Celebrating the Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists

Jul 1

Entrepreneur of the Year Finalists 2025

This award celebrates women who are building impactful, innovative businesses in the digital space. Whether launching startups or scaling established brands, these entrepreneurs are embracing digital tools, leading with purpose, and creating real change. Here are the 2025 finalists and the reasons they’ve been shortlisted.

Annacristina Panarello - Kosmos Lingua

About:
Annacristina is the Founder and Lead Educator of Kosmos Lingua, a language education company she launched in 2024 to help professionals and businesses thrive in international environments. With a PhD in Translation and Cultural Studies and nearly two decades of experience in the language industry, Annacristina brings a blend of academic expertise, operational insight, and digital innovation to her work. In addition to her work with Kosmos Lingua, Annacristina is an accomplished speaker, mentor, and published researcher in the fields of translation and intercultural communication.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Annacristina was shortlisted for her bold and innovative approach to transforming language education. In a field dominated by standardised methods, she has created a fully personalised, cognitive-style-based learning model that adapts to how each adult learner learns best. Annacristina has secured contracts with IPO-listed companies and delivered executive-level training to CEOs and directors. Her integration of AI and automation ensures each programme remains tailored, scalable, and deeply human. With fluency in Italian, English, Spanish, French, and Catalan, she continues to advocate for personalised, accessible, and globally relevant language education. Annacristina’s work is not only empowering individuals and companies globally, but redefining how we approach cross-cultural communication in the digital age.

Kristin Marquet - Marquet Media, LLC

About:
Kristin is a data-driven PR strategist and the founder of Marquet Media. With a strong foundation in communications from NYU and analytics from MIT, she blends storytelling with strategic precision to help entrepreneurs elevate their visibility and credibility. Since launching Marquet Media in 2009, Kristin has combined her background in literature, public relations, and business intelligence to deliver PR campaigns that balance creativity with measurable impact. Kristin also creates digital toolkits and memberships that empower female entrepreneurs to tell their stories with clarity, confidence and measurable impact.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Kristin has been shortlisted for her innovative, data-driven approach to PR and branding, which she’s scaled into a digital ecosystem that empowers thousands of entrepreneurs. Over the past 17 years, she has developed proprietary frameworks that have driven over 9,000 media features and 30+ major magazine covers. Through her platforms she has created digital products and memberships that offer accessible, results-driven support to female founders. Her AI-powered podcast, analytics-led campaigns, and commitment to continuous testing demonstrate a rare blend of creativity and strategic discipline.

Hannah Spence - Clockflower Solutions

About:
After a decade as a primary school teacher, Hannah made the bold decision to step away from the classroom and launch her own social media marketing agency. She now supports underrepresented business owners in raising their visibility and generating consistent revenue through strategic, story-led content. Since launching her business, she has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs transform their presence and grow sustainably. Passionate about empowering women through major life transitions, Hannah proves it’s never too late to build a business on your own terms.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Hannah was shortlisted for Entrepreneur of the Year for building a purpose-driven social media agency from the ground up. She has supported over 200 business owners in building visibility and revenue without ads or funnels, hosted 25+ workshops and community events, and grown a loyal audience of 6,000+ online. Hannah stands out for the way she brings the digital world offline – creating spaces where underrepresented women feel seen, supported, and empowered to grow.

Alison Rothwell - WP Fiddly Bits

About:
Alison is a digital strategist, website creator, and founder of WP Fiddly Bits. With a background in membership marketing and crisis communications for major national charities and government departments, Alison began working in digital during her time at the Home Office and Cabinet Office. For the past 18 years, Alison has helped entrepreneurs build and grow their digital presence with smart, sustainable systems.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Alison was shortlisted for her contribution to digital innovation and entrepreneurship through her work empowering the UK virtual assistant community. She has created subscription “website-in-a-box” platform that enables solopreneurs – particularly women – to build professional online presences quickly and affordably and provides the tools and confidence to grow their businesses. Beyond her tech solutions, Alison is a community leader and ethical entrepreneur, regularly sharing her knowledge at national VA conferences, volunteering her skills locally, and prioritising sustainability through green hosting and low-carbon web design.

Sasha Mitchell - Chell Web & Design

About:
Sasha is the founder and lead creative at Chell Web & Design. Since turning her freelance work into a full-service agency, she has built a diverse client portfolio, providing graphic design, website design & build, and strategic digital guidance that drive measurable growth. Her entrepreneurial journey is marked by resilience, continual learning, and a commitment to empowering businesses through thoughtful, future-proof design.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Sasha transformed a solo freelance practice into an agency that now supports 31 retainer clients and delivers around three new websites a month – by marrying first-class academic design credentials with self-taught web development skills. Since rebranding, she has built a small but agile team whose user-friendly sites and data-driven graphics consistently earn 100% 5-star reviews and arrive almost entirely through word-of-mouth referrals. Her subscription maintenance model gives micro-businesses affordable, ongoing digital support, while one-off projects prove the agency’s creative impact.

