Voices of AV: The Rise AV Podcast

Visibility and representation matter. In male-dominated industries, seeing people who look like you in leadership positions, technical roles and successful careers can be the difference between imagining a future in the industry and never considering it at all. Yet women remain significantly underrepresented across the AV sector, despite the industry facing a growing skills shortage and an urgent need to attract and retain new talent.

The Rise AV Podcast Series aims not only to inspire more women and underrepresented groups to consider careers in AV, but also to encourage wider industry conversations about inclusion, workplace culture, career development and the changes needed to build a stronger, more sustainable future. 

By amplifying authentic voices and real experiences, we hope to challenge perceptions, break down barriers and demonstrate that creating a more inclusive industry is not just the right thing to do, it is essential for the future growth and success of AV.

We are incredibly grateful to all of our allies and industry partners who have invited Rise AV onto their podcasts and platforms to help amplify these important conversations. A special thank you to AV Magazine for championing the voices of women and our allies through its Making Waves podcast, and for partnering with us on this series to help inspire positive change across the AV industry.

In Partnership with AV Magazine
AV Magazine

Are we investing enough in the women who will shape the future of AV?

In the next episode of our podcast collab series with AV Magazine's Making Waves, Caroline Hayes is joined by Daryl Clarke (Workplace Vision), William Hegan (Diversified) and Yasmine Riechers, CEO of Georg Neumann GmbH and Executive Board Member of the Sennheiser Group, to explore why investing in women matters to the future of our industry.

From mentoring and leadership to workplace culture, career development and education, they discuss what it takes to attract, support and retain more women in AV, and why doing so could also help tackle the industry's ongoing skills shortage.

Filmed By AV Magazine 
Interviewed by Caroline Hayes

DEVELOPING FUTURE LEADERS

Join Caroline Hayes as she speaks with Elizabeth Callens (Barco), Harriet Balshaw (onemedia), Teresa Juncosa Umaran (Kado Audiovisual) and Hanieh Motamedian AMInstSCVE (Pure AV, A Ricoh Company) about their experiences on the Rise AV Elevate programme. They share how the programme helped them build confidence, develop practical leadership skills, expand their professional networks, and prepare for the next stage of their careers.
 
Filmed By AV Magazine
Interviewed by Caroline Hayes

 

Elevate: Supporting the Next Generation of Women Leaders in AV

Rachael Hamilton discusses how the Elevate programme is helping women in management roles across AV and live production overcome barriers to progression, build leadership confidence and develop the skills, networks and support needed to advance their careers.

Filmed for ISE 2026
Interviewed by Ben Bernard, AVIXA

The Reality of Leadership in AV

At ISE 2026, Siya Fakher sat down with Rachael for an honest and thought-provoking conversation about leadership, burnout, workplace culture and why creating a more inclusive AV industry is critical to its future.

Filmed at ISE 2026
Interview by Siya Fakher, Broadtek

 

Watch on

Mentoring the Future of AV

Rise AV talks about the growing importance of mentoring across the AV industry, focusing on its benefits for women, businesses, and the wider sector. The discussion featured Daryl Clark of Workplace Vision, who mentored Hanieh Montemedian of Pure AV during the 2025 UK mentoring programme, alongside Carla Maroussas, Global Mentoring Manager for RISE AV, highlighting how mentoring relationships help develop talent, strengthen leadership pipelines, and drive long-term industry growth.

Scroll to 45.20 for the interview.

Filmed at ISE 2026
Interview by AVIXA

What does it take to make progress on gender diversity in AV?

Sadie Groom, CEO, and Rachael Hamilton, Managing Director of Rise AV, discuss what meaningful progress on gender diversity really takes, how Rise Broadcast helped pave the way for Rise AV, and how the new mentoring programme will operate. The conversation also explores what women need to understand about the AV industry, what lies beyond mentoring for the organisation, perceptions of backlash against DEI initiatives, and how individuals and businesses can get involved and support the initiative.

Interviewed by Guy Campos, AV Magazine
Filmed at ISE 2025

How Rise AV is Changing the Future of the AV Industry

The AV industry faces a growing skills shortage, yet women remain significantly underrepresented across the sector. As Rise AV launches in the United States, join Jane Hammersley, Rise AV Regional Council UK Chair and Mentor (Blue Touch Paper), Rob Sherry, Rise AV Regional Council Committee Member and Mentor (QSC) and Elizabeth Callens, Rise AV Elevate Programme delegate (Barco) for a discussion on why gender diversity is essential to the future of AV, how mentoring and leadership development programmes are driving meaningful change, and what businesses can do to build stronger, more inclusive talent pipelines. Through industry insights, organisational perspectives, and personal experiences, the panel will explore how investing in women can help create a more sustainable, innovative, and future-ready AV industry.
 
Filmed at InfoComm 2026
Interviewed by Chris Neto, Midwich

My AV Journey: Why Women Shouldn't Have to Navigate the Industry Alone

In the presentation, Managing Director Rachael Hamilton outlines her challenging personal journey as a woman in AV, providing a powerful case study for why structured initiatives like Rise AV are vital to ensure women no longer have to navigate the industry in isolation.

Filmed at the LTSMG Conference, 2025
Presented by Rachael Hamilton
Podcast images

Be Part of Rise AV

At Rise AV, inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do. While our professional development programmes are designed specifically for women, our community is open to all genders who want to champion a more diverse and equitable AV industry.

When you become part of Rise AV, you’re joining a network of peers who share ideas, support one another, and work together to shape the future of our industry.