Aneela is passionate about encouraging people from all walks of life to ride bikes and she works with individuals, organisations and the cycling industry to encourage wider participation. She works tirelessly to increase diversity in cycling and mountain biking and firmly believes that mountain biking is more than a sport - she’s a champion of the wider benefits of mountain biking in building confidence, strength and resilience in everyday life.
With 20 years+ diversity and inclusion experience, Aneela is particularly interested in diversity and wellbeing; women in MTB leadership; diversity role models; young girls in sport and promoting mental health. She offers training and workshops; inspiring talks and presentations; diversity audits; participation and engagement activities as well as professional advice and consultancy.
ANEELA'S JOURNEY
20 years+ Diversity and Inclusion experience in the public sector
Co-Chair, British Cycling’s new Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Group
10 years+ running Go-Where Scotland
5+ years professional MBL/Level 3 mountain bike guide
Board Member and Secretary of Tweed Valley Trails Association
Cycling UK Trail Inspector, and, Trail Maintenance Coordinator
Cycling UK Outdoor Expedition qualification
Masters Degree, Equality and Discrimination, University of Strathclyde
Personal Fitness Trainer
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Listen to Aneela Now!
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Show notes
Who is Aneela
Her early years
Growing up in Glasgow
How her parents moved over from Pakistan
Visiting Pakistan
Her dreams as a little girl
Getting into mountain biking
Pivotal moments from being on the mountain bike
Taking friends out on the bike
Her journey of becoming a coach and leader
Giving people the opportunity to empower themselves
Not having a great experience in childhood
Being the only women during the assessment and training
Being worried about being the only woman
Being supported by her husband
Lost opportunities
Having to have faith in herself
Battling again self doubt
Being encouraged by her tutor
Having to prove herself in a male environment
Changes in the mountain biking industry over the past 10 years
Creating empowering spaces
Encouraging women to take the next step
The lack of role models and how it is chaining slowly
Encouraging women to become coaches
Being inspired by her friends
The FNY Collective and what it stands for…
What the word fanny means in Scotland
Getting charity status and being able to look for funding
How many bikes…
Being an ambassador for Juliana Bicycles
The power of bikes
Working to support refugees
Working with Endura Sport
Working on a film about - bikes, love and discrimination
“After the Storm” premiere at Kendal Mountain Festival
Advice for other women for being brave
The power of knowing you are not alone
Advice to encourage women to try mountain biking
Being on a learning journey and why everyone has to start somewhere
#Ridemòr (mòr - big and great)
Social Media
Go-Where | Ridemòr - Scotland’s award-winning curator of guided & self-guided bicycle experiences.
Advocates for wellbeing, diversity & inclusion. #ridemòr #mòrdiversity
Instagram: @gowherescotlandmtb
Facebook: @gowherescotland
Personal
Instagram @mrsgowherescotland
Twitter: @AneelaMckenna
MÒR DIVERSITY - From diversity, inclusion and wellbeing to leadership and resilience training - we offer professional services to help unlock the human potential of organisations.
Website - www.mordiversity.com
The FNY Collective - The FNY collective: a group of Badass women passionate about riding bikes and getting more women sharing the fun on two wheels.
Website - www.thefnycollective.co.uk
Instagram @the_fny_collective
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