www.acquisition-international.com • Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 ‘Trailblazer’ is a word that’s thrown around a lot, but when it comes to Shannon Anderson, the founder and CEO of GritHR Solutions, it’s the only one that lands. Starting the company from a laptop at her kitchen table, Shannon has grown GritHR into a seven-figure firm serving clients across the US, with zero outside funding. Underpinning this success is the more than 15 years prior Shannon spent in the HR trenches, giving her the skills to serve as the secret weapon behind some of the United States’ fastest-growing companies. We caught up with Shannon to find out more about her impressive journey. Trailblazing HR Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 (USA): Shannon Anderson
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Contents 5 GritHR Solutions: Trailblazing HR Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 (USA): Shannon Anderson 6 An Overview of Dr. Macie P. Smith’s Influential Work 8 TheBridgGroup of Companies: Business Leadership & Dedication Excellence Award 2025 9 Pyramedia Group: Most Influential Media Entrepreneur 2025 (UAE): Dr. Nashwa Al Ruwaini 10 The Marketing Centre: Most Influential Marketing Industry Business Director 2025 (North West England): Julie Brook 11 Flexability LLC: Equity & Inclusion CEO of the Year 2025 (USA): Nancy Geenen 12 ProcureAbility: Most Outstanding Female Procurement Leadership Team 2025 – USA 13 ExcelNU OÜ: Most Influential Businesswoman 2025 (Malta): Maja Säholm Westling & Leadership Excellence Award in Customer Journey & Strategic Growth 2025 14 Tack TMI: Learning & Development Business Leader of the Year 2025 (Italy): Irene Vecchione 15 Go HR Ltd: SME HR Director of the Year 2025 (UK): Louise Lithgow-Dicker & Business Leadership & Dedication Excellence Award 2025 16 Paris Trudeau Marketing Group LLC: Cybersecurity Marketing Leader of the Year 2025 (USA): Paris Trudeau 17 Transform with Nike: Financial Business Innovator of the Year 2025: Nike Ajao 18 Propel Finance: Marketing Director of the Year 2025 (UK): Julie Warren 19 Skingevity Med Spa: Most Influential Med Spa & Wellness Clinic Businesswoman 2025: Amanda Lemmage & Spa Innovation Excellence Award 2025 21 Rooland: Sustainable Packaging Design Innovator of the Year 2025 (Australia): Suzanne Haddon 10 6 16
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Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 | 5 especially women – can thrive without sacrificing their sanity, families, or values.” The truth is that, whilst talent is everywhere, opportunity is not. Shannon aims to change this, not only through her company, but also by speaking at events and empowering those women looking to grow as leaders or become entrepreneurs. As for her next steps, Shannon’s journey is interwoven with that of GritHR, and the company is just getting started. Its future plans include delivering fractional CHRO services through a practice that will see executive-level HR strategy afforded without the usual price tag, as well as introducing a membership programme to provide mentoring and tools to industry professionals – complete with live coaching and absolutely no fluff. Elaborating on this, Shannon told us: “I’m not here to play small or stay safe. I want to be the name people think of when they realise HR can be bold, strategic, and business-critical. That means scaling GritHR into the best alternative to traditional, in-house HR and PEOs, especially for high-growth, high-stakes environments.” Through this, it’s clear Shannon is doing more than just leading a company – she’s leading a movement. Whilst Shannon Anderson is a CEO, she is also a mom and a veteran’s wife, and has built her business between naptimes, bedtime stories, and peewee cheer competitions. Shannon always shows up human, and it’s this humanity that shines through across GritHR Solutions. This award is all about blazing trails, and for rewriting the HR playbook one messy and powerful step at a time, Shannon is more than deserving of being recognised as a trailblazer. Contact: Shannon Anderson Company: GritHR Solutions Web Address: https://grithrsolutions.com/ rior to launching GritHR in 2021, Shannon Anderson wasn’t doing HR, she was transforming it. In roles across healthcare, law, tech, and manufacturing – all in a career that has seen her build entire HR departments from scratch, deliver post-merger HR integration strategy, and guide countless leaders through crises. Having worn the hats of the therapist, the fixer, the builder, the enforcer, and more, Shannon has always thrived as a result of one overarching belief: HR should not only have a seat at the table but know how to flip the table if it’s not working. “I don’t do HR for the sake of HR. It should be operational and drive business outcomes. ” GritHR isn’t your typical HR firm and that’s by design. Shannon built it for the founders and CEOs who understand that people strategy is business strategy. GritHR acts as a fully embedded HR engine: handling everything from compliance audits to recruiting, org design, leadership coaching, restructuring, workforce transformation, and building HR departments from the ground up – all without what Shannon refers to as the “red tape or the canned corporate fluff”. Collaborating with no-nonsense founders, CEOs, and private equity firms within tech, healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services, GritHR prides itself on bringing structure, strategy, sanity, and scale allowing clients to grow without HR chaos pulling them under Shannon and her powerhouse team do this through a combination of guts, heart, and – as the company name suggests – grit. Grit is more than branding. It’s the throughline of Shannon’s entire career, as when she first started in HR, she told us being a woman meant “learning to speak twice as loud to be heard half as much”. Boardrooms were almost entirely male, mentorship was scarce, and expectations couldn’t have been higher. Support was also minimal, with HR often being dismissed as ‘soft’ and female leaders forced to prioritise compliance over strategy. Thankfully, things have changed, and women are now dominating HR, claiming seats at the table and launching their own people-centred, profit-driven firms. Shannon