Leader of the Year: Celebrating Outstanding Achievements

Jun 27

Leader of The Year 2024

Finalists for Digital Women Awards Leader of the Year

The Digital Women Awards are proud to announce the finalists for the prestigious Leader of the Year category. This award recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, made significant contributions to their fields, and inspired others through their dedication and innovative approaches.

Here are the outstanding leaders who have made it to the final list:

Carol Constant - WhomLab

About: Carol Constant is a seasoned professional with experience living and working in six countries across three continents. She is the founder of WhomLab, an HR tech company aimed at achieving higher employee satisfaction by building leadership profiles using games and AI. Carol is recognised as a "Leadership Top Voice" on LinkedIn and a "Voice of a New Era of Leaders" by the Female Factor. She pioneered the first-ever TED WOMEN event in Namibia in almost 40 years of TED history and volunteers as a Google Ambassador for Women Techmakers, as well as a mentor and advisor for several organisations.

Reason for Shortlisting: Carol Constant's commitment to women's empowerment and tech innovation makes her a standout leader. Her efforts to trigger much-needed change in leadership styles through platforms like Google Women Techmakers and TED Women showcase her dedication to promoting and empowering new leadership models. Additionally, her volunteer work as the HR Global Manager for TechLabs, providing free courses on tech skills, underlines her commitment to education and mentorship. Carol's ability to balance her professional achievements with impactful volunteer work makes her an exemplary candidate for Leader of the Year.

Holly Kelly - Anicca Digital

About: Holly Kelly is the Head of Paid Media at Anicca Digital, leading a team of six. With over nine years of experience at the company, she has developed a comprehensive skill set in paid search, Meta, affiliate marketing, and Amazon Ads. Holly also delivers training content both internally and externally, including at BrightonSEO and the Digital Marketing Institute.

Reason for Shortlisting: Holly has demonstrated exceptional leadership by expanding her team's capabilities, fostering cross-team digital marketing integration, and significantly contributing to the company's numerous awards, including the Large UK Paid Media Agency of the Year 2023.

Katie Roberts - Sisters and Seekers

About: Katie Roberts began her career as a Junior Digital Marketing Assistant and quickly rose to become the Digital Marketing Manager at Sisters and Seekers. Her work has led to substantial growth for the company, including a 250% year-on-year increase in revenue and a 1500% rise in advertising revenue.

Reason for Shortlisting: Katie's innovative approach to digital marketing, particularly in transforming email marketing and paid media channels, has driven significant business growth. Her dedication to continuing education and her role in developing a successful loyalty program highlight her as a leading figure in the industry.

Dr. Marzia Bolpagni - Mace

About: Dr. Marzia Bolpagni is a Civil Engineer specializing in digital technologies at Mace. She is a leading figure in digital engineering, having authored an EU standard and coordinated international volunteers in translating complex STEM concepts. Marzia also holds academic positions and has contributed extensively to industry research.

Reason for Shortlisting: Marzia's impact on the international digital engineering field, combined with her leadership in both academia and industry, demonstrates her exceptional capabilities as a leader. Her role in developing digital strategies and her extensive training efforts make her a standout candidate.

Elizabeth Booi - Phambily Analytics

About: Elizabeth Booi is a prominent South African academic specializing in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics. She focuses on enhancing data literacy and IT integration in education and startup companies, with a passion for mentoring emerging analysts and students.

Reason for Shortlisting: Elizabeth's commitment to promoting data literacy and her innovative facilitation techniques have significantly contributed to the broader field of data analytics in Africa. Her leadership in both professional and community outreach programs underscores her impact.

Kat Sale - House of Performance

About: Kat Sale is the founder of House of Performance, a digital agency established in 2021. Despite the challenges of the pandemic and maternity leave, Kat built a successful agency known for its outstanding performance marketing services and supportive work environment.

Reason for Shortlisting: Kat's leadership in building an agency that supports entry-level candidates and advocates for women in performance marketing is commendable. Her agency's numerous awards and client testimonials reflect her dedication and success.

Nadia Ivanova - Unlimit

About: Nadia Ivanova is the Chief Communications Officer at Unlimit, where she has built a team from scratch and developed robust PR, content, and social media strategies. Her work has resulted in significant growth in social media followership and marketing leads.

Reason for Shortlisting: Nadia's ability to build and lead a successful marketing team, alongside her achievements in rebranding and launching new brands, demonstrates her strong leadership skills. Her mentorship and advocacy within the team further highlight her leadership qualities.

Azahara Corrales - RocketMill

About: Azahara Corrales is an AI specialist at RocketMill, with a passion for integrating AI into digital marketing strategies. She has spoken at various conferences, including BrightonSEO, sharing her insights on AI's impact on marketing.

Reason for Shortlisting: Azahara's expertise in AI and her dedication to promoting diversity in AI leadership make her a standout leader. Her proactive approach to AI trends and commitment to fostering an inclusive AI workforce underscore her leadership capabilities.

Khyara Ranaweera - The Conscious Consultancy

About: Khyara Ranaweera is the founder of The Conscious Consultancy, Dubai's first impact-driven communications agency. She has a decade-long entrepreneurial journey with a focus on sustainability and social responsibility.

Reason for Shortlisting: Khyara's dedication to promoting purpose-driven business practices and her success in establishing an impact-driven agency highlight her visionary leadership. Her commitment to creating value for society and inspiring others to embrace sustainability is noteworthy.

Katie Lamond - Vooba

About: Katie Lamond is a leader at Vooba, a digital marketing agency, with over 22 years of experience in media sales and three years in a leadership position. She discovered her leadership skills through her role and is also in the process of setting up her private coaching business.

Reason for Shortlisting: Katie's investment in her coaching accreditation and her dedication to supporting her team and the wider Vooba team highlight her exceptional leadership. Her ability to handle significant challenges and her commitment to helping others reach their potential demonstrate her strong leadership qualities.

Caroline Pereira - Zik Space Events

About: Caroline Pereira is an Indian professional based in the UAE, with 15 years of experience working with major global brands. She currently holds a senior leadership role in an event management company, with expertise spanning operations, business development, sales, marketing, and training.

Reason for Shortlisting: Caroline's journey from a customer service executive to a senior leadership role showcases her perseverance and strategic skills. Her ability to inspire and lead her team, delivering exceptional event and branding experiences, highlights her strong leadership qualities.

These finalists represent exemplary leadership in their respective fields. Their dedication, innovation, and ability to inspire and lead teams through challenging times set them apart as true leaders. We congratulate each of them for their outstanding achievements and look forward to celebrating their continued success. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winner at the upcoming Digital Women Awards!

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