Individual Women Entrepreneur & Thought Leadership Awards Judging Committee

Chair:
Donna Sillett, Founder & CEO 
PRIMA DONNA - BUSINESS DIVA, Spring Farm, New South Wales, Australia

Donna Sillett is a global multi-award-winning serial entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience building, leading, and scaling businesses across multiple industries all while overcoming the challenges of neurodiversity, chronic illness, and mental health struggles.

As the Founder and CEO of PRIMA DONNA BUSINESS DIVA®, Donna has established herself as a dedicated advocate for women in business, particularly those who identify as neurodivergent and/or disabled mums, and is known for her commitment to helping overwhelmed and underappreciated micro-business owners turn their passion into profit and transform their business from “struggle town” to “centre stage” so they shine like a star above their competition.

With a career spanning almost three decades, Donna’s entrepreneurial journey began over 20 years ago with the launch of her first business, an eco-holistic and sustainable hair and beauty salon aged only 23 years old in 2004. Her background as a hairdresser, beauty therapist, hairdressing educator, sales representative and business development manager for leading beauty brands and salon manager for multi million dollar beauty franchises laid the foundation for her entrepreneurial success. She later expanded her skill set into fashion and accessories, working as a personal stylist and retail manager for high-end women’s fashion labels.

Driven by a passion for promoting “community over competition”, Donna is a regular guest speaker at networking and business events with her most popular keynote topic around eradicating the "tall poppy syndrome" and "crab bucket mentality" that often stifles success. She established PRIMA DONNA BUSINESS DIVA® during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in July 2022 due to the rapid rate of business closures, based on her 16-step Business Diva® signature framework which in just four years has been recognised by winning 18 awards to-date.

Most recently in 2022, Donna expanded her entrepreneurial efforts by establishing Maddy Jay Designs™ - a handmade eco home decor, homewares and accessories brand which has quickly evolved from a weekend market stall into a globally recognised, award-winning hybrid social enterprise with stockists Australia-wide. Maddy Jay Designs™ embodies Donna’s commitment to sustainability, zero-waste principles, and innovative design, offering consciously handcrafted homewares that are both stylish and functional designed to transform your nest into a sustainable sanctuary.

She frequently hosts networking events for female entrepreneurs and volunteers for her local community, including serving as a foundation sponsor for the Wests Tigers NRL team. Her dedication to social impact extends beyond her businesses, with regular personal financial donations and business products and services donated as raffle prizes to local charities and annual fundraising events supporting global social impact initiatives, and active participation in her daughter's school P&C.

Affectionately known as “Australia’s biggest cheerleader for mums in business,” Donna Sillett’s unwavering commitment to supporting others regardless of their health, wealth or disability, plus over 8 years as a volunteer judge for prestigious global awards, her passion for empowering women and fostering sustainable, profitable businesses continues to shape her legacy as an inspirational and well respected neurodivergent entrepreneur, coach, and thought leader in the global business community.

Committee:

Lisa Abeyta, President/CEO
CityLife®, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
 

Ernest Aboagye, Doctoral Researcher
Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Ernest Aboagye is an Associate of the Society of Actuaries USA and has distinguished himself as an actuary at insurance and actuarial consulting firms. He is a doctoral researcher at Georgia State University, where he investigates advanced methodologies in actuarial science, with a focus on financial crises contagion and reinsurance retention modeling.

Nawal Alhanaee, Director of Future Energy Department 
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
As the Director of the Future Energy Department at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure in Dubai, Nawal has played a critical role in shaping the future of energy in the UAE. She led the first revision of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy 2050.

Michele Allen, Principal
Crux Creative LLC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
With over 30 years in design and marketing, Michele Allen founded Crux in 2005, a 360° creative agency specializing in brand development, experiential spaces, and digital marketing. Her work spans Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and nonprofits, focusing on delivering exceptional results through interactive, immersive environments and innovative marketing strategies.