has not only seen this change happen firsthand; she has also played a part in making it happen. Over the course of her career, Shannon has mentored dozens of women in HR who have flourished in their HR careers. At GritHR, she’s created a company where smart, capable, women (and men) can lead without sacrificing their families, values, or mental health. This reflects a commitment inherent right across GritHR – to support women and other underestimated talent at every turn. Shannon explained: “I created a company where smart, capable people – ‘Trailblazer’ is a word that’s thrown around a lot, but when it comes to Shannon Anderson, the founder and CEO of GritHR Solutions, it’s the only one that lands. Starting the company from a laptop at her kitchen table, Shannon has grown GritHR into a seven-figure firm serving clients across the US, with zero outside funding. Underpinning this success is the more than 15 years prior Shannon spent in the HR trenches, giving her the skills to serve as the secret weapon behind some of the United States’ fastest-growing companies. We caught up with Shannon to find out more about her impressive journey. P May25160 Trailblazing HR Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 (USA): Shannon Anderson
6 | Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 Our Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 are all about recognizing and celebrating women who are truly elevating the corporate landscape, throughout the world. Having spoken with Dr. Smith previously, we are proud to highlight her dedication to her realm of expertise as she continues to have a positive impact on caregivers and their loved ones. An Overview of Dr. Macie P. Smith’s Influential Work e previously sat down with Dr. Smith to discuss her past publications, A Dementia Caregiver's Guide to Care: Just Ask Dr. Macie and A Dementia Caregiver Called to Action: The Journey, and her work across a plethora of influential areas in the interest of improving people’s lives. In September 2024, we published our first article regarding Dr. Smith’s experienced approach to helping others. The Journey to Confidence in Dementia Care introduced Dr. Smith to our readers before we featured her story in our Q4 issue of GHP News at the end of the year. Now, it is an honor to provide you with insights and updates surrounding Dr. Smith’s work over the past six months. Recap: About Dr. Macie Smith As you may remember from our past articles, Dr. Smith offers premium well-being consultancy services via Zoom, connecting with people around the world, which aid in creating a sturdy, positively impactful plan for the right care for each individual – and their caregivers. Dr. Smith also creates comprehensive care guidebooks for Synergy® HomeCare, writes accessible blog posts, sells her books at an affordable rate, and educates others via TV, social media, and radio. In doing so, Dr. Smith continues to give back to the communities around us all. After gaining her bachelor’s and master’s degree from South Carolina State University (SCSU), Dr. Smith went on to attain her Doctor of Education degree from Nova southeastern University. As a SCSU alum, Dr. Smith joined SCSU’s Board of Trustees in 2021 serving as Vice Chairwoman. She’s a Licensed Social Worker for the State of South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners, a Social Worker in Gerontology, and a Certified Social Work Case Manager providing instrumental services to improve the lives of countless individuals. With over 25 years of experience as a social worker and gerontologist, Dr. Smith is deeply involved with aiding caregivers, loved ones, and families with cultivating the best environment for protecting the quality of life for everyone touched by dementia. As CEO and owner of her private geriatric care management practice, Diversified Training Consultants Group, LLC, Dr. Smith has built a hub for helping others. She has been the recipient of awards over the years, such as the AHEC Award in 2017, however, she continues her work not to gain recognition but to educate others and share her wisdom to positively impact the lives of many. Dr. Smith has also been the recipient of the Golden Pen, South Carolina Women in Business, and the Power of Pen awards, which are not only monumental achievements but a true reflection of her influence on the world around her. Atop this, her work as a Court Appointed Guardian and Guardian ad Litem means that she is well-equipped to help vulnerable adults who may have experienced abuse, neglect, or exploitation – which speaks volumes about her dedication to justice, equality, and the utmost care for all. As a WOCS 93.7 FM radio show host, Dr. Smith researches topics for weekly coverage to produce captivating interviews for radio and social media. For example, Dr. Smith’s talk with Taylor Wilson of the SC Alzheimer’s Association about the new Alzheimer’s treatment helped to shed more light on the progression of medical support for those with the disease. Dr. Smith also works with Saltbox TV as an on-air personality who educates and entertains people on the subject of dementia care. She feels that in order to help carers and their loved ones with dementia get more out of life, it is critical to turn what we would normally consider to be a serious and heavy topic into a chance for optimism, love, care, and compassion. Dr. Smith was also an Assistant Professor at Benedict College in Columbia – a private, historically black college Founded in 1870. Her work there ties into her uplifting approach to helping others to bloom, especially as she continues to work with people of all ages and those from under-served communities. Furthermore, as African Americans are statistically twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Smith’s involvement in many different projects and positions in our communities feed back into her mission of uniting a network of people – to care for those affected by the conditions which cause dementia. W
