Female-Led Community of The Year, Finalists

Jun 19

The Digital Women Community of The Year recognises and celebrates communities that provide a safe and meaningful place for its members to interact. These communities bring like-minded people together with common goals, values, or interests, especially those supporting women. The finalists for this category have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and a commitment to fostering supportive environments.

Ahanna Anaba - Finverity

About: Ahanna Anaba is a professional with extensive experience within the fintech and financial services sector. Currently, she serves as the Head of Sales & Partnerships at Finverity, where she works to enhance global access to trade finance through technology solutions. Ahanna is deeply committed to the development within the trade ecosystem and regularly contributes to panel discussions and inclusivity initiatives.

About the Community: Ahanna founded the Women in Trade networking group, a community that provides a platform for women in trade-related roles to connect, share insights, and support each other’s professional growth. The network has quickly gained traction, with senior women from 16 countries participating and inspiring industry bodies like the World Bank and IFC to get involved.

Reason for Shortlisting: Ahanna’s dedication to fostering inclusivity and promoting digital solutions in trade finance is evident in her community-building efforts. Her ability to connect and empower women in a traditionally male-dominated industry makes her a standout finalist.

Samantha Slater - The Time and Money Coach

About: Samantha Slater is dedicated to empowering businesswomen to increase their income and infuse joy and fulfillment into their business journey. She combines mindset, soul connection, and business strategy to guide women in building thriving businesses while cherishing precious moments with loved ones.

About the Community: Samantha leads a digital community that offers support, collaboration, and learning opportunities for women. The community thrives on values of authenticity, empowerment, and mutual support, providing free monthly training sessions, oracle card readings, and Q&A sessions to enrich members' experiences.

Reason for Shortlisting: Samantha’s unique approach to coaching and her commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for female business owners highlight her impactful community leadership. Her community has shown remarkable engagement and success stories.

Becci McEvoy - Be Heard Socials

About: Becci McEvoy is an award-winning Social Media Marketer passionate about helping women-owned businesses simplify their social media strategies. She specializes in Content Strategy and Organic Growth, aiming to empower women to confidently market their businesses without feeling overwhelmed.

About the Community: Becci founded the Boss Your Socials Club, a community specifically for women-owned businesses. The club offers a monthly content plan, templates, accountability, and access to a social media marketing expert, all at an affordable price point.

Reason for Shortlisting: Becci’s commitment to making social media marketing accessible and her focus on community support and empowerment have created a thriving and supportive network. Her community’s feedback and success stories showcase the significant impact of her work.

Grace Robinson - Eden Assistants Ltd

About: Grace Robinson is the lead VA and Founder of Eden Assistants, a company that provides virtual support to UK businesses. With experience as a PA, VA, and recruiter, Grace excels in matching quality clients with talented VAs.

About the Community: Grace has built a nurturing community for VAs, offering personalized service and continuous development. Eden Assistants provides a supportive environment where VAs can thrive and clients can find reliable support.

Reason for Shortlisting: Grace’s dedication to supporting both clients and VAs, along with her personalized approach, has created a respected and successful community. Her efforts in fostering a positive and productive environment for her team are commendable.

Sophie Spillett - SEN Parents in Swale

About: Sophie Spillett is a passionate maths tutor with a focus on special educational needs education. She started the Facebook group SEN Parents in Swale to support parents of children with special educational needs and disabilities.

About the Community: SEN Parents in Swale provides a forum for parents to ask advice, gain support, and access beneficial products and services. The group also offers a platform for local businesses to reach out to families in need.

Reason for Shortlisting: Sophie’s dedication to supporting families with special educational needs and her role as a positive role model for disability make her community invaluable. Her resilience and commitment to helping others despite her own health challenges highlight her exceptional leadership.

Erin Thomas Wong - Life-Friendly Business Ltd

About: Erin Thomas Wong is a business mentor who helps female solopreneurs adopt a Life-Friendly Business Approach. She is a Top 100 #ialso Female Founder, Podcast Host, International Speaker, and Author.

About the Community: Erin’s community, The Cocoon, offers a supportive environment for women balancing business and family life. The community provides business training, mentoring, and a safe space for members to share challenges and achievements.

Reason for Shortlisting: Erin’s innovative approach to creating a life-friendly business model and her commitment to fostering a supportive community for women entrepreneurs have made a significant impact. Her dedication to continuous improvement and member support is evident in the community’s growth and success.

Julia Taylor - GeekPack

About: Julia Taylor is a self-taught web developer and founder of GeekPack. She has taught over 8,500 women+ to say “YES” to any tech request and to create life on their own terms.

About the Community: GeekPack offers digital skills training combined with the support and accountability of a virtual community. Julia’s initiative provides a safe learning environment for women to thrive in tech and achieve economic independence.

Reason for Shortlisting: Julia’s commitment to empowering women through digital skills training and her efforts in creating an inclusive and supportive community have transformed many lives. Her work in promoting tech equality and access is highly commendable.

Anikó Pető-Mordovski and Kelsey Frick - #TeamTranslator

About: Anikó and Kelsey are freelancers with extensive experience in the translation industry. They co-founded #TeamTranslator to create a positive and supportive online community for freelance translators.

About the Community: #TeamTranslator offers a private Slack community, regular online meetups, and a variety of free resources for freelance translation professionals. The community has grown to over 1,200 members worldwide.

Reason for Shortlisting: Anikó and Kelsey’s initiative in creating a supportive environment for translators and their commitment to providing free resources and fostering professional growth highlight their exceptional leadership. Their community’s rapid growth and positive impact are impressive.

Eleni Zervos - Women in International Affairs Network

About: Eleni Zervos is a digital strategist and the Social Media Manager of the Women in International Affairs Network (WIAN), an organization of over 62,000 professionals.

About the Community: WIAN aims to increase women’s political participation and support their career progression in international affairs. The community offers job resources, fellowship campaigns, and professional development content.

Reason for Shortlisting: Eleni’s dedication to scaling the WIAN community and her efforts in providing valuable career resources and support for women in international affairs have made a significant impact. Her work in fostering a supportive and empowering environment for women professionals is commendable.

Tangia Al-awaji Estrada & Maribel Quezada Smith- BIPOC Podcast Creators

About: Co-founders Maribel Quezada Smith and Tangia Al-awaji Estrada first crossed paths at a Women of Color in Podcasting networking event in 2019. The experience of being crammed into a small room amidst a larger conference sparked a realization – the immense potential for greater diversity and representation in podcasting.

About the Community: BIPOC Podcast Creators provides a platform for BIPOC voices in podcasting, offering resources, support, and networking opportunities. The community has grown to over 2,000 members worldwide.

Reason for Shortlisting: Tangia and Maribel’s commitment to promoting diversity and inclusivity in podcasting and their efforts in building a supportive and empowering community for BIPOC creators highlight their exceptional leadership. Their community’s growth and impact are impressive.

The finalists for Digital Female-Led Community of The Year have demonstrated remarkable leadership, innovation, and a commitment to fostering supportive environments. Their dedication to empowering women and creating inclusive spaces is truly inspiring. We celebrate their achievements and look forward to announcing the winner who has made the most significant impact through their community. Stay tuned for the final results and join us in congratulating these outstanding women for their contributions to the digital world.

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