In this episode, we speak with Alicia McDonnell, from Manchester Airports Group, who shares her experience supporting neurodiverse employees and amplifying voices across early- and mid-career stages. She explores how organisations can move beyond diversity statements to meaningful, day-to-day action, and offers practical insights into recognising and nurturing talent in all its forms.

You’ll hear:
➡️ How to design talent development strategies that are genuinely inclusive
➡️ Why recognising neurodiverse strengths benefits teams and individuals alike
➡️ The power of transparency in career pathways and progression
➡️ How early- and mid-career voices reveal what inclusion looks like in practice
➡️ Why building equity is essential

This conversation is both insightful and actionable, offering inspiration for leaders, HR professionals, and anyone who wants to help create workplaces where every voice is heard, and every person can flourish.

Listen/Watch the full We Are PoWEr x Manchester Airports Group series via the links below ⬇️

Listen on audio platforms:

Representation Matters: Ethnic Diversity and Visibility at Work

LGBTQ+ at Work: What Inclusion Really Means

Tech Careers Aren’t Just for Tech People

Leading for Everyone: Inclusion in Action

Watch on YouTube:

Representation Matters: Ethnic Diversity and Visibility at Work

LGBTQ+ at Work: What Inclusion Really Means

Tech Careers Aren’t Just for Tech People

Leading for Everyone: Inclusion in Action

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

The brilliant Sarah Lewis and Emma Cooper join the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing insight, honesty, and a powerful message for anyone who’s ever thought, “I’m not techie enough.” As leaders within MagTech, the technology team at Manchester Airports Group, they’re proving that building the world’s most intelligent airports takes far more than code – it takes communication, curiosity, and courage.

From law and public service to leading tech transformation, Emma’s career shows how transferable skills can open unexpected doors. Sarah shares how her role as a “translator” bridges the gap between technical ambition and business outcomes – making sense of the acronyms, aligning people across security, operations, retail, and air traffic, and ensuring technology truly works for everyone.

Together, they break down the biggest myths about working in tech, showing that airports operate like entire cities – filled with opportunities for project managers, designers, and problem-solvers of every kind. They discuss inclusion as a driver of innovation, from reverse mentoring and apprenticeships to creating space where every question is welcome.

Their conversation is packed with practical advice for anyone looking to upskill, switch careers, or build confidence in a changing world of work. And beyond the terminals and runways, Sarah and Emma share personal stories of resilience – from skydiving for charity to climbing the Three Peaks in 24 hours – proving that growth often starts by saying yes to something that scares you.

In this episode:

• From law to tech: how transferable skills power transformation
• The real roles behind innovation – PMO, product, service design & more
• Myths about working in technology (and how to overcome them)
• Inclusion, mentoring, and building confidence in new spaces
• Airports as “cities”: connecting tech with real people and outcomes
• Superpowers: curiosity, courage, and translation

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫

The brilliant Emma Preston and Maxwell Crowson join the We Are PoWEr Podcast – bringing honesty, courage, and compassion to a powerful conversation about what real inclusion looks and feels like in everyday life. As part of Manchester Airports Group, Emma and Max are helping shape a culture where colleagues and travelers alike can breathe, belong, and be their authentic selves.

From the security queue to the departure gate, they show how inclusion isn’t about grand gestures – it’s built through small, consistent actions. A smile, a pronoun badge, a leader who listens – all signals that turn workplaces from promises of belonging into lived experiences of safety and respect.

Emma shares her remarkable journey from darkness to light, opening up about surviving two suicide attempts and the turning point that began when someone simply said, “let me help.” Her story of resilience and self-acceptance – learning to stop being the “best transgender woman” and start being the best Emma – is both powerful and deeply human.

Max brings his perspective as a dad through adoption, exploring how confidence at work and home allows his son to face tough questions with pride. Together, they reflect on the courage it takes to bring your full self to work, to challenge bias, and to choose employers and leaders who truly see you.

Through their work with Fly with Pride, Emma and Max are turning policy into practice – offering guidance, allyship, and visibility that goes beyond parades and posters. Their message is simple but profound: inclusion doesn’t start with a strategy, it starts with people showing up.

In this episode:
From survival to self-acceptance: Emma’s journey to living authentically
Parenting, pride, and identity: Max’s experience as an adoptive dad
What inclusion really feels like day to day
Why small signals create big impact at work and in travel
Turning equity from posters into practice through Fly with Pride
How leaders can listen, learn, and make space for others to thrive

Find out more about We Are PoWEr here. 💫