Female CEO of the Year 2025 Performing Arts CEO of the Year 2025 (Bulgaria): Victoria Dimitrova Dance is more than just exercise – it is expression, mindset, self-confidence, leadership, and so much more all rolled into one. Helping children and adults alike to unlock the endless string of benefits dance has to offer is Victoria Dimitrova, who founded VS DANCE StudioS – which is part of the wider VS DANCE BG Ltd. – back in 2009. Making dreams come true ever since, Victoria’s work has more than earned her the title of Performing Arts CEO of the Year 2025 (Bulgaria). We caught up with Victoria following this recognition for more on her great work at VS DANCE.
Female CEO of the Year Awards 2025 CEO Monthly is proud to present the Female CEO of the Year Awards 2025! Now in the fourth year, this prestigious awards programme is dedicated to recognising and celebrating the remarkable achievements of female CEOs who are driving the global economy, shaping industries, and leading businesses toward success. The Female CEO of the Year Awards 2025 shines a spotlight on the power, influence, and incredible impact that women in leadership roles have across the business world. Female CEOs are not only powerful leaders but also vital pillars of both economic progress and social change. As business leaders, they are steering organisations toward new heights, creating innovative solutions, fostering inclusive work environments, and advocating for positive societal transformation. Women leading at the highest levels of business have proven time and again that they are indispensable to shaping the future of industries and communities alike. In a world that is constantly evolving, the leadership of women is more essential than ever. Female CEOs are navigating through unprecedented challenges, from economic shifts and technological advancements to social equity issues, all while driving profitability and growth in their respective companies. Their influence goes far beyond traditional business measures; they are reshaping the corporate landscape by addressing societal needs, supporting diversity, and leading with empathy and innovation Sofi Parry, Senior Editor Website: www.ceo-review.com AI Global Media, Ltd. (AI) takes reasonable measures to ensure the quality of the information on this web site. However, AI will not assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information that is available through this web site. If errors are brought to our attention, we will try to correct them. The information available through the website and our partner publications is for your general information and use and is not intended to address any particular finance or investment requirements. In particular, the information does not constitute any form of advice or recommendation by us or any of our partner publications and is not intended to be relied upon by users in making or refraining from making any investment or financial decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decision. Any arrangement made between you and any third party named in the site is at your sole risk and responsibility.
4. VS Dance BG Ltd: Performing Arts CEO of the Year 2025 (Bulgaria): Victoria Dimitrova 6. CanCare Inc: Best Cancer Support & Patient Advocacy CEO 2025 (USA): Darcie Wells 7. Ealixir Inc: Reputation Management CEO of the Year 2025: Eleonora Ramondetti 8. The Greentree Sportsplex and Camp Fun Club: Community Innovator of the Year 2025 (Mid-Atlantic USA): Melissa McCaslin & Excellence Award in Youth Sports & Family Experiences 2025 9. Boxing Australia Limited: Best Sports Governance CEO 2025 (Australia): Dinah Glykidis 10. All Access Accounting: Accounting CEO of the Year 2025 (Colorado): Carrie Van Meter 11. Elementa Education Group: Most Innovative Learning CEO 2025: Sarah Morrison 12. Inclusee: Social & Digital Inclusion CEO of the Year (Australia) 2025: Rachael Cook 13. RO-SE Global: Best Sustainable Finance & ESG Advisory CEO 2025 (London): Maria Lombardo 14. Oobli, Inc: Ali Wing- Most Innovative Sweet‑Protein Food Tech CEO of the Year 2025 & Best Food Technology CEO 2025 (California) 15. Sutherland Weston: Adverting CEO of the Year 2025 (Maine): Elizabeth Sutherland 16. BroadwayHD: Streaming Media CEO of the Year 2025: Bonnie Comley 17. Paragon Digital Consulting: Business & Digital Transformation Consultancy CEO of the Year 2025: Sarah-Mae Amde Contents
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 4 Performing Arts CEO of the Year 2025 (Bulgaria): Victoria Dimitrova n a business landscape where structure and creativity often stand on opposite sides, VS DANCE StudioS emerges as the first creative organization in Bulgaria built on a corporate management model – a rare fusion of artistry, strategic thinking, and organizational discipline. At its core lies a visionary philosophy, that creativity can thrive within structure when led with empathy, vision and purpose. While many companies struggle to find balance between business efficiency and creative freedom, VS DANCE has become a model for how corporate logic can coexist with intuition and emotional intelligence, nurturing both innovation and human potential. This unique equilibrium did not happen by chance. Under the Dance is more than just exercise – it is expression, mindset, self-confidence, leadership, and so much more all rolled into one. Helping children and adults alike to unlock the endless string of benefits dance has to offer is Victoria Dimitrova, who founded VS DANCE StudioS – which is part of the wider VS DANCE BG Ltd. – back in 2009. Making dreams come true ever since, Victoria’s work has more than earned her the title of Performing Arts CEO of the Year 2025 (Bulgaria). We caught up with Victoria following this recognition for more on her great work at VS DANCE. I leadership of Victoria Dimitrova, Founder