The emPOWER Breakfast's Men's Series emPOWERMENt is back for 2026!

The emPOWER Breakfast, renowned for fostering authentic networking and human-centred conversation in the creative industries, is thrilled to announce the return of emPOWERMENt  The Men’s Series for 2026.

Last year’s inaugural series exceeded all expectations, creating a space where men from across advertising, production, creative tech and beyond shared deeply moving, courageous stories that challenged industry norms and sparked meaningful conversation. Highlights included:

Barny Wright, CEO of No.8, opening the series with a candid discussion on six years of sobriety, loss and leadership, setting a tone of vulnerability and authenticity.

James Hayhurst, speaking on his life following a sudden divorce and how it led him to launch The Parents Promise.

Perry Power, in a powerful session speaking on SA, healing and community through storytelling.

Matt Craigie Atherton, CPO of Ogilvy, closed the year with a perspective on identity, inclusion and leadership and was joined by Matt Foster Director of Inclusion and an immensely impactful and fascinating discussion and Q&A followed.

Building on that momentum, 2026’s men’s series goes from strength to strength, bringing three extraordinary voices whose personal and professional experiences illuminate the realities, challenges and human truths behind life in the creative industries.

⚡ June 3rd  James Brook Partridge

Our first speaker in the emPOWERMENt series, on June 3rd, is James Brook Partridge, Head of Production at WPP Productions, opening the series with a deeply personal conversation around belonging, environment and identity. After years of living a nomadic global work life moving through cities, productions and high-pressure creative spaces James will explore what it actually means to come home to yourself.

In an industry that often celebrates movement, hustle and perpetual reinvention, we will explore the psychological impact of constantly adapting to new environments and how our surroundings  shape confidence, connection, nervous system regulation and our sense of belonging. Particularly when we look at the environment we grew up in. It’s a timely conversation about masculinity, ambition, emotional grounding and the human need for rootedness and safety in a world that rarely slows down.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday 20th May and we can't wait to see you there!

⚡ September 9th  Stef Jones

Stef Jones is a former co-founder of advertising agency  Big Al’s Creative Emporium, and now leads Onwards and Upwards,  a social enterprise that supports people leaving prison, creating pathways away from reoffending and into meaningful work. Through XO Bikes, XO Barbers and XO Clobber, Stef champions community, dignity and opportunity, embodying how enterprise can transform lives and challenge expectations offering a radically human approach to rehabilitation and social mobility.

⚡November 11th  Orlando Wood

Closing the series is Orlando Wood, CEO and Co-Founder of KoobrikLabs, who is fast becoming one of the most thoughtful and important voices in the conversation around AI and the future of creativity.

What makes Orlando particularly fascinating is that he sits at the intersection of storytelling, advertising, filmmaking and emerging technology. A former producer at Wieden+Kennedy, Fallon and UK’s early iteration of Biscuit Filmworks, his career spans award-winning advertising, investigative journalism and feature film development. Today through KoobrikLabs, a Warner Bros Discovery accelerator company,  he is exploring how AI can support creative industries without eroding the human craft at the centre of them.

Rather than approaching AI from a fear-based or evangelistic perspective, Orlando talks about something far more nuanced: how we preserve taste, intuition, authorship and emotional resonance in an increasingly automated world. KoobrikLabs works with studios and creative companies to build AI systems that understand creative workflows, protect IP and help creatives remain competitive as technology rapidly reshapes the industry.

His podcast Technically Creative has quickly become essential listening for those interested in the intersection of AI, creativity and culture exploring questions around authorship, ethics, audience behaviour, craft and what remains uniquely human in a world of infinite content.

This year’s emPOWERMENt series continues to open up spaces where real talk matters and where vulnerability is strength, and where authentic stories help shape more compassionate, resilient and connected creative communities. Stay tuned for ticket releases and speaker features and join us as we celebrate courage, truth and connection in 2026.

To book tickets you will need to download The emPOWER Breakfast App from Apple or Googleplay which is free and easy to do. For those of you who would like more from emPOWER join the membership via the app to watch exclusive content - access the event interviews - exclusive in app classes and discounted courses via The Centre of Excellence and become part of this thriving community.

For mailing list and sponsorship opportunities email athene@theempowerbreakfast.co.uk

Subscribe to the podcast lovingly sponsored and produced by String and tins - at Spotify - Apple and other POD outlets - it’s an amazing resource for visiting in your own time. 

The emPOWER Breakfast is sponsored and gifted to you by: 

Silver: 

Factory Studios and Siren Music Supervision

All of Us Here 

The Womens Network at Sky Creative

Cabin Editing Company 

The Bourne Consultancy 

NM Productions

Bespoke Voice Agency  

Vocal Point 

Cape.io

Bronze:

No.8 London

Nomad 

Twelve Decibels

Xeinadin

Harbor

NM Productions

Yellow Boat Music

The Quarry + Post Arm

Event Hosts:

Live Interview Events - Framestore and Company3