Women-Owned Businesses and Professionals Were Honored at an Awards Ceremony in New York City

The Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, the world's top honors for women entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organizations they run, have announced the 2025 winners.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business is an international competition produced by the creators of the prestigious International Business Awards® and American Business Awards®. The Stevie is widely regarded as the world's premier business award.

Finalists in the 2025 competition were announced in September. The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements among the Finalists were revealed at a gala event at New York's Marriott Marquis Hotel on Monday, November 10. More than 550 nominated women professionals and their guests attended the presentations, which were broadcast live via Vimeo.

The 2025 competition attracted more than 1,500 nominations submitted by organizations and individuals in 48 nations. Winners were honored for achievements in more than 100 categories, including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Most Innovative Company of the Year, Startup of the Year, and Women-Run Workplace of the Year. Over 200 business professionals from seven specialized judging committees determined the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners.

Grand Stevie Award trophies were presented to five organizations that submitted the best body of entries to the competition, in their own names or in the names of one or more clients. These awards cannot be applied for directly. Grand winners were determined by the total number of Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards won in the competition, with a Gold Stevie win counting for 3 points, a Silver Stevie for 2 points, and a Bronze Stevie counting for 1.5.

The 2025 Grand Stevie Award winners, listed in descending order by points, are as follows:

• Award Writing Services with 92 points for nine Gold, 25 Silver, and 10 Bronze Stevie Award wins on behalf of themselves and their clients
• Purpol Marketing, Chippenham, United Kingdom with 61 points with seven Gold, 14 Silver, and eight Bronze Stevie Award wins on behalf of themselves and their clients
• IBM, worldwide, with 29 points, for four Gold, four Silver, and six Bronze Stevie Award wins
• RISER, Armadale, Australia with 28.5 points for six Gold, three Silver, and three Bronze Stevie Awards on behalf of themselves and clients
• FASSLING.ai with 25 points for four Gold, five Silver, and two Bronze Stevie Award wins

The 2025 Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners reflect a diverse group of large and small organizations from around the world. Notable Gold Stevie Award winners in this year's competition include:

• Donna Dror, CEO, Usercentrics, Munich, Germany, for Best Female CEO of the Year – Business Service
• Courtney Spaeth, CEO, growth[period], Tysons, VA USA for Best Female Entrepreneur in Business Services - 11 to 2,500 Employees
• MeiLee Langley, Vice President of Global Indirect Marketing, Nextiva, Inc., Phoenix, AZ USA for Female Executive of the Year ñ Business Products - 11 to 2,500 Employees
• Jelena Bajic, VP, TELUS Digital, Toronto, Canada, for Female Executive of the Year - Consumer Services - More Than 2,500 Employees
• Kristen Dalton, President, Tripadvisor, Needham, MA USA for Female Thought Leader of the Year - Consumer Services
• Olivia Mirza, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia, for Most Innovative Woman of the Year – Industry
• Peta Warby, Founder, SANAME, Gold Coast, Australia, for Woman of the Year – Industry
• Security Done Easy, Cary, NC USA for Best Female Business Blogger of the Year
• Öksüt Madencilik, Ankara, Türkiye, for Achievement in Women-related Corporate Social Responsibility
• Theory Crew, Armadale, Australia, for three Gold Stevie Awards: Achievement in Marketing – Consumer Products, Achievement in Media Relations, and Achievement in New Product or Service Launch
• SuperFresh, Istanbul, Türkiye, for Achievement in Corporate Responsibility
• Mastercard, Nairobi, Kenya, for Achievement in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• PlayWise Partners, Los Angeles, CA USA for Achievement in Events & Observances Communications or PR
• Sempra, San Diego, CA USA for Achievement in Ethical Leadership
• Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Taguig City, Philippines, for Achievement in Influencer Management