and CEO, the company has developed a management culture where systems and artistry support one another. Her approach demonstrates that leadership in creative industries requires not only operational acumen, but a deep psychological understanding of people – how they are inspired, how they communicate, and how they create. Through this synthesis, Victoria has built an organization where corporate strategy empowers creativity instead of suppressing it, and where intuition is treated as a key component of emotional intelligence – essential for decision-making, team cohesion, and innovation. The company Victoria founded more than 15 years ago today encompasses a number of divisions, of which VS DANCE StudioS – specialising in dance classes and stage performances – is just one. Taking a closer look at this, its flagship division, VS DANCE StudioS is more than just a dance studio. It is an educational environment centred around personal growth, goal setting, and driving belief in an individual’s potential. Its comprehensive suite of services reflects this at every level, and just some of the areas Victoria’s dance studio specialises in are custom choreography, crafting the first dance at a wedding, or creating routines for children’s birthday parties, as well as preparing students for their entrance exams to dance schools. The large studio space it boasts in Sofia – Studio VS DANCE – can also be rented out for music videos, film productions, and personal projects, which its team can support through their video and graphic design services. Here we start to see some of the other areas of the bigger VS DANCE BG Ltd. operation shine through, with VS Creative being the department for content and advertising that these services go through. As well as this, there is VS Talents – an artist management agency – and VS Clothes, a hip-hop clothing brand, both of which complement the vision of VS DANCE StudioS and make it something truly special in Bulgaria’s creative industries. Diving deeper into the origins of VS DANCE, Victora told us: “I established the organisation at the age of 20, without investors but with a clear mission: to create a sustainable educational and artistic structure that develops people not only as performers but as individuals with vision, discipline, and character.” Today, having developed alongside her business, Victoria is in charge of everything from strategic planning, marketing, and business development through to the creative side of the company, i.e. the dancing and choreography. Victoria is not just a choreographer, as she also sees herself as a mentor to those she teaches, helping them to blossom into both skilled dancers and exceptional human beings. This stems from her status as an ITCA-certified Business NLP Master Practitioner, meaning she can apply psychology, communication, and leadership principles to both the company itself and those she mentors. In combining this approach with the belief that art is key in developing people, VS DANCE sees discipline and talent converge to help drive growth. Whilst the world of performing arts is, at least on the surface, less of a maledominated industry than some of the others covered in this programme, the same gender stereotypes and generalisations which define the wider entrepreneurial landscape still exist. The challenge for many women – Victoria included – remains the same: to strike a balance between authority, authenticity, femininity, grace, strength, and resilience. However, being a leader is much more than this ‘leadership mastery’, as Victoria herself has come to recognise. “Strong vision and belief are essential in overcoming the resistance that often
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 5 accompanies innovation”, she told us. “Yet intuition, tact, and emotional intelligence – areas where women often excel – are equally crucial in turning that vision into a reality. In the creative industries, the dynamic is different. Talents think, feel, and act in unique ways, which makes leadership more complex and more human. That’s where the strength of a female leader truly shines – empathy, emotional intelligence, and the ability to translate these into strategy.” Leveraging all of this to a create of community of women and girls as well as men and boys who both believe in themselves and can grow in the welcoming, nurturing environment she has built is Victoria’s greatest achievement – as it marks her having taken the two seemingly opposite worlds of corporate management and dance and brought them together to create an organisation built on the cornerstones of artistry, strategic thinking, creative freedom, and operational sustainability. This leads to hundreds of students visiting each year. “Surviving in business is difficult, surviving in art is extraordinary.” Many of these students have since become professional dancers, teachers, and even the owners of their own studios, and watching them carry the spirit and guiding philosophy of VS DANCE into their own journeys is something Victoria will never tire of. More than being a testament to her success as both a teacher and an entrepreneur, the triumphs of those whom Victoria has coached proves that when a business is driven by vision, meaning, and humanity, the results go far beyond financial growth – they transform lives. It is no surprise then that one of Victoria’s guiding principles is the belief that success only matters when it is shared. VS DANCE embodies this in a number of ways, such as running a mentorship programme from within the studio that helps young performing arts teachers to not only hone their professional skills but also to inspire others. Underpinning this is a focus on business models, creative strategies, and leadership tools, areas that will serve students well beyond the studio and help them grow into