When BusinessCloud described me in my Northern Leaders profile as ‘arguably the most connected person in the North East,” I smiled.

It wasn’t because I think I know everyone (though I do know a fair few), but because that line captures the spirit of the region that I’m proud to represent.

As the North East correspondent for BusinessCloud, I get to write about some incredible people shaping the future of the North.

And while the Northern Leaders list covers the whole map, from Liverpool to Leeds and Manchester to Hull, it’s the North East that reminds me time and again why connection really matters.

The strength of the North East is its connections. We may be smaller than some of our neighbours, but what we lack in size, we more than make up for in solidarity.

Our business community doesn’t work in silos; it works like a network.

People here genuinely show up for each other at events, in boardrooms, on LinkedIn and through all the small gestures that add up to something bigger.

Reading through this year’s list, I recognised plenty of familiar faces and, I’ll admit, I Googled the few I didn’t know.

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What stood out was how many people from the North East are quietly leading change, building communities and raising the profile of our region in their own ways.

There are too many brilliant names to mention in one column, but here are just a few who really capture the strength and spirit of our region.

The rest, well done – I’ll be sure to feature more of you in future.

  • Phil Witcherley, listed alongside Kim McGuinness and Henry Kippin, brings real drive and focus to the North East Combined Authority’s strategic priorities, helping to shape an inclusive, forward-looking economy that connects business, the public sector and community.
  • Alison Dunn, CEO of Society Matters Group, uses her ‘This Is The North’ podcast to tell the stories that don’t always make national headlines but absolutely should.
  • Steph Edusei, CEO of St Oswald’s Hospice and chair of Tyneside Cinema, shows that empathy and leadership aren’t opposites. Her first book (published earlier this year), ‘A Little Book of Leadership Lessons’, was an instant bestseller.
  • Paul Blake, owner of the Newcastle Eagles, and his wife Sam are doing great work in women’s sport while raising the profile of basketball nationally.
  • Mads Howard MBE is someone I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know this year. She’s seriously impressive and was recognised for her contributions to cybersecurity and her advocacy for gender diversity in technology.
  • Rachel Lynch MBE, founder of The Urban Factory, has built something special from the ground up, creating a space where young people can move, grow and belong. In 2024, she was awarded an MBE for services to young people and sport in the North East.

 

These are leaders who connect ideas, people and possibility.

That’s what gives the North East its edge. Connection is our regional advantage.

One of the things I love about the Northern Leaders list is how it celebrates collaboration over competition. Success feels shared.

When someone here wins, the rest of us cheer them on. When a founder lands a contract, a CEO launches a new project or a charity hits a milestone, the ripple of support is real.

That isn’t just nice to see; it’s good business. The more visible our collective success becomes, the stronger our voice grows as a region.

Building bridges across the North, the North East has a big role to play in connecting the wider North too.

We’ve got world-class stories, skills and innovations that deserve to be seen on a national stage, and the more we share them, the more opportunities flow back home.

Connection shouldn’t stop at county borders. True connection happens when we link strengths across the map: Teesside tech meets Manchester creativity, Newcastle leadership meets Leeds sustainability.

That’s when the North really starts to move as one.

Being connected isn’t about collecting contacts; it’s about who you show up for and how. It’s about being the one who makes the introduction, shares the post, sends the message or offers encouragement.

The North East is full of those people. It’s one of the reasons I love this region and why I’m proud to write each month about the leaders proving that connection, not competition, drives us forward.

Because when the North East connects, the whole North gets stronger.