Anjani Amriit, TEDx Speaker, Author, Entrepreneur
Anjani Venusia Pty Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Anjani Amriit, a TEDx speaker and award-winning entrepreneur and thought leader, has three bestselling books and spent the last decade empowering women leaders globally. A corporate lawyer and media commentator, she has recently founded “The House of Amrita” charity and “The Open Tent” podcast, championing significance over success.
 

Awais Sher Bajwa, Global Head of Data & AI Investment Banking  
Bank of America, Palo Alto, California, United States
Awais is a leader in Software and AI banking, having led more than $60bn of M&A and capital markets transactions. He established BofA’s Data & AI banking practice in the Bay Area and software banking practice in London. He holds a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Oxford.


 

Kamolini Chakraborty, Pro-Chancellor
Seacom Skills University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Kamolini, born in Calcutta, earned an MS in Industrial Technology from California State University, Fresno. She is dedicated to enhancing and expanding higher education access in rural and marginalized communities of West Bengal through Seacom Skills University, India's first Skills University. Her mission is to provide affordable, impactful education to underserved regions.

Tirtha Chavan, Director, Enterprise Transformation
Salesforce, San Francisco, California, United States
Tirtha Chavan is the Director of the Enterprise Transformation Office at Salesforce with over a decade of experience in Business Transformation, Customer-centric Strategy and Innovation. She has firmly established herself as a distinguished Software as a Service (SaaS) Business leader and has made significant contributions to the industry.


Kim Clark, Founder
Polished Professionals Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Kim is the founder and principal of Polished Professionals Boston, a solopreneur consulting practice that provides strategic planning and marketing solutions to for-profit and not-for-profit organizations. Kim is also a coach to emerging entrepreneurs and small business owners, and she conducts workshops that address business topics, including business plan writing, strategy development and marketing.

Elsa Marie D'Silva, Founder
Red Dot Foundation (Safecity), Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Elsa Marie is the Founder of Red Dot Foundation and President of Red Dot Foundation Global. She created the technology platform Safecity, which crowdsources personal experiences of sexual violence and abuse in public and private spaces globally. Since its launch in 2012, Safecity has become the largest crowd map on the issue in India and abroad.

Sandy Davies, Company Director
HappyPause™, Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia
Sandy’s mantra of never too late, never too old inspires others. Sandy enjoys writing books, helping others and hunting nautilus shells along the fringing reefs on the edge of The Coral Sea. Sandy’s latest book, The Power to Rise Above about resilience and teenage bullying, is an empowering read.

Naga Vinod Duggirala, Chief Security Architect
Visa Inc., Austin, Texas, United States
Vinod, a highly experienced Chief Security Architect at Visa, possesses two decades of expertise in Security Product Architecture. With a proven track record at companies like RSA and Samsung, he excels in implementing robust security solutions. Vinod's contribution to industry standards underscores his commitment to advancing cyber security practices globally.

Lana El-Tawil, Project Manager & Senior Specialist/Studies
Royal Scientific Society, Amman, Jordan
Eng. Lana, the Founder of Oswah Hasaneh Association and a Senior Specialist at the Royal Scientific Society. With a remarkable track record, she has served as the Head of the Project Management Division at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply. She is one of the 365 inspiring Arabic women in Amman City.

Jennifer George, Marketing Chief
Inflection Point Marketing, San Jose, California, United States
Jennifer George is a healthcare and disruptive tech marketing strategist with 20+ years of experience. She specializes in go-to-market strategy, product positioning, and driving growth in medical and SaaS solutions. An innovator and early adopter, she brings new technology to market, delivering repeatable growth across sectors.

Debbie Gilbert, Owner & Chief Executive Officer
VIVABusiness Group, South Chard, Somerset, United Kingdom
Debbie Gilbert has been in business, with her own marketing and events agency, Viva Business Group, since 1998. She focuses on working with female led businesses and strives to transform them into thriving, resilient, and prosperous entities that make a lasting impact.