well-rounded entrepreneurs. Alongside this, Victoria is also proud to support both children and young people from underprivileged backgrounds across Bulgaria through her VS Academy Scholarship Program, an intensive, one-year course designed to lay the groundwork for their future. The aim here, as well as through the mentorbased initiative above, is to give back – with opportunity and education not only serving people well in the present but also way into the future. Talking of the future, Victoria is excited to announce that VS DANCE is set to undergo an exciting digital transformation over the coming months, marked by the ongoing development of the VS DANCE online platform. When this space launches, it will allow people from all over the world to train with Victoria and her dance groups online, experiencing the unique philosophy of the studio from wherever they are in the world. This is taking place alongside the expansion of its studio network, opening space for more opportunities. As for her own career, Victoria remains as dedicated as ever to VS DANCE StudioS and the other divisions under the umbrella of VS DANCE BG Ltd. and is aiming to continue to evolve both the organisation itself and the lives of those it touches as we move into 2026 and beyond. Victoria is particularly interested in the rise of AI, especially how this technology can be integrated into the unique ‘creativecorporate’ ecosystem the company has built and further its aims of education, creativity, and having a positive impact on lives. Finally, reflecting on her recognition as the Performing Arts CEO of the Year 2025 (Bulgaria) – presented to Victoria for her dedication to dance education and the creative industries more broadly – this CEO commented: “I’d like to remind everyone that business is not only about numbers, it’s about people. Any company that places the human being at the centre of its philosophy is destined to succeed. Real success isn’t about the short-term gains, but about sustainable growth and the human impact we create along the way.” More about VS Dance Studio, VS Dance BG Ltd., and the leadership-through-art approach behind them can be found by visiting the web address using the link below. Contact: Victoria Dimitrova Company: VS Dance BG Ltd. Web Address: https://vs.dance/
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 6 ased in Houston, CanCare is a nonprofit organisation that has dedicated 35 years to ensuring no one faces cancer alone. On a mission to provide hope and healing to the cancer community, the organisation offers free, one-to-one emotional support by connecting newly diagnosed cancer patients and their caregivers with trained volunteers who are cancer survivors themselves. “What makes our approach unique is the peer-to-peer model,” Darcie told us. “Our volunteers aren’t counsellors or medical professionals; they are individuals who have lived through cancer and can authentically say, ‘I understand what you’re going through.’ This creates immediate trust and provides hope that is both genuine and powerful, as our clients can see living proof that they too can get through this journey.” Darcie Wells joined CanCare in November 2020 as President and Chief Executive Officer, becoming the organisation’s third CEO in its decades-long legacy. Prior to CanCare, Darcie held senior leadership roles at March of Dimes, where she spent several years developing and innovating fundraising strategies and building mission-driven partnerships. During her tenure there, she earned national recognition for her work, including being named national Fundraiser of the Year by RAISE. From the beginning, Darcie’s role at CanCare has encompassed all aspects of organisational leadership, from fundraising and donor relations to volunteer recruitment and training, programme expansion, board governance, and community partnerships. She also serves as the face of the organisation through media appearances, speaking engagements, and as host of the organisation’s Hope in the Face of Cancer podcast. Darcie leverages her previous experience across her roles, having gained a deep understanding of how to mobilise communities around critical health causes. “My transition to CanCare represented a deliberate choice to lead an organisation where I could have a direct, transformative impact,” she reflected. “Having served as a cancer caregiver to family members, I was drawn to CanCare’s mission in a deeply personal way. I saw an organisation with incredible heart, a proven model, and tremendous potential for growth – but one that needed strategic leadership to reach the next level.” Best Cancer Support & Patient Advocacy CEO 2025 (USA): Darcie Wells Many people face cancer alone across the USA, as social and economic disparities fuel the rising loneliness epidemic and limit access to care. CanCare has set out to change that by building a nationwide cancer support community, under the expert guidance of CEO Darcie Wells. Following her recent recognition in the Female CEO of the Year Awards 2025, we spoke with Darcie to learn more about her journey. Over the past four years, the team has grown revenue by 60%, increased cash reserves by 300%, and expanded its one-to-one support matches by over 60%. CanCare has served more than 50,000 cancer patients and caregivers in the last five years and has raised more than $6 million to fuel this growth. The organisation has expanded its services from serving primarily the Houston area to now provide support across all 50 states. For Darcie, however, it is not about the numbers; CanCare has proven the possibility of building a thriving, innovative nonprofit organisation without ever compromising the heart of its mission. The team have launched a national podcast, written a bestselling book, and embraced technology to scale impact, all whilst