Celebrating the Role Model (Leadership Impact) Finalists

Jun 27

Role Model (Leadership Impact) of the Year Finalists 2025

As we celebrate the Role Model (Leadership Impact), we're proud to recognise individuals who are truly making a difference in their fields. From business to education and beyond, the shortlist showcases the exceptional individuals who lead with integrity, inspire others, and continue to drive meaningful change. We’re excited to see how their impact grows in the year ahead.

Victoria Dyke - Ziggy Agency Ltd

About:
Vix is the founder and CEO of Ziggy Agency Ltd, a global performance marketing agency she launched during the pandemic while pregnant with her first child. Vix is a passionate advocate for gender equity, equal parenting, and sustainable work-life integration. She speaks openly about the realities of balancing motherhood and ambition, using her platform to inspire other women navigating similar challenges.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Vix has achieved extraordinary growth and innovation through Ziggy Agency. Under her leadership, the agency has grown over 300%, pioneering new approaches to performance marketing, client accountability, and workplace culture. Vix’s impact extends beyond her business; through a growing community initiative, she’s documenting the experiences of women balancing ambition and family life, turning stories into support systems. From launching return-to-work policies that prioritise wellbeing, to creating spaces where women can share honest experiences, Vix’s work is rooted in empathy, action, and courage.

Archana Dhankar

About:
Archana is an AI and Marketing Leader, TEDx Speaker, and LinkedIn Top Voice with over 20 years of experience transforming global brands through data-driven strategy. Armed with an AI degree from London Business School, she specialises in helping businesses navigate the evolving digital landscape. Archana has delivered talks across the globe on topics ranging from AI ethics to marketing strategy. With a community of over 200,000 followers, Archana uses her platform to simplify AI, share real stories, and champion inclusive leadership.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Archana has been shortlisted for her leadership at the intersection of AI, marketing, and social impact. She’s driven global AI transformation strategies – most recently leading enterprise-wide implementation across a multinational marketing organisation. Beyond her professional achievements, Archana stands out for using her platform to educate, empower, and uplift others – particularly women and underserved communities. From speaking at the UK House of Lords on ethical AI to mentoring first-generation learners and delivering inclusive AI training through global charities, her mission is clear: to make innovation accessible and human-centred. Archana is not only shaping the future of tech – but ensuring it’s one that includes everyone.

Clara Cheung - The University of Manchester

About:
Dr Clara Cheung is a digital transformation leader whose 25-year career spans business, engineering, and academia. Now reading Engineering Management at The University of Manchester, Clara leads cross-sector collaborations focused on human-centred innovation in high-risk sectors like construction. Clara is also a passionate advocate for gender equality in STEM. She mentors early-career women researchers, champions inclusive education, and speaks globally on the importance of women’s leadership in digital fields.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Dr Clara has been shortlisted for her exceptional contribution to digital transformation across business, academia, and engineering. Clara has consistently used technology not just to drive innovation, but to make work safer, healthier, and more inclusive. From leading digital strategies at Fortune 500 companies to pioneering AI-driven safety solutions in collaboration with major contractors and the UK’s Health and Safety Executive, her work bridges impact and purpose. As a senior academic at The University of Manchester, she has embedded AI and data fluency into education, mentored the next generation of women in STEM, and led global research collaborations advancing ethical tech adoption.

Dusica Neill - Sleeping Giant Media

About:
Dusica is a purpose-driven leader whose digital journey has taken her from war-torn Serbia to the top levels of corporate leadership. With three Masters degrees, she has led global teams, run a creative agency, and overseen operations across the UK and US, managing more than 120 people at a time. Now serving as Chief Revenue Officer, she is passionate about discovering and elevating young talent, particularly women, and creating environments where authenticity, strength, and vulnerability can thrive.

Reason for Shortlisting:
With over 15 years of experience across SEO, paid media, content, and creative strategy, Dusica has delivered extraordinary results. But her impact goes far beyond commercial success. Dusica leads with clarity, empathy, and conviction. A passionate advocate for innovation, she has embraced AI to futureproof client strategies and fostered an environment where bold thinking thrives. She not only uplifts teams but also challenges industry norms, making her a true role model for inclusive, empowering, and impactful leadership.

Lucy Patterson - The Lucy Patterson Ltd

About:
Lucy is a creative strategist, coach, and midlife reinvention pioneer with over 25 years of experience in corporate leadership, design thinking, and enterprise development. Lucy has helped hundreds of individuals and businesses harness creativity to navigate change with clarity and confidence. Whether supporting creative communities, integrating AI and digital tools into her coaching, or co-hosting her podcast A Beginner’s Guide to Design Thinking, Lucy continues to challenge the status quo with playfulness and purpose.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Lucy has been shortlisted for her bold, human-centred approach to leadership and reinvention in the digital space. Lucy stands out not only for her professional achievements but for living the principles she teaches. She doesn't just guide others through change; she actively embodies it. From pioneering her framework for midlife reinvention to co-hosting an award-winning podcast, Lucy challenges outdated narratives about what digital leadership, midlife, and success should look like. Her leadership is not about fitting in, but about opening doors for others to thrive on their own terms.

Faith Johnson - Gozynta

About:
Faith is a self-taught digital marketer and emerging tech leader who built her career through resilience, curiosity, and relentless drive. Faith taught herself digital marketing and landed an internship, where she built the company’s marketing department from scratch. By 19, she had joined Gozynta as a Marketing Coordinator and, over the past five years, has risen to become Director of Marketing, leading strategy, partnerships, and web development across Gozynta and its consulting arm.

Reason for Shortlisting:
Faith has been shortlisted for her remarkable journey from self-taught marketer to Director of Marketing and company leader. From redesigning digital strategy and automating operations to launching impactful content and partnership initiatives, she’s driven meaningful business growth while proving that leadership isn’t defined by background, privilege, or volume – but by grit, empathy, and vision. Faith’s impact extends beyond the workplace. She’s a co-moderator of the TechSheCan Facebook group, creating space for women in tech to connect and thrive. She’s also navigated major life changes – including moving abroad – with resilience and honesty, showing others what quiet leadership truly looks like.

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