Member Spotlight: Lou Carter, Director & Founder, Rising Vibe

Introduce yourself

I’m Lou Carter, mum to two grown-ups (although I still don’t feel old or mature enough for that!), married for 12 years and with my husband for 26.

I love long dog walks, jumping on my Peloton, and balancing that out with eating delicious food and drinking great wine. Even in my 50s, I still get my biggest buzz from festivals and music — sunshine (when we get it), dancing and being with friends. What’s not to love?

I set up on my own back in 2009. I knew the corporate world well, but I wanted to shake it up — and sometimes you can only really do that “well” when you come in from the outside. Rising Vibe was born in 2017.

Career highlight

Not many people would think this is necessarily a ‘highlight’, because it was one of the toughest periods, but I’m incredibly proud that both I and the business came through COVID.

It didn’t come without huge personal and financial challenge, but the whole experience validated my resilience, my ability to stay focused when things felt uncertain, and my capacity to access optimism when it really mattered.

Name three words that describe your personality

No-nonsense, open, inspiring.

What’s the best thing about pro-manchester?

For me, it’s the network. It brings together businesses that genuinely want to support each other, not just transact with each other.

We strongly believe that cross-sector networking is where growth and learning really happen. When you step outside your own industry echo chamber, you hear different perspectives, challenge your thinking and often find solutions you wouldn’t have arrived at alone. That’s where the value sits.

What are your priorities for 2026?

Utilisation. Being really honest with myself about how I spend my time.

I’m constantly asking: is this the most impactful use of my skills and role? And does it move us towards our strategic goals?

As a founder, it’s easy to get pulled into everything. In 2026, the priority is focus — putting energy where it genuinely adds value and making sure what I’m doing helps the business grow in the right direction.

What do you think are the most important things going on in Manchester at the moment?

Manchester has a real buzz about it right now. There’s visible growth, from start-ups to scale-ups and a strong sense of collaboration across the business community. It feels ambitious, but also connected.

Alongside that growth, there’s an increasing need for support that goes beyond strategy alone. As organisations expand and evolve, mindset, leadership capability and sustainable growth become critical.

At Rising Vibe, we want to support the pro-manchester network to navigate growth, change and development in a way that brings organisational goals and human needs together, because long-term success depends on both.

Favourite meeting place in Manchester

We recently held an incredible L&D networking day with businesses from across and around the city at YOTEL Manchester Deansgate, in their Dalton and Turning Rooms.

It’s a unique space full of quirky décor and character. Everywhere you looked there was something fun or unexpected, which immediately set the tone for a great day. The natural light and access to the terrace made it feel open and relaxed, and the team couldn’t have been more helpful.

If you’re planning a meeting or event and want somewhere that feels a bit different from the usual corporate setting, it’s definitely worth a look.

Are their any particular types of businesses that you would like to meet?

We’re already working with some brilliant organisations across the pro-manchester network and would genuinely love to meet more of you.

We’re most energised by leaders who are open to growth — in themselves and in their business. People who are willing to pause, reflect and have honest conversations about what needs to shift in order to move forward.

We work best with organisations that care about performance and people. Those who understand that sustainable growth comes from strong leadership, clear conversations and cultures where individuals can thrive.

If that sounds like you, we’d love to connect.

Get In Touch (optional)

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 07706161235

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rising-vibe