RisingWISE: An enterprise course by and for women
RisingWISE: An enterprise course by and for women
RisingWISE is an established Oxbridge network inspired by EnterpriseWISE: designed by women, for women and delivered entirely by women.
Here, we foster long-term relationships between enterprising early-career researchers and women working in industry to encourage more women to build careers across the science and technology sector.
Empowering women in STEM
RisingWISE equips women* in STEM early career research positions to reframe their skills, realise their individual potential, broaden their mindsets, expand their professional networks and explore new career avenues.
Rather than feeding into the competitive nature of advanced professional careers, the universities of Oxford and Cambridge have developed this innovative, collaborative programme that works closely with enterprising women in industry. Together, we build mutual relationships that benefit women in STEM researching at Oxford, Cambridge and across STEM industries.
*We also welcome nonbinary people who are comfortable in a space that uses women-focused language to discuss women-focused experiences.
Following RisingWISE, I felt equipped with the confidence and skills to pitch myself, put myself forward for the things I wanted to do. It made me recognise and value my existing skill set.
—Dr Hannah Rana
Building networks of enterprising women
The push for more women to pursue STEM careers has revealed consistent excellence among these burgeoning researchers, yet we continue to find a huge gender disparity in continuing career success and leadership roles. RisingWISE aims to address this disparity by creating a community of women in STEM professions.
Through RisingWISE, these leaders of tomorrow develop strong connections with successful women in industry and commerce, along with wide-ranging peer networks. RisingWISE alumnae continue to form professional partnerships, uplift each other in consequential career moves, engage in challenging conversations and encourage one another.
It was a privilege to participate in this gathering of amazing and intelligent women and to be taught by world female experts in communication, entrepreneurship and mindfulness. It was a very inspirational experience that help us not only to grow as entrepreneurs but also to grow in all the other areas of our life.—Dr Meritxell Nus Chimeno
Expanding opportunities beyond academia
After years of advancing through research and scholarship, it can be challenging to conceptualise career possibilities outside the academic sphere—especially when faced with isolation in a male-dominated STEM research culture.
At RisingWISE, we bring those possibilities to you: dozens of our alumnae are leaders in competitive industry roles and founders of paradigm-shifting startups. We aim to expand your knowledge of industry and collaborative research & development. Throughout the programme, you will cultivate helpful tools and techniques to understand and plan out your chosen path as a leader, mentor, idea-maker and problem-solver.
RisingWISE was a big inflection point for me. I went from feeling uncertain at the prospect of leaving academia, to feeling excited about exploring new possibilities. I wasn’t scared anymore. I stopped thinking that I wasn’t enough for academia, and instead realised that academia was no longer enough for me!
—Dr Stephanie Flude
Enduring career impacts
Almost 300 women from 56 different STEM disciplines have passed through the RisingWISE programme, and the skills they gain here reverberate throughout their professional endeavours.
RisingWISE alumnae have given an overall rating of 9.5/10 for the cumulative experience, and 100% of attendees say they would recommend RisingWISE to a friend or colleague. Each RisingWISE cohort’s peer-to-peer connections, along with mentoring relationships with past RisingWISE alumnae, contribute to an international network of women leaders, entrepreneurs and visionaries in STEM.
Read more in the RisingWISE Impact Report 2024! [PDF downloadable version]
I think the intrinsic value of the RisingWISE programme lies not only in the content of the learning sessions and the network of peer-to-peer support, but also the foundational resilience it builds in participants, so that they are equipped both practically and emotionally to build their future careers.
—Dr Sheen Gurrib
Achieving excellence
RisingWISE received the 2019 MPLS Equality and Diversity Award for ‘Best Team Effort,’ a recognition of the crucial collaboration between women at the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and across academia and industry.
In 2020, RisingWISE was shortlisted in the ‘Diversifying participation’ category of the Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity Awards at the University of Oxford.
It’s very empowering to have a programme directed by women for women. It was a real confidence booster and has contributed to enhance my skills and provide me with new perspectives. I cannot recommend it highly enough.—Dr Martine Abboud
Contact the RisingWISE team
Queries? Email Louisa Trevail at mpls.enterprise@mpls.ox.ac.uk for more information about the RisingWISE application, schedule, alumni opportunities, industry collaborations and more.
Please find the Privacy Notice associated with RisingWISE applications here.
