Rise Launches First-Ever AV Elevate Program to Empower Next Generation of Women Leaders – Sports Video Group

Report on the Rise AV Elevate Program: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in the Audio-Visual Sector

Introduction

The advocacy group Rise AV has announced the launch of its inaugural Elevate Program, a six-week initiative designed to accelerate the professional growth of women within the Audio-Visual (AV) industry. This program directly addresses critical industry challenges, including gender disparity in leadership, by equipping high-potential women with the necessary skills, support, and confidence to assume senior roles. The initiative’s structure and objectives are fundamentally aligned with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Elevate Program serves as a targeted intervention to promote sustainable and inclusive growth within the AV sector. Its core mission contributes significantly to the following SDGs:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality: The program’s primary objective is to empower women and ensure their full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership in the AV industry. By creating a structured pipeline for advancement, it actively works to dismantle barriers and achieve gender equality.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: By investing in the professional development of an underrepresented segment of the workforce, the program promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth. It fosters a resilient, future-ready workforce, mitigating business risks associated with a lack of diversity and ensuring decent work opportunities for all.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The initiative directly confronts inequality of opportunity within the professional landscape of the AV sector. It provides targeted support to a group that has been historically underrepresented in leadership, thereby contributing to the reduction of inequalities.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The program is supported by a broad coalition of corporate sponsors and senior industry leaders. This multi-stakeholder partnership exemplifies the collaborative effort required to achieve sustainable development objectives.

Program Structure and Objectives

The Elevate Program is structured to combine immersive learning with practical, real-world application. The curriculum is designed to build both technical and soft skills essential for leadership. Key components include:

1. Interactive Learning Day: A foundational session covering core leadership competencies such as authenticity, communication strategies, conflict resolution, team motivation, and financial fundamentals.
2. Industry Challenges: Delegates will work in small, mentored groups to address real business problems, fostering collaborative problem-solving and strategic thinking.
3. Final Showcase Event: A culminating event where participants present their findings, receive coaching, and demonstrate their enhanced collaboration and impact capabilities.
4. Leadership Toolkit: Participants will develop a portfolio of practical resources and strategies that can be immediately applied in their professional roles to drive performance and innovation.

2025 UK Cohort and Mentorship

Delegates

Rise AV has selected 26 outstanding women from across the AV sector to participate in the inaugural cohort:

• Beky Cann, Director of Global PR, Peerless-AV
• Kelli Neve-Read, Director of Media Relations, Bubble Agency
• Zoe Deighton-Smythe, Senior Copywriter, The Inside Story
• Sophie Whitthread, Sales Support Manager, Pioneer Group
• Elizabeth Callens, Product Manager, Barco NV
• Kate Farrelly, European Head of Marketing, Nuvias UC
• Sara Sane, Senior Account Manager, AV Magazine
• Anna Shahin, Application Support Manager, Audiologic
• Teresa Juncosa Umaran, Freelance System Design & Project Engineering Consultant, Kado Audio Visual
• Victoria Bishop, Managing Director, BishopSound Manufacturing & Design
• Harriet Balshaw, Head of Sales, Ascentae
• Andreea Timis, Account Director, The LED Studio (EMEA)
• Jo Sunners, Technical and Production Planning Manager, BAFTA
• Meinir Jones, Solutions Manager, BBC
• Georgina Austin-Smith, Sales Director, Major Bids & Strategic Relationships, Diversified
• Jo Hall, Deputy Head of Scenic, Light Fantastic Production Services
• Sarah Maclaren, Senior Manager, Customer Services, Shure
• Sally Oates, Deputy Operations Manager, Light Fantastic Production Services
• Hayley Middlehurst, EU Distribution Manager, Sony Europe
• Manuela Schramm, Global Account Director, Kinly
• Jolanta Modelska, Program Manager, Kinly
• Hanieh Motemedian, Business Development Manager, Pure AV
• Shreya Hyde Smith, Director, Ivista
• Mariela Petkova, Senior AV Technician, Royal College of Physicians
• Lydia Box, Head of Engineering, Project AV
• Mercedes Friedrich, Product Manager, Sennheiser

Mentors

Each small group will be supported by a senior AV leader, providing guidance and industry insight. The mentors for this cohort are:

• Jane Hammersley, Blue Touch Paper
• Daryl Clark, Matrix Mentoring and Workplace Vision
• Martine Dodwell Bennett, European Sales Director, Absen
• Rebecca Knight, VP of Sales EMEA, Disguise
• Gary Keene, Head of Audio Visual, University of the Arts, London

Industry Impact and Strategic Importance

According to Rachael Hamilton, Managing Director at Rise AV, the Elevate Program is a significant step forward for the industry, designed to unlock potential, build confidence, and demonstrate the value of women in the AV sector. The initiative aims to create a supportive professional community, breaking cycles of self-doubt and burnout that can hinder career progression. By fostering a more inclusive leadership landscape, the program contributes to the long-term sustainability and innovation of the industry, aligning with the principles of SDG 8.