There’s no limit to Dr. Smith’s expertise and connection to improving lives as she breathes positivity into caregiving, for everyone involved. Dr. Smith is also an advisory board member with Leeza’s Care Connection, founded by celebrity journalist and philanthropist Leeza Gibbons. Leeza worked with Dr. Smith on her most recent book by writing the back cover quote and, with regards to Dr. Smith’s work, she had this to say: “Dr. Macie can do it all! On script or impromptu, she never fails to energize and educate a crowd, creating memorable experiences. Macie is always professional, reliable, and responsive. “Bottom line: she elevates every room she walks into with her knowledge, passion, charm, and wit. She had worked with our organization many times, and always makes her remarks customized for the crowd or occasion right on point. Plus, her influence on social media always brings new attention to our cause.” Having been featured as a panelist at the White House during Care Workers Recognition Month, Dr. Smith has been involved in discussions surrounding the integral investments in quality care for everyone in need of support. She has also had several interviews with Fox New Digital where she repeatedly delivered crucial insights to a wide audience. Dr. Smith’s contribution to caregiving and our understanding of dementia continues to inspire us here at Acquisition International as well as our sister brands. You can follow Dr. Smith’s journey through her website, LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and X. You can also find Dr. Smith’s books via Amazon and reach out via email to book a talk. No matter what you’re experiencing in your life in relation to dementia, there’s always Dr. Macie P. Smith’s experience to light the way. An Overview of Dr. Macie P. Smith’s Influential Work
8 | Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 Dr. Natasha Bridgmohan Business Leadership & Dedication Excellence Award 2025 Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, The BridgGroup of Companies (TBGOC) is a multi-dimensional, service-based enterprise working with a range of individuals, families, seniors, entrepreneurs, and corporations throughout North America and globally. Guided by its MIRACLE model, with services across Mortgages, Investing, Real Estate, Aid (Pharmaceuticals and Philanthropy), Lending, Legal and Entertainment sectors, The BridgGroup delivers a personalised, clientfirst experience based around financial literacy, long-term stability, and generational wealth. Dr. Natasha Bridgmohan, the company’s awardwinning founder and president, was on hand for more. Contact: Dr. Natasha Bridgmohan Company: The BridgGroup of Companies Web Address: https://www.thebridggroup.ca/ Working with a client base that includes firsttime buyers through to families, seasoned investors, and business professionals, The BridgGroup of Companies specialises in the provision of tailored financial guidance and life-enhancing solutions through a redcarpet service that sees every client afforded white-glove treatment. The result is a sense of security and trust fortifying TBGOC’s reputation as “The home of all your financial needs” – no matter how complex. Since establishing The BridgGroup more than 23 years ago, Natasha has served as its president, leveraging her wealth of experience within the fields of finance, real estate, and entrepreneurship to lead from the front and continue to scale TBGOC into the multifaceted financial empire it is today. Alongside building TBGOC, Dr. Bridgmohan is immensely proud to have employed and mentored countless staff, many of whom have since gone on to achieve financial independence and career success in their own right. Beyond this, and in addition to the more than 23,000 lives TBGOC has impacted in North America alone, Natasha cites her main achievement as being the creation of her charity, The Canadian Changing Lives Foundation, last year. Exploring this further, Natasha explained: “The Foundation is dedicated to relieving poverty, empowering education, and supporting vulnerable communities. Our mission is to create lasting change by providing access to basic needs, educational opportunities, and life-enhancing support services.” Dr. Bridgmohan has encountered a number of challenges across her journey, many as a result of the systemic barriers that still remain in the industry. Despite these difficulties, opportunities and representation are both increasing with industry recognition, education, and mentorship initiatives shifting the landscape, to such an extent that women are today securing top roles and helping shape the future of finance and real estate. “One of the more persistent challenges has been navigating a male-dominated industry where the ‘boys’ club’ mentality still exists. I’ve overcome this by building undeniable results, staying fiercely focused on growth, and surrounding myself with empowered professionals. ” Although significant strides have been made, more still needs be done to support women and minority communities, and this is why TBGOC delivers mentorship programmes for up-and-coming professionals, with Natasha herself uplifting these groups through a combination of workshops, public speaking, and media appearances. Earlier this year, TBGOC delivered its inaugural Women Empowerment Summit, where five exemplary women were recognised for their contributions in their particular fields of expertise. This represents the beginning of what is set to be an exciting future for TBGOC, which is set to work towards global expansion through numerous ventures aligned with the aforementioned MIRACLE model. These include a consulting firm, a national pharmacy, and a global, digital entertainment platform with wealth-generation tools. “We plan to scale our reach while continuing to invest in our philanthropic initiatives and economic empowerment programming.” Finally, concerning her own next steps, Natasha told us of a commitment to take her Changing Lives mission – seen through both TBGOC and The Canadian Changing Lives Foundation – international, expanding financial literacy, supporting education-based initiatives, and elevating discourses around economic empowerment in the public eye as she goes. Alongside this, Natasha told us: “I also plan to continue amplifying women’s voices through leadership roles, mentorship, and media.” Having already been recognised earlier this year as an Industry Icon by CMP Magazine, being featured in our Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 only affirms the dedication inherent in Natasha to driving impact and innovation across the mortgage and financial landscapes of Canada, North America, and the world. On the back of this, as well as for her work in changing lives and empowering women in finance leadership, it is our pleasure to feature Dr. Natasha Bridgmohan in this programme. Jun25146
Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 | 9 encouraging young people to pursue careers in the media and empowering women in media leadership. These have covered everything from one-on-one mentoring to scholarship opportunities, with Nashwa also speaking at a number of events, sharing the voices of those often overlooked by society. For Nashwa, the biggest achievement in her career is no single moment – but rather the legacy of persistence, purpose, and people she has built. Nashwa told us: “Establishing Pyramedia as a leading media powerhouse in the Arab world and beyond is something I deeply treasure. We started as a bold idea and today are a multi-platform group with global impact. But more than growth in numbers, I’m proud of the stories we’ve told – stories that elevate voices, preserve culture, and spark real conversations.” Looking ahead to the future of Pyramedia, Nashwa excitedly told us that the company is entering into a new era of interconnected technology and storytelling, with tools such as AI enhancing its work and helping it to deliver even more immersive experiences. The recent partnership the Group has struck with Atom Global highlights this new direction, as well as Pyramedia’s ability to blend the power of innovation with soulful storytelling. In short, Dr Nashwa Al Ruwaini’s story is about more than just building a successful business – it’s a tale of meaning and impact, cultural authenticity, purpose-driven innovation, and an unwavering belief in the power that stories have in changing the world. If more women can discover this, get their start in this space, and shape the world around them, Nashwa will know she has achieved something remarkable – solidifying her influence. Contact: Dr Nashwa Al Ruwaini Title: Founder & Board Member Company: Pyramedia Group Web Address: https://pyramedia.biz/ Most Influential Media Entrepreneur 2025 (UAE): Dr. Nashwa Al Ruwaini cross the standalone divisions comprising Pyramedia Group, specialisations include film and television production, public relations, event management, digital media services, talent management, and more. The Group works with a diverse client base across these areas, and has previously collaborated with the likes of governments, major corporations, and international media networks. All of these clients choose Pyramedia as they share its collective ambition to tell stories that inspire and pave the way for lasting change. Through her role at the helm of Pyramedia, Nashwa’s job is to see that the Group doesn’t just produce content, but that it creates influence. This is her aim across every project, all of which reflect the values of quality, creativity, and cultural depth that are cornerstones of this brand. As well as being deeply involved in everything from mentoring talent across the Group’s divisions to developing the content itself, Nashwa also oversees strategy – nurturing global partnerships and shaping the direction and vision of Pyramedia. Nashwa has been in this position since day one of Pyramedia more than 25 years ago, but her experience in the media industry began long before. She explained: “I started my career as one of the youngest television presenters in the Arab world and quickly moved into production, scripting, and executive leadership.” All of these roles have taught Nashwa something valuable, and it is their combined impact that has shaped her approach as an influential media entrepreneur – one whose company nurtures human connections. Of course, things weren’t always this easy, and when she first entered into the Arab world’s media industry, it was almost unheard of for a woman to be in a leadership position or have creative control. The invisible barriers were there, but they weren’t limits for Nashwa – they were obstacles designed to be overcome. With innovators like Nashwa leading the way, progress has been made more generally, and Pyramedia is proud to be a place where women can thrive in any role they choose, from directing to making executive decisions. “Empowering women has never been a side mission for me. It’s at the core of everything I do. Many of the key leadership positions in my company are held by talented women who started with us as interns or junior staff. ” Nashwa has had a similarly transformative impact outside the Group, both launching and supporting a variety of initiatives focusing on For Dr Nashwa Al Ruwaini, the founder and CEO of Pyramedia Group, media has always been about more than just content – it’s about the impact it can have on people and communities all over the world. It was with this in mind that she established Pyramedia, a company where creativity combines with purpose and where culture walks hand in hand with innovation. Based in Abu Dhabi and operating globally, Pyramedia has blossomed into a group of companies delivering a 360-degree approach to media services. We caught up with Nashwa for more on her media empire. A AIM-Jun25035
10 | Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 AIM-May25120 Most Influential Marketing Industry Business Director 2025 (North West England): Julie Brook “At the Marketing Centre we believe every business deserves access to first class proven marketing expertise to drive growth ” With proven marketing directors/CMOs helping businesses on a fractional basis, The Marketing Centre ensures that a customer mindset and revenue growth is at the forefront of each company’s endeavours. As The Marketing Centre Regional Director for the Northwest of England, Julie Brook tirelessly leads an awesome team of marketing directors in aiding businesses of all sizes to grow through sound marketing strategies. Julie ensures that her team of 13 proven marketing directors form a solid plan before carrying it out as part of the senior team to increase a business’ productivity, outreach, and overall growth. Each fractional CMO/marketing director usually works 1-3 days a week for each business, steadily elevating their marketing strategies but without being a permanent, full-time member of the