You can apply for RisingWISE as a University of Oxford or University of Cambridge graduate working as an early career researcher in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in academia or industry. We also welcome a small number of DPhil students who are nearing the end of their studies and are thinking about next steps.
RisingWISE is tailored specifically by women, for women, though we also welcome nonbinary participants who are willing to join a women-orientated professional space.
Please find the privacy notice associated with RisingWISE applications here.
We are aware that weekend participation can create challenges for those with caring responsibilities. As such (and although the programme is run on a limited budget), we welcome input and feedback regarding how we can support families and help facilitate your attendance on the programme. Please contact Louisa at mpls.enterprise@mpls.ox.ac.uk to explore potential arrangements.
Our highly practical, immersive and collaborative programme is divided into six key themes:
Personal values: What’s most important to you? What competencies do you bring to your work?
Networking: Who can help you discover new opportunities? How can you find those collaborators?
Value propositions: What do you offer? What do others need? Where do these intersect?
Leadership: What makes a compelling leader? What kind of leader are you?
Negotiation: When can you push for more? Where might you decide to compromise in the pursuit of shared aims?
Communicating your ideas: What do you want to do? How can you convince others to do it with you?
Stay tuned for more information on the next RisingWISE cohort!
Email Louisa at mpls.enterprise@mpls.ox.ac.uk to express your interest in RisingWISE 2025–26.
Once you have been offered a place on the programme, we will ask you to confirm your place by payment of a £50 deposit. The deposit is fully refundable on completion of the course in its entirety.
oxford team
LOUISA TREVAIL, ENTERPRISING WOMEN PROGRAMME MANAGER
Louisa has a background in education and have worked as a senior teacher in schools for a number of years, including roles in leadership. Before completing her Postgraduate Certificate of Education she worked as a Conference Manager for events agencies and for Oxfam GB, and previously as a graduate in public relations in London. She now works in the Training and Researcher Culture Development Team at the University of Oxford for MPLS (Maths, Physics and Life Sciences division) delivering the ambitious Enterprising Women programme of activities.
Sally Charles, Enterprise Programme Manager
Sally is the divisional lead for Enterprise Training and Events curated for the Researcher community within MPLS. She has responsibility for the running and strategic development of a portfolio of programmes and initiatives that support the growth of mindsets and skillsets for Innovation, Impact, Enterprise, and Entrepreneurship.
Wider Team
DR SHIMA BARAKAT
Dr Shima Barakat is the founder and CEO of Cambridge BAST Ltd. Until spring 2024 she was an Associate Professor and Director of the Entrepreneurship for Sustainability Programme at the University of Cambridge. She has personally supported over 200 start-ups and 450 entrepreneurial women. Her work for the last 25 years has focused on helping organisations ‘start right’ or develop their practices to embed sustainability at the heart of what they do. Shima is an experienced board member and chair, including as a Trustees of the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship in the UK and currently sits on the EPSRC Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) for Engineering. Shima has a particular interest in exploring how and why entrepreneurial people do or don’t do things, especially in terms of mindset and competences. Recently her work focuses on global challenges, and the ecosystem and education/training needs of entrepreneurs and their ventures in providing solutions to such big challenges.
DR ANNE MILLER
Dr Anne Miller has recently retired from her position as MPLS Enterprise Manager at the University of Oxford, but remains involved with RisingWISE on a consultancy basis and will be attending the programme, as well as continuing to deliver aspects herself. Her previous roles included Associate Director of ESKTN, funded by Innovate UK , and principal environmental advisor at MAKE-UK, developing and delivering environmental training for industry in partnership with IEMA, the professional institute for environmental practitioners. She has been an academic and group leader in Environmental Sciences for over 25 years, developing and delivering numerous innovative programmes in different institutions, and co-founding the Oxfordshire social enterprise consultancy EiE.
Annabel Sherwood
Annabel Sherwood is partner and Impact Programmes Manager at Cambridge BAST Ltd. Annabel worked for University of Cambridge for several years, as Impact Programmes Coordinator for women’s enterprise and entrepreneurship programmes, and previously as PhD Administrator. In the Centre of Development Studies. She works on the EIT Food We Lead Food programmes, for professional women leaders working in the sustainable food sector, and collaborates with University of Oxford colleagues on the RisingWISE programme for women early career researchers working in STEMM. Before joining the University, Annabel worked as an educator in Deaf and Special Education in schools for over 12 years. She is a qualified ESL teacher, Spanish speaker, and lived in Venezuela for 5 years.
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