maintaining the deeply personal, one-to-one connections that make CanCare’s work so powerful. “The greatest gift to me, and what I celebrate most, is when I hear from a client we’ve supported about how instrumental we were in their journey and how we gave them hope,” Darcie shared. “Those messages remind me why all the strategic work matters because, at the end of the day, we’re giving people the courage to face their cancer journey and showing them they’re not alone.” This mission continues to drive CanCare, as it faces a sobering reality: cancer diagnoses continue to rise, and the need for emotional support has never been greater. Darcie’s primary focus is to establish CanCare as the nationally recognised gold standard for peer-to-peer cancer support, as firmly embedded in the cancer care continuum as medical treatment. This will be achieved through strategic healthcare partnerships, thought leadership, measurable impact demonstration, and consistent advocacy for the importance of peer support in comprehensive cancer care. “My career goals are deeply intertwined with CanCare’s mission, because I believe the greatest leadership legacy is building something that outlasts you and continues to grow long after you’ve moved on,” Darcie shared. “The vision is bold but achievable: a future where no one facing cancer has to search for support because CanCare is already there, integrated into their care team with a survivor by their side from day one.” B Contact: Darcie Wells Company: CanCare Inc Web Address: www.cancare.org
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 7 Reputation Management CEO of the Year 2025: Eleonora Ramondetti In a rapidly advancing digital age, business success is no longer determined only by products or financial performance but also by online reputation. To build trust and loyalty, brands must continually manage and protect their digital presence. Under the leadership of CEO Eleonora Ramondetti, Ealixir is a trusted reputation management company supporting clients worldwide in managing their digital image. We heard more from Eleonora below. Ealixir is a world leader in online reputation management. With operations in 28 countries and more than 500 clients around the world, the company serves a diverse client base, made up of high-net-worth individuals, C-level executives and managers, family offices, companies operating in healthcare, hospitality, blockchain, energy, and even smaller businesses seeking to expand their online presence. At its core, Ealixir is committed to protecting and improving the digital reputation of individuals and organizations. Reflecting this commitment, the company offers a comprehensive suite of services, leveraging technological and legal skills to monitor the internet, identify negative content, and remove or correct such data in accordance with relevant laws in terms of data protection. Across its services, Ealixir’s mission remains true: to successfully manage digital images, providing complete support and assistance to its clients throughout. As the CEO of Ealixir, Eleonora Ramondetti draws on her problem-solving mindset and critical thinking to lead the company in delivering this mission. She has been with the company since its inception in 2018, holding a variety of roles within the organisation over the years. Starting as an Operator, Eleonora worked her way up the corporate ladder until she was promoted to Project Manager of Ealixir’s Story branch and subsequently stepped into the COO role. This journey came to a head in the last quarter of 2023, when Eleonora was promoted to CEO. Having grown alongside Ealixir, Eleonora possesses a unique understanding of the company’s structure and its various departments. This invaluable insight has allowed Eleonora to refine and improve workflows with efficacy, translating into one of her greatest strengths as a leader. As a result, Eleonora has been instrumental in ensuring that employees’ roles run smoothly and efficiently, boosting the quality of Ealixir’s client service in turn. Eleonora has encountered her fair share of challenges along the way; a young woman operating in a male-dominated corporate environment is typically underestimated before ever speaking and often has to prove herself twice as much. Rather than allowing this daunting landscape to deter her, Eleonora instead learned how to transform those challenges into motivation, letting any obstacles in her path propel her forward in her journey to success. “What has helped me most is always showing up prepared, being consistent, and taking everything as a learning experience,” she advised. “If there is something you don’t know or lack, take it as an opportunity to learn something new. I think it is very important to have adaptability and clarity in order to succeed; you need to know what you stand for and be able to adjust when things don’t go as planned. In this sector especially, things move very fast, so having a strong sense of direction and balance is key.” Looking ahead, Eleonora will continue to lead Ealixir with a clear direction. She is in the process of uplisting the company to NASDAQ, a major milestone that has been one of the most challenging and exciting projects for the company thus far. The project’s completion date has not yet been confirmed, but Ealixir is anticipating clearance to uplist in the first half of 2026. Eleonora shared: “This feels like a huge step towards something even greater, and I’m looking forward to making it happen – for myself and the entire team.” Alongside this, the company is also developing a number of new services and features to rollout through 2026 including new mobile app ReputScore; Ealixir Editions, a new editorial division dedicated to transform professional stories into credible published works; and Ealixir Academy, developed to teach about the online reputation industry, with the goal of participants earning certifications and entering Ealixir’s workforce as high-ticket remote closers from wherever they are in the world. As for Eleonora, the future demands ongoing improvement and innovation. “My main priority is to keep growing Ealixir and bring it to the next level,” she concluded. “On a personal level, I want to keep improving and evolving as a leader. I still have a lot to learn and with the expansion of AI, everything is changing so quickly. The goal is for Ealixir to not only lead the industry but to set a standard for innovation, and it is really exciting to be part of a moment that is shaping history.” Contact: Eleonora Ramondetti Company: Ealixir Inc. Web Address: www.ealixir.com