team. Since Julie founded the Northwest segment of The Marketing Centre, around 9 years ago, she has put her experience and intelligence to use every day. Julie began her career in the brewing industry. She says, “As a graduate trainee with Grand Met, I was one of the first females (maybe the first) to be appointed a Free Trade sales representative to sell beer and finance to pubs and clubs, breaking the mould in the highly male dominated and production led brewing industry.” Helping to guide business owners, Julie addresses their business strengths and weaknesses and ensures that marketing strategy aligns with commercial goals. “For many years I have been a growth coach in the SME world. Through my coaching I have helped business leaders understand how they can use marketing to leverage their position in their market and realise their growth goals. Sometimes this involves tough decisions to change direction in order for a business to realise its true potential ” Julie explains. She has now won Most Influential Marketing Industry Business Director 2025 (North West England) from Acquisition International by dedicating herself to educating and changing the way SMEs in the North West approach their marketing. Julie has worked on coaching schemes to help others, helped friend’s children to get their first jobs, and coached people and business owners through difficult times. Julie’s work with The Marketing Centre ensures that SMEs can carry out their marketing successfully with the right resource and expertise inside the business and achieve a real return on their marketing investment without the heavy cost of making mistakes and going down blind alleys. Julie says, “Traditionally, and from my experience of the growth coaching, I know that SME’s are poorly serviced for marketing support. Budgets are tight and knowledge of marketing weak. Many owners that I speak to have had their fingers burnt by taking on the wrong resource. We offer an ideal low risk alternative approach for SMEs: a seasoned senior marketing expert (quality checked and proven and at the top of their game) working typically one day a week inside the business on flexible terms to set the marketing strategy and plan and then get going to drive growth. We stop the business owner making mistakes, manage external agencies and freelancers ensuring they are getting the most from their marketing budget and maximising ROI to achieve growth in the most cost-effective way. We are in a unique position with over 85 marketing directors at The Marketing Centre all on a what’s app group and with a black book of independent suppliers we know can deliver when needed. With this we know what businesses should be paying for their marketing and how to get the best out of suppliers and budgets.” For the years to come, Julie plans on helping more businesses to achieve their goals with The Marketing Centre’s proven approach. Promoting The Marketing Centre’s marketing 360 health check, Julie wants all companies to know that if they’re struggling with their marketing we have a unique set of resources, tools, partners and solutions that are easily accessible and affordable when engaging with our team of expert fractional CMOs and our extended partnership community. To assess where you are at with your marketing, fill out the 10 minute Q&A online at https://www.themarketingcentre.com/marketing-360 to receive a free 20 page report on where to focus your marketing effort. Contact: Julie Brook Company: The Marketing Centre Web Address: www.themarketingcentre.com For those who either don’t want or can’t afford a full-time marketing director or CMO, The Marketing Centre provides proven professional help on a fractional basis for businesses across a wide spectrum of industries. Here we learn more from its Regional Director, Julie Brook, as she wins this esteemed award in the Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025.
Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 | 11 Geneva. This taught Nancy that even the most demanding situations are overcome by simplifying the complexities and finding common ground – a mindset that has proven integral in dismantling barriers amongst teams and building comprehensive and inclusive roadmaps. A serial entrepreneur, Nancy’s ability to advise and mentor business owners and executives keen to champion culture within their companies, improve their employee retention rates, and cultivate their leadership is reflected through the mastery embodied by Flexability daily. In August 2023, Nancy published The Advantage of Other, a guide for leaders who want to build a dynamic and productive workplace. When she is not working, Nancy is reading fiction, going for walks with her wife, playing catch-and-release with fresh-water trout, or planning her next travel adventure. Recognised as the Equity & Inclusion CEO of the Year 2025 (USA), this award is as much a celebration of Nancy Geenen as it is of Flexability LLC more generally. The insights the firm provides make all the difference for discerning businesses, and more information can be found at the web address listed below. Contact: Nancy Geenen https://www.nancygeenen.com Linkedin: njgeenen Company: Flexability LLC Web Address: www.flexability.com Equity & Inclusion CEO of the Year 2025 (USA): Nancy Geenen One of the elements of daily life disrupted most during the COVID-19 pandemic was work, and the profound shifts this landscape experienced over the course of just a few months highlighted that the need for change was both wider and more involved than Flexability initially thought. Becoming more encompassing in its approach, this transition was not just about the firm expanding its services, it was a deliberate play to improve the space and foster adaptive, inclusive, and resilient cultures. Right around the time Flexability discovered its true calling, the leadership duo of Nancy Geenen and Diti Bhasin began to emerge, with these women combining their diverse experiences with a shared vision for the future of work to shape the direction that the firm has been heading in ever since. Exploring this further, Nancy told us: “Together, we embody the principles of diversity, empathy, and adaptability, steering Flexability with a clear focus on impact and innovation.” These principles are then upheld with