Dr. Jo Jolliffe, Chair, Board of Directors
Manchester Youth Zone, UK, Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Dr Jo Jolliffe is Chair of Manchester Youth Zone, UK. She has deep experience in education as a national and international system leader, policy advisor, school evaluator, and researcher. She has worked extensively in the UK, Middle East, and Caribbean, taking on assignments that build capacity and sustainable improvement.


Franklin Kamnang Ngansop, Founder & Business Coach
Vitamin C&S Coaching, Douala, Cameroon
From a rich corporate background to transformative startup coaching, Franklin embodies passion and purpose. With a strong academic foundation in engineering and business, he empowers entrepreneurs to unlock their potential. His coaching philosophy fosters innovation and adaptability, delivering tangible results and propelling clients toward industry leadership.


Manisha Khankar, Director of Operations and ISO Compliance Officer
ENCOR Advisors Canada Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Manisha Khankar is the Director of Operations and ISO Compliance Officer at ENCOR Advisors, specializing in optimizing operations and regulatory compliance. As a board member of Fashion Revolution Canada, she is committed to driving innovation and sustainability, making a significant impact in both corporate and non-profit sectors.

Akhil Khunger, VP Quantitative Analytics
Barclay's, New York City, New York, United States
Akhil is a seasoned professional in financial engineering and risk management. He currently serves as a QA financial modeling specialist at Barclays. With over a decade of experience, he has held significant roles at Citibank and HSBC, specializing in time series analysis and statistical modeling, leading to the creation of sophisticated financial models.

Kylie King, Founder
The Phoenix Within Faulconbridge, New South Wales, Australia

Maria Mahmoud, Principal ID
Nuvem Design, São Paulo, Brazil
Maria Mahmoud is a licensed architect with 16 years of expertise in workplace design and experiential interiors. She has led projects across 3 continents and is the Principal Architect of Nuvem, a consultancy that integrates cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) into design to craft dynamic, human-centered spaces.

Dr. Erika McCormick, Chief Executive Officer
Abundant Living Consulting Corporation, Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States
Dr. Erika McCormick is a renowned award-winning Business Consultant & Master Coach, best-selling author, and speaker. Dr. McCormick is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Abundant Living Consulting Corporation, LLC, an umbrella business entity. Her latest bestselling book is Business with G.R.I.T.S.

Amy Murphy, APR , Founder
Clematis Creative, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Amy Murphy is a writer, speaker, coach, and founder of Clematis Creative. Over the past two decades, she has honed her ability to create impactful content. She founded Clematis Creative to strategically blend creativity with purpose, helping organizations expand their reach.

Lekshmi Nair, Founder & CEO
Fiscal Ox Cloud Pvt Ltd, Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Lekshmi is the Founder of Fiscal Ox Cloud, a company specializing in Laboratory Testing Software Systems that also offers software solutions for HR Management. Beyond her tech endeavors, she is a National Award-winning Indian Classical Carnatic Vocalist and the Director of her music school, “Shadjam,” located in the Bay Area, California. Having returned to India, Lekshmi is now focused on giving back to her community.


Cathlynn Nigh, Founder & CEO
BEYOND HC LLC, Sanford, Florida, United States
Cathlynn Nigh is the Founder/CEO of BEYOND HC LLC. BEYOND is the only Women-Owned and Lead Assessor Organization. She has built BEYOND into a national brand within the Healthcare/Security community. In a male dominated industry, BEYOND has maintained the title of Lead Assessor since inception (2016).

Avishkar Nikum, Founder and CEO
Technotronic Pvt. Ltd., Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Avi is a cybersecurity leader with over 12 years of experience, specializing in Cybersecurity program management and regulatory consulting. As a Senior Manager at PwC, he led numerous cybersecurity strategy engagements for Fortune 500 companies. Avi is the Founder and CEO of TechnoTronic Pvt. Ltd. and an angel investor, mentoring professionals and startups.

Kunle Odebunmi, Founder & CEO
Luca Africa Inc., Los Angeles, California, United States
Kunle is the founder & CEO of Luca Africa Inc – a Los Angeles-based company building AI-enabled embedded accounting and commerce infrastructure for SMBs across North America. Kunle has more than 20 years professional experience and has a passion for entrepreneurship. He is a chartered accountant and a graduate of Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom.