Organizations that won more than two or more Gold Stevie Awards, other than the Grand winners mentioned above, include Buy From A Black Woman, Atlanta GA USA, Chang Robotics, Jacksonville Beach, FL USA, Cherishers 818 CIC, Staffordshire, UK, Elivate, Tahoe City, CA USA, Fernwood Fitness, Melbourne, Australia, Global Touch, El Cerrito, CA USA, Health Focus Manufacturers Sydney, Australia, How Many Elephants, Alresford, UK, HR EXAM PREP with Angela, Canton, MS USA, Lisa Blair OAM, Sydney, Australia, Mastercard, Nairobi, Kenya, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Taguig City, Philippines, My Mountain Mover, Orange, CA USA, Pacvue, San Francisco, CA USA, Premier Inc., Washington DC, Rockwood Custom Homes, Calgary, Canada, SANAME, Gold Coast, Australia, Songue PR, San Francisco, CA, Spear & Arrow, Dubbo, Australia, The Divorce Course Podcast, Kenmore East, Australia, The Equine Practice Company, Clayfield, Australia, The Flora May Foundation, San Clemente, CA USA, The Ginsburg Firm, Brisbane, QLD Australia, Toptana Technologies, Taholah, WA USA, and Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia.

Visit http://www.StevieAwards.com/Women for a complete list of Stevie winners by category.

Persistent and Stevie Awards Honor Female Leaders in AI

Finalists in five inaugural categories sponsored by Persistent to recognize the achievements of female technology leaders, were announced today in the 22nd Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, an international competition that shines a spotlight on women executives, entrepreneurs, employees, and organizations run by women.

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie winners will be revealed during an award ceremony on November 10, 2025.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners in all other categories in the competition were announced on September 18.

More than 1,500 nominations from 48 nations were submitted this year by organizations and individuals for consideration in categories including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Startup of the Year, Women Helping Women, and Women-run Workplace of the Year, among many others.

Finalists were determined by the average scores of more than 190 professionals around the world, working on six juries. 

The Finalists in the categories sponsored by Persistent, a leading global technology company, are as follows:

AI Automation Game Changer of the Year Award

• Tami Evanson, SVP - Future Plan & Corp Services, Ascensus
• Madhu Kochar, Vice President, IBM
• Aravinda Gollapudi, Head of Platform Business Unit, Sage
• Lisa Stump, Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Information Officer and Dean of Information Technology, Mount Sinai Health System and Icahn School of Medicine

AI Vanguard and Leadership Award

• Sofia Theodoridou, Chief of Staff to CIO, Ascensus
• Denise Parker, CEO, Sycurio
• Vishlesha Patil, Chief Product Officer, Early Warning Services
• Ana Urraca del Junco, Head of Customer Service Process, Medline
• Jacqueline Ajayi, CSA CTO Engineering Leader, Microsoft
• Gurpreet Kaur, CIO, Global Supply Chain, GE Healthcare

Cloud and Data Visionary of the Year

• Maya Hart, VP / Head of Engineering, Whisker
• Jessica D'Apice, Technical Product Manager, Reporting, Analytics, and Data (RAD), UHG
• Tanuja Korlepra, Chief Technology Offier, Bonterra

 Software Engineering Trailblazer Award

• Beverly Chamberlain, Vice President, Global Head of IT Enterprise Services, Regeneron
• Steph DeNote, Vice President, Travel Experience and Commerce, BCD Travel
• Kiran Kaur, CIO, Platforms, Wealth & Investment Management, Wells Fargo
• Ella Haman, CTO, Kapitus

 Trusted AI Advisor for Business Transformation

• Eleanor Matthews, Senior Manager, ISG
• Kimberly Tobias, Partner, ISG
• Jenn Stein, Managing Partner, LSH & Manufacturing, ISG
• Cecilia Edwards, Partner and Principal Solutionist, North America Data & AI Center of Excellence Lead, Wavestone

 “At Persistent, we believe innovation thrives when diverse voices lead with courage and conviction. Honoring these women is our way of celebrating the brilliance, resilience, and leadership that continue to shape the future of business and technology.”

• Shimona Chadha, Chief Marketing Officer, Persistent

“Congratulations to the outstanding 2025 Persistent’s SheShapesAI Awards finalists. These visionary women are shaping the future of AI and setting an inspiring example for innovators everywhere,” said Maggie Miller, President of the Stevie Awards.

For the past two years, the Stevie® Awards team has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to create something we know you’ll love.

The system we built more than 20 years ago to manage and run most of our Stevie Awards programs has reached the end of its life.

After over two decades of operating under the same website, entry platforms, and judging systems, we are introducing a fully modernized, user-friendly website and upgraded platform for entrants and judges across all nine Stevie Awards programs!

This new system is fully operational for The 24th Annual American Business Awards®, the 20th annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service and the 14th Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards new sites will be live as soon as next week. We will be transitioning our other awards programs onto the new platform as they open for nominations throughout this Fall and 2026.