Collaborative Partnerships for Sustainable Development

The successful implementation of the Elevate Program is made possible by a strong network of sponsors, reflecting a shared commitment to the program’s goals and to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Sponsors include:

• Global Headline Sponsor: QSC
• Gold Sponsors: Audiologic, Diversified, Midwich, Sennheiser
• Silver Sponsors: Aura, AV User Group, Shure, Epson, iiyama, Yorktel, Northamber
• Bronze Sponsors: Faye Bennett Consultancy Services, LTSMG, Unicol, Nuvias UC, Uniguest, Peerless AV, Project AV, Hewshott, Exertis, Kinly, proAV, Woop Jobs!

The program is scheduled to launch on November 3 and will conclude with a final showcase event after a multi-week curriculum.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses the Rise AV’s Elevate Program, which is designed to support women in the Audio-Visual (AV) sector. Based on its focus on gender diversity, professional development, leadership, and partnerships, the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed:

• SDG 5: Gender Equality – The core mission of the Elevate Program is to tackle the underrepresentation of women in the AV industry and equip them for leadership roles.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The program focuses on professional development, upskilling, and creating a “resilient, future-ready workforce,” which directly contributes to productive employment and economic growth.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – By specifically targeting an underrepresented group (women in the AV sector), the program aims to reduce inequalities of opportunity within the industry.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article highlights the collaboration between Rise AV and numerous corporate sponsors to make the program possible, showcasing a multi-stakeholder partnership.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Several specific SDG targets can be linked to the initiatives described in the article:

1. Under SDG 5 (Gender Equality):
   • Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The article directly addresses this target by stating the program’s goal is to equip women with the “skills, support, and confidence to step into leadership roles” and to strengthen “leadership pipelines.”
2. Under SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth):
   • Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. The program contributes to this by providing professional development that enhances women’s capacity for “productive employment” and career advancement in the AV sector.
   • Target 8.6: By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training. While not focused on youth, the program’s principle aligns with this target by providing crucial training and skills development (“immersive learning,” “finance fundamentals,” “conflict resolution”) to prevent career stagnation for women in the industry.
3. Under SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities):
   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The Elevate Program is a clear example of an initiative designed to “empower and promote the… economic inclusion” of women in an industry where they “remain underrepresented.”
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships… The article explicitly demonstrates this target by listing a wide range of private sector sponsors, including a “Global Headline sponsor, QSC, Gold Sponsors, Audiologic, Diversified, Midwich and Sennheiser,” and many others who support the civil society organization Rise AV.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article provides several quantifiable and qualitative data points that can serve as indicators to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Number of women empowered and trained: The article explicitly states that the program welcomes “25 outstanding women from across the AV sector.” This number serves as a direct indicator for progress on targets related to training and empowerment (Targets 5.5, 8.6, 10.2).
• Development of specific skills: The program curriculum includes “leadership authenticity, communication, conflict resolution, motivation, and finance fundamentals.” The successful delivery of this training is an indicator of upskilling the workforce (Target 8.5).
• Establishment of mentorship and support networks: The article mentions that each group will be supported by a “‘Jedi’ — a senior AV leader” and that the program is about “building networks and breaking cycles of self-doubt.” The number of mentors (5 are listed) and the creation of a supportive community are qualitative indicators of progress towards ensuring women’s effective participation (Target 5.5).
• Number and strength of partnerships: The extensive list of sponsors across “Global Headline, Gold, Silver, and Bronze” tiers is a clear indicator of a successful multi-stakeholder partnership. The article names over 25 sponsoring companies, quantifying the support for the initiative (Target 17.17).
• Creation of leadership opportunities (Implied): The ultimate goal is to help women “step into leadership roles.” While the article does not provide post-program data, a key success indicator would be tracking the career progression of the 25 delegates into senior and leadership positions within the AV industry (Target 5.5).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sportsvideo.org