Kanwar Gaurav Paul, Head of Product, Data and Generative AI
Uber technology, Cary, North Carolina, United States
Gaurav is a technology and product executive with expertise in AI, ML, and data analytics. He drives product innovation and strategic growth, and leads cross-functional teams. A leader in digital transformation, Gaurav has launched global-scale data and Generative AI platforms at top tech firms like Uber Technologies and Fidelity Investments.

Alaina Percival, CEO
Women Who Code, San Francisco, California, United States

Vladyslav Podoliako, Founder & CEO
Belkins Inc., Dover, Delaware, United States
Vladyslav is the founder & CEO of Belkins (https://belkins.io/) and Folderly (https://folderly.com/). Vladyslav is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a decade of experience in building and growing service companies and SaaS startups in Sales and MarTech. He is known for creating successful businesses from scratch and building top-notch teams.

Fardin Quazi, Associate Director - Healthcare Tech
Cognizant Technology Solutions, US Corp, McKinney, Texas, United States
Fardin Quazi is a distinguished expert in Digital & Business Transformation within the healthcare domain, with 18+ years of extensive global experience in Healthcare Technology, Management & Admin Solutions, Robotics & Intelligent Process Automation, AI-ML, and Digital Technology-based Business Solutions. Fardin is a Certified Professional of the Academy for Healthcare Management.



Gretty Quintana, CFO
Global KED Consulting LLC, Katy, Texas, United States
Gretty Quintana is the CFO of Global KED Consulting LLC, with over 25 years of experience advising female entrepreneurs, particularly Latina and Afro-Latina women. She founded the Visión 360 program and authored eBooks on financial literacy. Her work empowers minority-owned businesses and guides women-led foreign companies investing in the U.S.

Kelly Roark, Chief Strategy Officer
Stratespheric, New York City, New York, United States
Kelly is an entrepreneurial growth leader who’s commercialized emerging tech and products for brands like HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel and Trulia. She employs thought leadership to build market familiarity with new innovations, launching Stratespheric.com to help businesses with GTM and scaling of offerings that reimagine how people connect and do business.




Katja Schroeder, Senior Lecturer            
Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States
Katja Schroeder is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Professional Studies in the Technology Management Program at Columbia University. Her focus is on how technology shapes leadership communications. As a consultant, she led award-winning positioning campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and startups in China, Germany, France, and the US.


Sandra Stoitis, Director
The Elevated Living Co., Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Sandra Stoitis, founder of Elevated Living Co., has over 16 years of experience in people and culture management, specializing in leadership development and high-performance coaching. As a qualified trainer and mental health advocate, she employs a holistic approach to help others achieve success, emphasizing personal growth and well-being.

Summit Singh Thakur, Software Engineer
Oracle , Austin, Texas, United States
Summit has been a Software Engineer at Oracle since 2021. He has more than 10 years of experience in Technology Management, Project Management, Software Development, Cloud, and DevOps. He co-founded a food technology startup in 2018, TruckBux, Inc. Spearheaded tech strategy for a $6M-funded food ordering startup, overseeing product development and operations.


Durgadevi Yenuganti, Functional Safety Hardware Lead
Cummins Inc., Columbus, Indiana, United States
Durgadevi Yenuganti has been an engineer since 2011 and has more than 11 years of experience in component engineering and functional safety in hardware. She graduated from Southeast Missouri State University and is now Functional Safety Hardware Lead at Cummins.

Mariam Zakaria, Mobile Customer Experience Senior Manager       
Telecom, Egypt, Giza, Egypt
Mariam Zakaria has been holding the position of Mobile Customer Experience Senior Manager since late 2017. Mariam has more than 18 years of experience in Technology mobile management starting as Radio optimization engineer at Vodafone Egypt, where she worked for 10 years holding different jobs (Radio quality, Project management and Customer Experience Management).