similar rigour by the rest of the small but dedicated team comprising Flexability, described by Nancy as a “collective of disruptors, thinkers, and visionaries.” Every member of the team brings a unique perspective and set of skills to the table, and it is the blending of these that allows the firm to create its signature custom strategies, strategies that not only resonate deeply with clients, but which also allow them to tackle workplace nuances from every angle. As for the innovative and practical solutions provided by Flexability, these encompass a holistic set of services tailored to every culture and designed to promote organisation-wide change as smoothly as possible. The company’s particular areas of speciality involve equity and inclusion initiatives, strategic consulting, and drawing from the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) framework to streamline the operations of client businesses and nurture growth within teams. Diving deeper into this, Nancy explained: “Our approach to building high-performing teams aligns with the client’s workforce strategy with business goals, ensuring the right people are in the right roles and, in turn, enhancing productivity and engagement.” Key to this is meeting the client where they are, before Nancy and co. use their tried-and-tested process to craft strategies around addressing inequality and building inclusivity, setting the wheels in motion for what is a multi-year commitment. On the back of its solutions, Flexability today serves as a partner for clients across the public, private, and civil sectors, helping all to traverse the complex landscape of the modern workplace. Reflecting on the growth experienced by the firm over the past few years, Nancy commented: “Our journey from focusing on employment for people with disabilities to becoming leaders in workplace culture and change management illustrates our adaptability and commitment to meaningful change.” Nancy has been demonstrating this adaptability herself over the course of a diverse career, including a 25-year stint as a trial attorney, during which she worked for two years as a prosector for the United Nations in Nancy Geenen is the CEO of Flexability LLC, a social impact firm focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. Flexability started in 2019 as an inspirational spark, brought on by a drive to help people with disabilities find meaningful employment. As COVID caused the world to evolve overnight, Flexability evolved right alongside it, ushering in an area of lasting transformation by embracing the complexities of modern workplaces. We caught up with Nancy to learn more about her organisation’s work. AIS-May25106
12 | Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 Most Outstanding Female Procurement Leadership Team 2025 – USA At the heart of every successful business is a workplace that uplifts, supports, and empowers its people. When employees feel valued and engaged, organizations can grow and evolve to lead from the front. Leading this evolution is ProcureAbility, a trailblazing firm recognized as the leading procurement services provider, known for its forward-thinking workplace culture and unwavering commitment to fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and empowering environment for all. As part of our coverage of the Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025, we spoke with Kathleen M. Pomento, Chief Marketing Officer at ProcureAbility, named as AI’s ‘Procurement Chief Marketing Officer of the Year 2025’ and previously as AI’s ‘Most Influential Procurement CMO of the Year 2024.’ She shares how ProcureAbility is translating its values into meaningful action—creating lasting impact within the organization and across the broader procurement landscape. Contact: Kathleen M. Pomento | CMO Company: ProcureAbility Web Address: https://procureability.com Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, ProcureAbility stands as the premier procurement services provider, partnering with global organizations to transform their procurement function, serving a diverse range of clients across many industries, offering personalised advisory, managed services, digital, analytics, staffing, and recruitment solutions that go far beyond traditional approaches to help their clients achieve optimal performance. With a mission to elevate procurement functions across industries, the firm blends proven methodologies with advanced analytics, market intelligence, and industry benchmarks to deliver a uniquely flexible, fully customizable service model. Since its founding in 1996, ProcureAbility has not only set the bar for client service excellence but has also cultivated a reputation for prioritizing employee wellbeing and fostering a dynamic internal culture. Its longstanding commitment to professional growth and workplace satisfaction reflects a deep understanding of the link between empowered people and organizational success—solidifying its position as a recognized industry leader. Long before remote work became a global norm, ProcureAbility embraced a fully remote model—operating in this way for nearly three decades. This forward-thinking approach, has enabled the firm to stay agile, connected, and aligned with the modern workforce’s growing demand for flexibility and work-life balance. Through robust Employee Resource Groups, an active Culture Team, and purpose-driven volunteer efforts, employees have multiple avenues to engage—whether virtually or inperson—around shared values and causes. These programs strengthen the sense of community across the organization, proving that distance is no barrier to collaboration, camaraderie, or culture. It’s a powerful reflection of the firm’s commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and the wellbeing of its people. “We’re living proof that a firm can not only survive, but truly thrive, in a virtual workplace,” says Kathleen M. Pomento, CMO of ProcureAbility. “Our CEO, Conrad Snover, has long believed that happy employees lead to satisfied clients—and at ProcureAbility, that philosophy is clearly reflected in our results and industry impact.” In 2023, the company earned the Great Place to Work® Certification, a milestone that underscores its unwavering commitment to employee wellbeing. With one of