Danielle Meadows-Stinnett - Octane Design Studios

About:
Danielle is a serial entrepreneur, author, podcast host, and speaker. Drawing on a background in digital marketing and a distinctive, gamified approach, she helps small businesses and big brands elevate their market presence through clear strategy, data-driven content, and innovative audience engagement. As one of the fewer than 2% of Black women in C-suite positions and 7% of women of colour working in technology, Danielle is committed to expanding representation across the industry.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Danielle’s shortlisting reflects the breadth and depth of her impact across digital entrepreneurship, community building, and tech education. A certified prompt engineer and third-generation business owner, she combines AI-driven marketing expertise with an accessible teaching style. She founded Kentucky Creatives, a statewide membership hub that connects local brands with more than 200 digital creators, and co-produces the #MoreThanGraphics podcast, amplifying diverse voices in tech and design. Danielle actively mentors women in tech, advocates for inclusive workplace cultures, and designs learning experiences that make professional development both practical and engaging.

Izabela Bos - UHealth | Miller School of Medicine; That Digital Belle; and Simply Luna

About:
Izabela is a Digital Marketing Strategist with more than eight years’ experience advancing brands in non-profit, retail and healthcare. She currently leads the social media footprint for the University of Miami Health System & Miller School of Medicine, guiding paid and organic programmes. Beyond the university she leads two ventures, That Digital Belle and Simply Luna, delivering bespoke social strategies, influencer programmes and UGC campaigns, and is also a regular speaker at numerous events.

Reason for Shortlisting:
At the University of Miami Health System, Izabela owns the voice of more than 30 social channels, lifting the audience by 42% and engagement by 141% through data-led content, new governance and two first-ever ambassador programmes. She pairs that enterprise-level impact with entrepreneurial drive, having built two companies where her paid and organic strategies have pushed web traffic and CTR up 30%. A frequent national-conference speaker, Izabela proves that leadership, resilience and measurable digital growth can coexist.

Shanthi Reddy - Akshobya Technologies

About:
Shanthi is a technologist and entrepreneur with more than 20 years’ experience spanning data, AI/ML, cloud and cybersecurity. She is the Founder and CEO of Akshobya Technologies, a rapidly growing software-services firm. Shanthi has led large-scale digital-transformation initiatives for global organisations, blending cloud adoption, data governance and secure AI to create sustainable value. A frequent keynote speaker, panelist and start-up advisor, she advocates for greater diversity in STEM while guiding the next generation of tech talent.

Reason for Shortlisting:
At Akshobya Technologies, Shanthi has turned a start-up into a multi-disciplinary services firm delivering cloud, data, AI/ML and cybersecurity solutions, while also launching in-house upskilling programmes that have certified hundreds of engineers. Her tech-for-good advocacy – spanning conference keynotes, start-up mentorship and policy input on responsible AI – has also been recognised by numerous other awards. Shanthi’s mission remains clear: harness emerging technologies to solve real-world problems, build inclusive digital ecosystems and empower more women to lead in technology. Shanthi’s blend of commercial success, thought leadership and inclusive talent development exemplifies the spirit of this award.

Federica Argentieri - Timotico ltd

About:
Federica is a content marketing specialist, author and Founder & CEO of Timotico Ltd, an agency that steers companies in Italy and Britain through digital transformation and high-impact content strategy. Federica has spent 15 years helping organisations of every size – from venture-backed start-ups to multinationals such as PwC – turn content into measurable growth. Federica speaks regularly at industry events, and she engages a community of more than 34,000 followers across social media. Beyond commercial work, Federica mentors women-led enterprises and supports cultural initiatives.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Federica earned her place on the Entrepreneur of the Year shortlist by pairing commercial impact with principled leadership. She launched Timotico Ltd with no external funding, guiding Italian and British SMEs through content strategies that combine creativity with data and has kept the agency profitable since day one. Her commitment goes beyond profit: she accepts only businesses whose values match her own, advocates publicly for healthier work-life balance after overcoming workplace mobbing, and mentors women founders. Federica shows that a company can scale without ever sacrificing ethics or community.

Melissa Phillips - Games Leadership

About:
Melissa is a leadership coach, consultant, and the founder of Games Leadership®. Drawing on nearly 20 years in entertainment Melissa pairs deep sector knowledge with a human-first approach. She has built the Games Leadership brand from the ground up: launching a 12-week programme, delivering bespoke coaching and training for studios worldwide, and creating the not-for-profit Games Leadership Network CiC, which offers free events, talks, and peer support. Melissa’s entrepreneurial vision champions inclusive, emotionally intelligent, and sustainable leadership.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Melissa earned her place on the shortlist for building a digital-first, human-centred leadership platform created specifically for the games industry. In less than two years she has transformed Games Leadership® from a one-woman idea into a profitable venture that has coached more than 300 studio owners, leads and emerging managers, launched a 12-week blended online programme that fits the realities of full-time dev life, and established a not-for-profit network. By pairing evidence-based coaching with accessible digital delivery and a human tone, she is tackling burnout, skills gaps and culture change head-on and showing that sustainable, empathetic leadership can be a competitive advantage.