View the schedule in the table below:

The new system has many benefits for entrants, judges, and Stevie Awards administrators. Founder & Executive Chairman of the Stevie Awards, Michael Gallagher, announced:

"This milestone refresh has been a long time coming, and we are excited to announce that it's finally here.

From selecting categories to submitting entries, and managing nominations across multiple competitions, you will find that every step of the Stevie Awards nomination process has been upgraded from our former antiquated system." 

Stevie Awards President, Maggie Miller, added:

"Whether you’re a first-time entrant, a returning participant, or one of our dedicated judges, this overhaul is designed to make entering or judging the Stevie Awards a simpler, faster, and more intuitive experience."

Below, you will find a list of the top benefits that make the new Stevie Awards website and system better than ever. Among them are:

1. Single Sign-On Across All Stevie Awards Programs 🏆

Previously, to enter or judge multiple Stevie Awards programs, users were required to create separate logins for each competition. Now, through one Stevie Awards entry account, you will be able to submit nominations or apply to judge in any of our awards programs. No more multiple logins! As each program opens for 2026, it will open on the new system. For now, you can login to closed programs through the old platform. 

As shown below, if you are logged in to your entry account, it's easy to select a program from the dropdown menu.

2. Superior Performance👌

The new system is built on the latest and best available tools and services, and is significantly faster and easier to use than the current system. The new website is fully mobile-friendly, and entrants can now submit nominations on their phones or tablets if they choose to do so. The technology foundation allows us to continually add new features and enhancements, so the experience will keep improving year after year.

The only Stevie Awards system that will not be integrated into the new system is the official Stevie Awards Store, which will continue to run on Shopify. Our store is where winners purchase additional trophies, medallions, certificates, and commemorative items. 

3. One Account for Judges Across all Stevie Awards Programs 👨‍⚖️

Just as each entrant will now only need one account through which to enter any or all of our programs, judges can apply to judge one or more of them, and act as a judge for any of them under one login.

4. Archival Storage 💽

To date, for most of our competitions, we’ve had to clear out a prior year’s nominations from the system before we can open the next edition. The new system will store and make available to you all of your past nominations (submitted through the new platform).

5. Effortless Category Selection and Search 🔍

The new system includes a convenient “find-as-you-type” search feature for categories. Previously, entrants had to scroll through hundreds of options to locate the right one. Now, finding the right category for your achievement is quick and effortless.

6.  Billing and Payment Options that Give Entrants More Control and Convenience 💳

Our new platform will make it easier to find, modify, and pay your invoices, with more payment options.

For paying your entry fees, we now have advanced payment options, including a “pay later” option that will offer automatic reconciliation of invoices, and allows you to make edits to invoices. At checkout, you can choose how you'd like to pay, whether via card, bank account, bank transfer, Cash App Pay, Affirm, Klarna, pre-authorized debit, or Amazon Pay.

The option to choose to pay shipping fees will be completely integrated into the overall system as well.

7.  Fewer Technical Issues ⚠️

If you’ve recently had a problem logging into your entry or judging account, submitting nominations, or judging entries, you’ve experienced our former system’s growing unreliability. If you’ve been a longtime Stevie Awards participant, you may recall the occasional frustration of encountering 403 error messages when submitting nominations. (Thank you for your patience in putting up with the old system!)

These errors often occurred during high-traffic periods near final entry deadlines, after resetting a password, or even when certain symbols were included in a nomination. Now, entrants can submit nominations with confidence, without worrying about system errors or having to write them offline during down periods.

8. Mobile-Friendly Website 💻

We no longer have a separate mobile website, and the Stevie Awards site is fully mobile-friendly. Nominations can now be submitted from your mobile device or tablet if you choose. 

Join Us for a Live Workshop About Navigating the New Stevie Awards Platform 👇

Starting Thursday, October 23, we will be hosting regularly occurring live workshops to walk entrants through the ins and outs of the new system. Register Now to participate in the first workshop or click the button below.

While the new system is intuitive and user-friendly, we are striving to make this transition seamless for everyone, and these workshops are another opportunity to answer your questions as they arise.

We look forward to sharing the new Stevie Awards platform with you!

If you encounter a problem, please reach out to us at help@stevieawards.com, and we will help you accomplish what you need to do.