the highest retention rates in the industry, ProcureAbility continues to attract top talent eager to join a purpose-driven, people-first organization—and stay for the strong culture, flexible work model, and exceptional opportunities for growth. The firm is deeply committed to advancing gender equity in the procurement and supply chain fields through the leadership and expertise of the many talented women at ProcureAbility. A standout example is its Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG)—a leadership-supported community that champions inclusion, connection, and professional growth for women across the organization. As of 2025, women make up 40% of ProcureAbility’s full-time workforce, a figure that reflects the company’s ongoing investment in building a diverse team. “At ProcureAbility, we believe that what makes our company truly exceptional is the strength of our people,” says Pomento. “We’re deeply committed to cultivating a culture where every individual feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute and grow. The range of perspectives our team brings fuels the creativity, innovation, and engagement that define our success. It’s what makes us an employer of choice—and a place where authenticity is not only welcomed but celebrated.” ProcureAbility’s remarkable growth and industry leadership have not gone unnoticed. With dynamic businesswomen driving innovation at the helm—including Lauren Gallagher, named AI’s Procurement Chief Talent Officer of the Year 2025, and Kristen Rellihan, AI’s Procurement Operations Leader of the Year 2025—the firm continues to break new ground across the procurement landscape. In recent years, ProcureAbility has earned a series of prestigious accolades, including Wealth & Finance’s Global Procurement Services Firm of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, Financial Times’ Americas’ Fastest Growing Companies 2024, and multiple individual and team honors at Sourcing Industry Group’s (SIG) 2024 ‘Future of Sourcing Awards.’ These earned industry recognitions speak volumes about the firm’s strategic excellence and the visionary women powering its success. In 2025, that collective impact was honored with the title of ‘ USA’s Most Outstanding Female Procurement Leadership Team,’ cementing ProcureAbility’s place at the forefront of the industry and as a model for what inclusive, empowered leadership can achieve. May25172
Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 | 13 “If you’re running or building a business and are tired of chaotic growth, I invite you to contact me via my website and tell me all about it. Ultimately, it’s all about aligning your customer experience with your big vision. ” Finally, sharing some advice for those women looking to follow in her footsteps. Maja emphasises the importance of staying brave, curious, and open-minded to learn new things. She adds: “Spend time practicing becoming comfortable with the process of learning new things and you will grow unstoppable in this ever-changing world!” In short, ExcelNU OÜ has positioned itself as a leader and a company capable of creating lasting transformations for SMEs and digital entrepreneurs alike. Reflecting on this, Maja summarised: “When I was told I’d been named Most Influential Businesswoman 2025 (Malta) and honoured with a Leadership Excellence Award in Customer Journey & Strategic Growth, my first thought was about the entrepreneurs and international business teams I’ve worked closely with who’ve made my journey truly meaningful.” These awards are as much for them as they are for Maja Säholm Westling, making this recognition even sweeter. Contact: Maja Säholm Westling WhatsApp Contact: +44 (0)7597424024 Company: ExcelNU OÜ Web Address: https://majawest.systeme.io/excelnu Most Influential Businesswoman 2025 (Malta): Maja Säholm Westling & Leadership Excellence Award in Customer Journey & Strategic Growth 2025 With a relentless focus on three core of areas of expertise that fall under the wider umbrella of the customer journey – mapping, optimisation, and profit management – ExcelNu delivers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to support those businesses that value quality and seek out sustainable growth. These services cover everything from support across multiple channels to branding strategy, copywriting, social media management, custom workflow optimisation, data collection and reporting, and more. In essence, the purpose of these solutions is to provide support, something which is incredibly important when it comes to the SMEs ExcelNu works closely with. Exploring this further, Maja told us: “In a world that rewards hustle, many brilliant entrepreneurs and SMEs find themselves stuck or facing burnout – juggling sales, service delivery, and marketing, without a clear path to scalable growth. What’s often missing isn’t talent or drive – it’s structure.” Luckily for its clients, this is where ExcelNu comes in. Anchored to Maja’s more than 14 years of sales experience in the wholesale, retail, customer service, and marketing environments – during which time she worked with and for some of the most prestigious brands in the world – ExcelNu benefits immeasurably from the expertise of its founder. Specifically, Maja’s ability to approach the customer perspective from a number of different angles allows clients to make the right decisions across their day-to-day activities, strengthening customer relationships in the process. Whether it’s creating detailed maps of customer interactions with client businesses (identifying key touchpoints and areas for improvement in the process), streamlining processes across every stage of the customer journey, or aligning customer experiences and business profitability through its profit management strategies, everything ExcelNU does is guided by the belief that a clear, powerful customer journey is the foundation of a successful business – as it supports strategic, sustainable growth. Diving deeper into this, Maja explained: “If the customer journey isn’t clear, businesses can find themselves spending a lot of unnecessary time ‘just keeping up’ – time that would otherwise go towards ‘thinking forward’.” Removing this burden from SMEs, ExcelNu’s focus on real, actionable strategies, as opposed to just theoretical advice, truly