Rashika Jain - Video Factory

About:
Rashika is the founder and CEO of Video Factory, a Kolkata-based post-production and animation studio studio where women lead every stage of the creative process. Since launching the company in 2016, Rashika has grown a strong team that partners with national and international brands to craft high-impact visual stories. Her leadership philosophy is simple: create space for diverse voices, equip talent to take charge, and let the work speak for itself. Today Rashika is recognised as a purpose-driven entrepreneur who is redefining industry norms and demonstrating what is possible when women are empowered to build, lead, and innovate.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Rashika earned her place on the shortlist for transforming Video Factory from a small start-up into a profitable post-production and animation studio that now serves global clients. More than 90% of her 30-plus team are women, a purposeful hiring strategy that gives editors, animators, and project leads a safe, growth-oriented environment. Over the last year she also launched a B2B division that marries high-quality content with data-driven distribution to deliver measurable business results. By demonstrating that a women-centred culture can thrive alongside commercial success, Rashika is redefining creative-sector leadership and providing a powerful model for the next generation of women founders.

Emma Wharton Love - Spark AI

About:
Emma is the CEO and founder of Spark AI, a consultancy that helps creative agencies and marketing teams harness generative-AI to boost human creativity and build future-proof business models. A former graphic designer and practicing artist, Emma pairs deep creative insight with strategic leadership. She launched Spark AI in 2024 and quickly positioned it as a trusted educator, developing practical programmes that guide organisations from experimentation to scaled AI adoption. Beyond Spark AI, Emma serves as a non-executive director for an NHS Mental Health Trust and continues her own artistic practice, underscoring her belief that technology should amplify – never replace – human imagination.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Emma earned her place on the shortlist by proving that a creative-sector AI consultancy can be both commercially successful and genuinely transformational for its clients. Starting from zero revenue, she built Spark AI to a successful business, designing programmes that have already trained more than 300 agency and marketing professionals. Beyond paid courses she publishes free playbooks, research reports and webinars, and is now investing in a subscription platform that will bring ethical, practical AI education to freelancers and micro-agencies worldwide.

Amanda White - Amanda White Digital

About:
Amanda is a digital marketing consultant and the founder of Amanda White Digital. With more than 10 years’ experience in both agency and in-house roles, she has planned and executed SEO and PPC strategies for some of the UK’s largest e-commerce brands, including Argos, The Range and Furniture Choice. Since launching her consultancy in 2019 she has helped SMEs and national retailers alike translate data into clear, actionable campaigns that improve visibility and drive revenue.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Since founding Amanda White Digital in 2019, Amanda has doubled revenues for multiple e-commerce clients. Beyond client work she uplifts the wider sector: she launched Cornwall’s only dedicated SEO and PPC meet-ups, mentors new marketers, and shares AI-driven content and automation tactics that demystify search for businesses with limited budgets. Her blend of innovation, clear communication and community building embodies the modern digital entrepreneur – and has delivered real, sustained impact for both the brands she serves and the practitioners she inspires.

Gabriela Kouahla - Beyond Words Linguistic Services

About:
Gabriela is a registered translator-entrepreneur and the founder of Beyond Words Linguistic Services, the first Algeria-based localisation agency dedicated to supporting Francophone researchers. Certified in Global Digital Marketing and Localisation, she works at the intersection of language, technology and research communication. A bilingual (English ↔ French/Romanian) translator since 2010 – and the only French ↔ Romanian court-certified translator covering North Africa – Gabriela also provides localisation and transcreation for marketing, technology and agri-tech brands, as well as scientific proofreading for research papers, theses and grant proposals.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Gabriela was shortlisted because she is redefining localisation for the research world. After 14 years as a sworn bilingual translator and marketing/tech localiser, she left a secure European client base to launch Beyond Words Linguistic Services in Algeria. Instead of offering a “translate-and-proof” service, she created a workflow that aligns manuscripts with global editorial, cultural and ethical standards before submission, cuts revision cycles, and has already lifted acceptance rates for client papers. Her model saves researchers time, protects local voice and accelerates global impact – demonstrating the entrepreneurial courage, innovation and social value this award honours.

Heather Pownall - Heather's Media Hub

About:
Heather Pownall is a digital communications strategist and the founder of Heather’s Media Hub. Drawing on 25 years in publishing, marketing and events, Heather now helps purpose-led organisations in healthcare, tech, research and membership to modernise their content, systems and communities. Heather began her career at Carnyx Group, then spent 15 years at Pinpoint Scotland overseeing global medical titles. In 2018 she launched her own consultancy to channel that experience into more flexible, high-impact work. Today she partners with boards, clinicians and creatives to deliver bold content strategies, award-nominated podcasts, streamlined membership platforms and high-energy events.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Heather earned her shortlist place by turning personal adversity into a highly successful, values-led agency that is reshaping how healthcare, research and tech organisations communicate online. In the past 12 months she has invested heavily in a rebrand and growth programme, still doubling revenues while delivering standout results such as a 104% membership surge and a sell-out conference for the British Laryngological Association. Heather’s work is remarkable: she launches podcasts now used in medical schools, creates digital platforms that unite clinicians and engineers, and sells out events without paid ads, all while mentoring clients and their teams.

The Digital Women Awards are proud to celebrate these extraordinary individuals.