World's Top Honors for Women Professionals to Be Presented in New York City on November 10

Finalists were announced today in the 22nd annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, the world's top honors for women entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organizations they run. Visit http://www.StevieAwards.com/Women for a complete list of Finalists by category.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are produced by the Stevie Awards, creators of The American Business Awards® and The International Business Awards®, among other business awards programs. The Stevies are widely regarded as the world's premier honors for achievement in the workplace.

This year's Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists will be revealed during an awards banquet at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on Monday, November 10. More than 400 winners, guests, and Stevie Awards judges from around the world are expected to attend the presentations, which will be broadcast live.

More than 1,500 nominations were submitted this year by organizations and individuals for consideration in categories including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Startup of the Year, Women Helping Women, and Women-run Workplace of the Year, among many others.

Nominations were submitted by organizations in 48 nations including Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Estonia, France, Germany, Guyana, Hong Kong / Greater China, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Lithuania, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Among the many extraordinary organizations and women who have been recognized as Finalists, the following stand out as those with four or more Finalist nominations:

IBM, various cities (13), Purpol Marketing Ltd, Chippenham, UK (13), FASSLING.AI, Ontario, Canada (11), Cherishers 811 CIC, Cannock, United Kindom (10), RISER, Armadale, Australia (8), Ocean Rescue Alliance International, Apollo Beach, FL (6), Sleepm Global, Inc., Ontario, Canada (6), Dream Culture, Sydney, Australia (6), C-Strategies Inc., Chicago, IL (5), Everise, Plantation, FL (5), Global Touch, El Cerrito, CA (5), Green Door Co, Sydney, Australia (5), Nextiva, Inc., Phoenix, AZ (5), Speak Up, Giza, Egypt (5), The Financial Literacy Youth Initiative, Providence, RI (5), Buy From A Black Woman, Atlanta, GA (5), Foundations of Hope, Orlando, FL (5), SANAME, Australia (4), BELBIM, Istanbul, Türkiye (4), Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Freehold, NJ (4), Elephant in the Room Consulting, Queensland, Australia (4), Elivate, Tahoe City, CA (4), Global Press Journal, Washington, DC (4), Hilary Saxton, Property Mastermind, Queensland, Australia (4), HR EXAM PREP with Angela, Canton, MS (4), Jared Dunscombe Foundation, Mount Eliza, Australia (4), Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, Taguig City, Philippines (4), Sadaya’s Properties LLC, Saint Paul, MN (4), Serenity Press, Waikiki WA Australia (4), Staying Independent, Sydney, Australia (4), Theory Crew, Armadale, Australia (4), The Audacious Agency, Australia (4), The Marketing Factory, South Brisbane, Australia (4), and Viderity, Washington DC (4).

Finalists were determined by the average scores of more than 190 professionals around the world, working on six juries. Their scores will also determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie placements from among the Finalists, to be announced on November 10 during the ceremony.

When Spring Bio Solution (SBS) launched in 2020 in the US, it was a small company in a competitive and highly regulated industry. Four years later, the company has achieved significant growth, and one of the key people behind that success is Nikhila Shashikanth.

In recognition of her contributions, Nikhila received two honors at the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business: a Silver Stevie Award for Female Employee of the Year in Business, and a Bronze Stevie for Female Executive of the Year in Business Services with 10 or Less Employees.

Spring Bio Solution
SBS is a licensed wholesale distributor in the pharmaceutical space. The company specializes in sourcing and supplying Reference Listed Drugs (RLDs), comparator drugs, and various medical devices to pharmaceutical companies, clinical research organizations (CROs), and research institutions. Spring Bio Solution supports the clinical trial and research processes by ensuring reliable access to these key pharmaceutical products.

In addition to its core distribution activities, SBS also supports logistical and regulatory needs within the pharmaceutical supply chain including serialization services. The company handles sourcing, compliance, and distribution in accordance with industry standards, positioning itself as a trusted partner for organizations needing consistent, compliant access to critical drugs and devices.

Business Growth and Operational Success
Nikhila serves as the Director of Business Development and Operations at SBS. Her role involves overseeing the company's business strategy, operations, and regulatory compliance. She joined SBS as a Manager when the company was founded and quickly advanced through senior roles before assuming her current position.

Under Nikhila’s leadership, SBS has seen strong revenue growth, with revenues increasing by more than 125% between 2022 and 2024. This reflects a period of significant expansion for a company of its size.