adds value to the businesses of clients – regardless of which stage of growth they are at. Underpinning this is a keen focus on staying ahead, which is essential in this market. In the 18 months since ExcelNu first opened its doors, Maja has worked closely with digital entrepreneurs and businesses across a number of industries, optimising the way they attract, convert, and retain clients. The results – she described – are systems that don’t just support the unique goals of client businesses, they amplify them. On the back of this, Maja added: “This award reflects what’s possible when small and medium-sized businesses operate with big-business clarity”, capturing the essence of what ExcelNu is about. Maja Säholm Westling is the founder and managing director of ExcelNu OÜ, a company specialising in helping SMEs grow strategically by enhancing the journey’s they provide to customers. Blending sales and marketing with digital process improvements and tailored customer service strategies, ExcelNu empowers businesses and helps them increase their profits. We caught up with Maja, who shared more about her work and advised how entrepreneurs can scale their operations sustainably. May25162 ExcelNU OÜ
14 | Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025 AIS-May25069 Learning & Development Business Leader of the Year 2025 (Italy): Irene Vecchione ince 1948, Tack TMI has been supporting organisations by creating cutting-edge training programmes that enhance business performance through methodologies, creative design, and advanced technological tools. Established as the leading global brand in learning and development, the company operates in 55 countries and 37 languages under Gi Group Holding – the first Italian multinational company to enter the employment sector, serving as a global ecosystem of HR services and consulting. Irene Vecchione has been operating within the field of professional and personal development for nearly 30 years. She has held the position of CEO of Tack TMI Italy since 2016 and also lends her expertise to the Italian Board of Gi Group Holding. Alongside her corporate roles, Irene serves as Executive Director of the Open Program in Human Resources Management and Development at Bologna Business School, as well as being a member of the evaluation committee for the master’s programme in HR and Digital Recruiting at IPE Business School. “Mine has been a path of gradual growth,” Irene reflected, “which began immediately after graduation and was characterised by a series of changes: both in roles within the same company and in challenges across different organisations. These changes have allowed me to learn and gain experience in different contexts, and therefore to open my mindset more and more and expand my hard and soft skills.” Irene has seen much success over the years, though she shared with us that she always feels that she has provided the most value when having built a team and an organisation that, beyond the evident and objective results, is animated by a human-centric approach – reflecting the values of collaboration, loyalty, mutual respect, and authenticity. At her core, Irene champions the importance of leveraging human-centric leadership in modern organisations. “In an ever-changing world, companies that put people at the centre not only build a more inclusive and motivating work environment, but also become more resilient and innovative,” she explained. “This form of leadership recognises the value of individuals, promoting a culture of listening and collaboration, which leads to superior performance and a greater ability to adapt to market challenges. It is therefore essential that the narratives around leadership in business include this humancentred approach as a key element for sustainable success.” Throughout her career, Irene has also faced a number of challenges specific to a woman navigating the corporate environment. She has experienced significant male predominance within certain business contexts, has hit her head against the glass ceiling more than once, and has learned firsthand what it means to place her trust in the wrong people. These moments were not easy for the inspirational leader – testing her resilience, sense of direction, and at times, even her confidence. But, most importantly, Irene never allowed these challenges to define her or her potential. “Instead, I focused on building a strong foundation – what I call my ‘impregnable fortress’ made of both hard and soft skills,” she recalled. “I looked for partners who wouldn’t stand in the way of my ambitions but would walk beside me. I stubbornly followed my heart, trusted my intuition, and stayed committed to what I felt I had to do in each phase of growth and transformation. Ultimately, mine is a success story driven by merit, passion, and perseverance.” Now, Irene stands at the helm of a leading company that, in eight years, has grown from 39 to 100 team members, and from 1.6 million in revenues to an astounding 12 million. With a growth of over 40% as a yearly average from 2020 to 2023, Tack TMI is performing masterfully under Irene’s expert guidance, forged through years of trial and error, determination, and evolution. For those seeking to follow in the exceptional footsteps of such an influential businesswoman as Irene, she shared the following advice: “To women aspiring to succeed in this industry, I would say: be unapologetically ambitious. Don’t let external limitations shape your internal narrative. Cultivate your voice, invest in your skills, and don’t be afraid to take up space, even in rooms where you may be the only woman. The road won’t always be smooth, but the strength you gain along the way will be invaluable.” Contact: Irene Vecchione Company: Tack TMI Web Address: https://it.tacktmiglobal.com A proud part of Gi Group Holding – Italy’s largest multinational staffing and recruitment company – Tack TMI is a global learning and development specialist, helping organisations and individuals thrive across 55 countries. Expertly steering the company’s Italian branch is Irene Vecchione, its CEO and Managing Director. We spoke to Irene below to find out more about her rise to success, as she is named in the Influential Businesswoman Awards 2025. S
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