up a breastfeeding network when she realised that there was nothing in place to support women integrating back into the forces after maternity leave. Another winner in our entrepreneur category is Dr Pearl Jarrett, who has built a “Sustainable Water Ecosystem” that has Air-To-Water technology, allowing water to be pulled from the humidity in the air. Krsna Mohnani, in our Healthcare category, was also recognised as a winner for her work designing and implementing the first mental health pathway for asylum-seeking children at the Imperial NHS Trust and for her work improving the management of homeless patients attending A&E. Zoe Henley, in our Science and Engineering category, utilised her synthetic and medicinal chemistry skills to enable the identification of potential drug candidates, one of which reached Phase two clinical trials in patients.
WeAreTheCity’s Rising Star awards are not just a one-time celebration and our support for our winners doesn’t stop here. Through our partnerships, our Rising Stars are also given the opportunity to attend a number of networking and learning opportunities throughout the year via a gifted membership from the Chartered Institute of Management, they are also invited to attend a knowledge day with our partners at Warwick Business School at their Shard campus in September.
Our 2024 Rising Star awards open in January 2024. For all enquiries regarding sponsorship, please email [email protected]
October
04oct12:0014:00Empowered Awakening: A Healing & Well-being Workshop
04/10/2025 12:00 - 14:00(GMT+01:00)
The Conduit
6 Langley Street London WC2H 9JA
A soulful healing session for Black & Brown women — with movement, storytelling, and optional guided hypnotherapy. Empowered Awakening is a soulful gathering created for Black & Brown women — leaders,
Empowered Awakening is a soulful gathering created for Black & Brown women — leaders, professionals, and creatives — to connect, share, and step fully into their power.An afternoon of movement, storytelling, reflection, and optional guided hypnotherapy, it offers space to feel rooted, restored, and uplifted in community with women who see and celebrate you.
Curated by Vision Liberate, a grassroots, woman-led social enterprise, this experience weaves together healing practices, creative expression, and collective reflection — with a focus on emotional well-being, cultural affirmation, and sisterhood.
Hosted at The Conduit, Covent Garden, this intimate gathering unfolds in a beautiful, welcoming space. Come solo, with a friend, or as part of your own journey of healing and empowerment.
Guided Movement & Creative Expression — No dance experience needed; simply bring your body and breath. Group Storytelling & Reflection Circles — Explore rest, identity, and renewal through writing, sharing, or simply listening. Optional 30-Minute Guided Hypnotherapy — A gentle practice using breathwork, mindfulness, and light trance to ease emotional tension. (You’re welcome to observe, rest, or step outside if you prefer.) Social wind-down with refreshments — Close the afternoon with soft music, light bites, and time to connect.
Spaces are limited to 20 guests to preserve intimacy and care — early booking is strongly encouraged.
Created for Black & Brown women seeking space to reconnect with themselves and others. While this gathering centres our voices, the ethos of Empowered Awakening is rooted in care, cultural safety, and collective healing for all marginalised communities.
13/10/2025 - 17/10/2025 (All Day)(GMT+00:00)
The ground-breaking nationwide celebration of women in technology returns, featuring a week of dynamic online and
The ground-breaking nationwide celebration of women in technology returns, featuring a week of dynamic online and in-person events. Focused on career growth, networking, and innovation, this event continues to champion equality and empower women in the tech industry.
WeAreTechWomen is proud to present the second annual UK Women in Tech Week, taking place from October 13th to 17th, once again aligning with Ada Lovelace Day. This nationwide initiative brings together a vibrant line-up of virtual and in-person events celebrating the impact of women across the tech industry.
In partnership with leading organisations and Women in Tech networks, the week will offer inspiring panels, practical workshops, and meaningful networking opportunities. Through our website, attendees can easily book their spots for these events. Our master calendar for bookings will be released in the summer. Those who have registered their interest will receive priority booking.
Despite growing awareness, the sector still faces systemic challenges. Our upcoming Lovelace Report with Oliver Wyman has highlighted a number of issues around the broken systems that hinder the progression of women in the tech industry. Several reports over the past few years, including the Lovelace Report, cite that women are leaving the industry altogether. This talent drain is not only a loss of potential but is actively costing the UK economy billions of pounds each year.
With just 20% of the UK’s tech workforce made up of women—and with government commitments to scale the AI workforce—this is not the time to slow down. It’s time to step up.
For more information visit: women-in-tech-week.com
01nov09:0016:30KIN: Know. Inspire. Navigate | A Day for Women to Realign, Renew, and Rise
01/11/2025 09:00 - 16:30(GMT+00:00)
Henley Business School, Greenlands
Henley-on-Thames, RG9 3AU
Set on the tranquil banks of the River Thames, Henley’s historic Greenlands campus offers the perfect backdrop for a day of reflection, connection, and
Designed for early to mid-career women across industries who want practical tools they can use immediately, this one-day retreat follows the Kinspace KIN framework – Know, Inspire, Navigate – guiding you to:
This is not just a feel-good day. It’s sustainable learning – you will leave with your own action and implementation plan tailored to your life, so you can apply what you’ve learned immediately and keep building momentum long after the retreat.
In the afternoon, slow down and reconnect with your senses in a mindful pressed flower card crafting, writing to self and picture workshop. We’ll ask a few questions ahead of time so we can pair you by goals and stage, and tailor examples to your context. Then, step outdoors for a unique partner reflection in nature – partnering with both the landscape and each other to inspire deeper insight and grounded action.
To help you stay accountable and supported, you’ll have the option to join three monthly follow-up group sessions (at a separate price) designed to check in on your progress, troubleshoot challenges, and keep you moving towards your goals.
This is a confidential and supportive space with limited seats to ensure meaningful connection and participation.
Date: Saturday 1 November 2025
Time: 9:00 AM -4:30 PMT
Location: Henley Business School, Greenlands Henley-on-Thames
RG9 3AU
Price: £250 – Early Bird £200 until 10 September