She has also focused on improving efficiency and maintaining compliance in a heavily regulated sector. This includes managing customer and regulatory audits, as well as anticipating changes in industry requirements.

In addition, Nikhila’s approach to leadership emphasizes both performance and employee development. Managing such a dynamic environment presents daily challenges, and Nikhila approaches each challenge with a deep passion for her work and a solution-oriented mindset. Her management style is deeply empathetic, dedicating considerable time and effort to understanding and addressing her team's needs.This empathetic leadership has not only driven successful project outcomes but has also cultivated a supportive and motivated workplace. She has created an environment where team members can advance into leadership roles, and the company has maintained an employee retention rate significantly higher than the industry average.

Alongside her work at SBS, Nikhila has been pursuing a dual degree at Cornell University: An Executive MBA and an MS in Healthcare Leadership. Since winning her Stevie Awards, she has graduated with distinction. She attended classes on weekends while continuing her responsibilities at SBS during the week.

Nikhila’s story reflects how strategic thinking, continuous learning, and a people-first approach can drive success in a competitive industry. Her ability to balance operational responsibilities with academic advancement demonstrates a commitment to both personal and organizational growth.

Nikhila Shashikanth won Silver and Bronze Stevie Awards for Female Employee of the Year – Business and for Female Executive of the Year – Business Services (10 or Less Employees), respectively, in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2025 program?

Nominations will now be accepted through September 5

The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the world’s premier business awards programs, has extended the final entry deadline in the 2025 (22nd annual) Stevie® Awards for Women in Business. Entrants now have through September 5 to submit nominations. The original final entry deadline was August 20.

Entry kits and complete details on the competition are available at https://www.StevieAwards.com/Women.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business honor the achievements of working women in more than 100 categories, including Best Female Entrepreneur, Female Executive of the Year, Mentor or Coach of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Achievement in Equal Pay, Women Helping Women, Employee of the Year, Woman-Owned or -Run Company of the Year, and Female Innovator of the Year. All female entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organizations they run, worldwide, are eligible to be nominated.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are widely regarded as the world's premier business awards competition for women. In 2024, the competition attracted more than 1,500 nominations from organizations in more than 36 nations.

The 2025 Stevie Awards for Women in Business will be judged by more than 200 leading professionals around the world, and nominees will have access to all the judges’ comments and suggestions about their nominations. Finalists will be announced on September 19, and winners will be announced on November 10 at an awards ceremony in New York City.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business recognize achievement in the workplace in award categories including:

Achievement Categories
Achievement in Communications & Marketing (Developed for/by Women) Categories
Company/Organization (Women-Owned or -Led) Categories
Individual Women Categories
Media (Developed for/by Women) Categories
New Product & Service (Developed for/by Women) - Categories
Social Media Categories
Sustainability Categories
Thought Leadership Categories

There are nine new Achievement categories to recognize innovative achievements by individual women and women-led or -owned organizations since July 2023. The Communications & Marketing categories have been updated this year to reflect achievements within Communications & Marketing. Entry fees have been waived in the Media Awards categories.

Angela Dion, founder of Simple Breastfeeding, has been recognized with two Stevie Awards in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business for her development of the Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow — an innovative breastfeeding support device designed to assist mothers, particularly those with larger breasts, in nursing more comfortably and effectively.

Dion’s idea for the product emerged from her own struggles as a new mother. Like many women, she experienced neck, shoulder, and back pain from holding her breast in place while nursing, as well as difficulty helping her baby latch. The makeshift solution often used (a rolled-up towel) failed to provide adequate support, creating additional frustration and discomfort. Over time, this strain required weekly physiotherapy and significantly impacted her breastfeeding experience.

Motivated by these challenges, Dion embarked on a four-year journey to create a more effective, ergonomic support device. Drawing on feedback from healthcare professionals, extensive testing, and input from mothers, she developed the Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow. The product is made from medical-grade materials that are hygienic, durable, and easy to clean. Its design supports proper positioning of the breast to improve latching, reduce pain, and enhance bonding between mother and baby.

The product officially launched at the Melbourne Parent & Baby Expo in July 2024, where it sold 50 units and drew praise from both mothers and midwives. Since then, demand has grown through online and retail channels, with healthcare professionals endorsing the product for its ability to address common breastfeeding problems. Physiotherapists specializing in women’s health have described it as a “game changer” for preventing and alleviating breastfeeding-related musculoskeletal pain.

The Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow is designed with versatility in mind. It accommodates mothers of different body types, provides stability for the breast to free up the mother’s hands, and helps improve milk flow, which reduces the risk of mastitis. For mothers who may feel overwhelmed by the physical demands of breastfeeding, the pillow offers a practical solution that improves comfort and allows them to focus more fully on their baby.

The potential market for the product is significant. While breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia are high, many mothers stop breastfeeding within a few months due to physical pain, difficulty latching, or frustration. The Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow addresses these barriers directly, providing an option for mothers who otherwise may have given up breastfeeding prematurely.

Simple Breastfeeding is currently expanding its reach with additional expos planned nationwide, a developing influencer campaign, and discussions underway with national retail and online chains. The company is also exploring opportunities to introduce the product into hospital maternity wards to support mothers immediately after birth.

Winning two Stevie Awards has been a game-changer for Angela and her business. The recognition has attracted the attention of international buyers and helped secure placements in pharmacies and baby shops online, with talks progressing for distribution in markets like the Philippines and the United States. Beyond offering credibility, the awards have given Angela a strong platform to expand globally, paving the way for new partnerships, distributors, and resellers around the world.

Simple Breastfeeding Founder Angela Dion won Bronze Stevie Awards for Achievement in Product Innovation and for Best New Product or Service of the Year - Consumer Products in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2025 program? 

Stevie winner Katrina Wurm, founder of Stress Free Super Mum, is a coach, author, and advocate who supports women in managing the challenges of motherhood, particularly when raising children with disabilities or neurodivergence. Drawing on her personal and professional experience, Wurm has developed programs and resources to help mothers improve their confidence, advocate for their children, and maintain a balanced home life.

Her own journey as a mother shaped her mission. After experiencing the loss of multiple pregnancies and giving birth to a son with significant medical needs and neurodiversity, Wurm applied her background in psychology, business, and human resources to create practical systems that helped her manage her family’s complex needs. This experience motivated her to assist other mothers facing similar struggles.

At the request of her son’s school principal, she began coaching mothers of neurodiverse children in 2017. During the pandemic, she formalized her approach by launching Stress Free Super Mum, a program designed to help mothers working from home balance their responsibilities while caring for their families.

Wurm’s programs, workshops, and speaking engagements now reach mothers from diverse backgrounds, not just those raising children with disabilities. Her services emphasize organization, delegation, and advocacy—skills she teaches to help women improve their well-being and reduce stress. She also coaches women to set boundaries, teach their children age-appropriate responsibilities, and avoid overextending themselves.

Her business has grown steadily, with coaching clients increasing by at least 15% annually and sales of her book Wear Your Warrior rising by 25%. She has expanded her reach into rural and remote communities in Australia and regularly speaks at libraries, workshops, and corporate events.

Wurm also works within the corporate sector, particularly with Australia’s national airline Qantas, where she trains staff on disability inclusion and has advocated for the adoption of initiatives such as the Sunflower Lanyard program for hidden disabilities. In 2024 she joined Qantas’s Diversity and Inclusion Board, contributing to policies that support staff and customers with diverse needs.

Through her coaching, writing, and advocacy, Wurm addresses issues such as burnout, depleted mother syndrome, and the lack of support available for parents of children with special needs. Her work provides practical tools for mothers navigating the often-overwhelming demands of parenting and helps families achieve healthier, more balanced lives.

Katrina Wurm won three Gold and two Silver Stevie Awards in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business for Female Thought Leader of the Year – Consumer Services, Mentor of Coach of the Year - Consumer; Women Helping Women - Social Change; Social Change Maker of the Year - Disability; and Best Female Entrepreneur - Consumer Services, respectively.

Interested in submitting your own Stevie Awards for Women in Business nominations?

Stevie-winner Dr. Sonia Selwin brings a holistic approach to empowerment, working across India, the U.S., and Bahrain to support marginalized women, immigrant communities, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Her impact is rooted not just in vision, but in action—whether that’s supporting a single woman struggling with language barriers and mental health, or developing scalable education and business programs that reach hundreds.

A Dual Role: Academic Leader and Community Organizer
Dr. Selwin’s academic background spans 16 years as a lecturer, professor, and program manager in business education. With a PhD in Management and current postdoctoral research in Leadership at Andrews University, she brings scholarly rigor to her work. But she doesn’t stop at theory.

