Rise AV officially announced the return of Elevate, its program with a mission to accelerate the progression of women into senior leadership roles across the industry.

“It helped me build confidence, strengthen my leadership skills, and gain clarity in my professional direction… empowering me to contribute more meaningfully,” said Elizabeth Callens, Barco.

The Rise AV Elevate program is a high-impact, six-week leadership development experience designed specifically for women . It combines immersive in-person learning with real-world application. Rise AV said that participants begin with two in-person days before splitting off into small Active Learning Sets where they collaborate on real leadership challenges. Participants apply their learning in a dynamic environment over the course of six weeks, and present in person to a wider cohort at the end of the program.

The program is currently UK-based, but Rise AV said that they are welcoming applications from women outside of the UK. Experienced AV leaders that guide each group through the Active Learning process are called “Jedis.” The Jedis facilitate discussion, challenge thinking and create conditions for growth. Confirmed Jedis for this year include Daryl Clark (Workplace Vision), Gary Keene (University of the Arts), Joel Chimoindes (Konekt), Martine Dodwell-Bennett (Absen) and Danielle Myburgh, Pixel Global.

Applications are now open, and they close on July 17. The first in-person events will take place Nov. 4-5, with the final in-person event on Dec. 9. The program has 30 spaces available, and they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Rise AV said that the program typically costs £3,000 per delegate, but is subsidized thanks to support from industry partners.

“Elevate is more than a leadership program; it is a long-term investment in the future of the AV industry and a direct response to the skills crisis that is breaking the AV industry. By developing confident, capable women leaders, we are helping to strengthen leadership pipelines, improve business performance, and drive meaningful progress in diversity and inclusion across the sector,” said Rachael Hamilton, managing director of Rise AV.