Her nonprofit work—especially through HopeSide Ministries and as founder of the People Empowerment Alliance for Creativity and Education (PEACE)—takes that expertise directly to the communities that need it most. She mentors immigrant women in employability skills, guides entrepreneurs in launching small businesses, and leads weekly Bible study and support sessions focused on healing and empowerment.

At HopeSide, she’s helped dozens of women start businesses, complete degrees, and navigate personal hardships. Her leadership spans from organizing church retreats and fundraising events to developing grant proposals and securing financial support for community programs.

Focus on Women’s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship
Through PEACE, Dr. Selwin is actively supporting more than 350 women in India—many of them first-time entrepreneurs—with training, funding, and mentorship. She led the effort to award seed funds to women facing growth constraints in businesses like tailoring, jewelry-making, and jute product manufacturing. Her focus is not just on financial aid, but sustainable business growth through marketing, digital skills, and community collaboration.

In one case, she helped an immigrant woman in the U.S. launch a sewing business by offering English language instruction, digital literacy, and equipment—all while juggling childcare and integration challenges. In another, she guided a woman from depression and isolation to confidence and purpose through mentoring and prayer. Her ability to meet people where they are, while also building broader systems for advancement, defines her leadership style.

A Global Voice for Practical Solutions
In 2023, Dr. Selwin was recognized at the British Parliament with the Award for Excellence in Global Education, Business, and Advancement, standing out among applicants from across India. Her work blends academic innovation with hands-on implementation; she’s equally at home writing research papers as she is leading food coordination for a community retreat or coaching a young nonprofit founder on mission statements and grant writing.

She is also passionate about forming partnerships between universities and grassroots entrepreneurs. Her work with students and rural women in India has inspired a mutual exchange of knowledge, connecting theory with lived experience, and inspiring a new generation of leaders.

Dr. Sonia Selwin’s work demonstrates that educational leadership can extend far beyond the classroom. It’s about mentorship, practical support, community development, and meeting real needs with compassion and structure.

Dr. Selwin won a Bronze Stevie® Award for Woman of the Year in the Government or Non-Profit sector in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business. 

Interested in entering the 2025 program? 

Too often, older struggling readers are left with few resources that meet their unique needs—books that are either too simple for their age or too complex for their reading level. Storyshares is tackling that challenge head-on.

Founded by former educator Louise Baigelman, Storyshares is a nonprofit literacy organization focused on adolescents who have slipped through the cracks of reading instruction. Baigelman, who began her career in classrooms through Teach For America, saw firsthand how a lack of engaging, accessible reading materials held students back. Her solution: build a new kind of library.

That library now includes more than 500 original, age-appropriate titles written at a wide range of reading levels. These books have reached readers in 180 countries and have been read for over 1 million hours, helping teens and adults build confidence and fluency. Educators report that more than 90% of students using Storyshares titles show improved reading attitudes and behaviors.

Over the past year, Storyshares has continued to break new ground. In response to feedback from educators and families, Baigelman’s team created “Remix Decodables”—the first-ever decodable chapter books for teens. These books, released between late 2023 and early 2024, offer structured support for older readers who are still mastering foundational literacy skills, providing content that respects both their age and their learning needs. Each eight-book set in the series is tailored for students beyond third grade and comes with companion guides for educators to support instruction.

This bold innovation aligns with the growing movement around the Science of Reading and fills a long-overlooked gap in literacy education. It also complements Storyshares’ growing library by offering even more tools for teachers working with readers who have historically lacked effective resources.

Beyond publishing, Storyshares is scaling its impact through strategic collaborations. In 2024, the organization partnered with the 95 Percent Group to co-create 95 Readables™, a collection of decodable chapter books designed for students in grades 2–8. This partnership extends the reach of high-quality, structured literacy tools and highlights Baigelman’s commitment to evidence-based solutions. At the same time, the organization continues to fuel its library through its annual Story of the Year writing contest, which has become a cornerstone for sourcing diverse and engaging content.

Louise Baigelman’s leadership reflects a rare combination of educational insight, entrepreneurial vision, and measurable impact. Through Storyshares, she is redefining what’s possible for struggling readers around the world—empowering students, supporting teachers, and shaping the future of literacy.

Storyshares Founder and CEO Louise Baigelman won a Bronze Stevie® Award for Best Female Entrepreneur – Business Products –10 or Less Employees in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

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