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 8 Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, The Greentree Sportsplex is a multi-purpose indoor sports and recreational facility serving athletes, families, and the local community. Spanning 83,000 square feet, the facility aims to create fun, safe, and active experiences for children and families yearround, through a wide range of programmes that include field rentals, leagues, birthday parties, and summer camps. At its core, The Greentree Sportsplex’s goal has always been to transform traditional sports facilities into familycentred destinations where recreation meets convenience. This philosophy runs through the organisation’s core, inspiring the creation of Camp Fun Club. This new venture is designed to redefine the modern summer camp, providing children with cherished childhood memories without the rigid commitments often required by traditional camps. The Greentree Sportsplex is a vital hub to the people of Pittsburgh, offering a space for athletes, families, and entire communities to come together. With a wide range of offerings – from sports and fitness activities to events, leagues, and parties – the organisation has cemented itself securely in the hearts of its local community. This position has been made possible by the forwardthinking Melissa McCaslin, whose leadership has transformed the establishment entirely since being appointed as its CEO. We heard more from Melissa below. “Both ventures share one mission: to create environments that promote play, connection, and community,” Melissa shared. “Whether it is a child’s first soccer game or a family’s favourite birthday party, we are in the business of creating meaningful moments and building places where families feel they belong.” Melissa McCaslin has been the CEO of The Greentree Sportsplex for more than a decade, overseeing all operations, marketing, staffing, and programme development. Before joining Greentree, Melissa’s career spanned almost every aspect of the sports industry. She began working with the United States Golf Association during the 2007 U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont, coordinating more than 5,000 volunteers and managing event logistics. From there, Melissa joined the PGA TOUR, overseeing tournament operations, sponsorships, and community engagement. She later became the Project Manager and, ultimately, the President and CEO for the Riverhounds Soccer Stadium in Pittsburgh, playing an important role in its construction and inaugural season. Each experience has taught Melissa the importance of accuracy and adaptability in her roles, serving as the foundation of her continued professional success. “Before leading Greentree, I managed large-scale sports operations projects, including stadium construction, tournaments, and event management for professional and community organisations,” she reflected. “These roles required precision, communication, and the ability to make high-impact decisions under pressure. That experience prepared me to handle every aspect of running a business, from operations and budgeting to marketing and customer service.” When Melissa first took on her role as CEO, The Greentree Sportsplex operated primarily as a winter-only training facility. She saw an opportunity to turn the summer downtime into something meaningful and profitable. First, Melissa introduced an all-inclusive birthday party programme, offering a full-service that includes pre-decorated spaces, food, entertainment, and a party host. This success opened the door for summer camps to be introduced, providing even more ways for families to stay active and engaged throughout the year. Together, these programmes reshaped the identity and financial future of The Greentree Sportsplex. “In just five years, Greentree has achieved nearly 148% total revenue growth, with the last two years alone generating more than £250,000 in new annual revenue,” Melissa told us. “But beyond the numbers, the real accomplishment is watching kids make memories and parents leave smiling – proof we have built something that truly connects with our community.” Since joining The Greentree Sportsplex, Melissa has led her team to success with unwavering persistence, adaptability, and integrity. Over the years, she has effectively restructured the business model, introduced lucrative new revenue streams, and has transformed the establishment into a profitable, year-round destination that now serves thousands of families each season. Looking ahead, Melissa intends to continue expanding the organisation’s reach through Camp Fun Club. What began as one location is quickly evolving into a city-wide initiative, with camps planned at multiple sports venues throughout Pittsburgh. The upcoming year will focus on growth, partnerships, and refining programmes that make a measurable difference to local families, all while creating a model that can expand even further in the years ahead. “My goal is to continue building businesses that blend recreation, creativity, and trust,” Melissa announced. “The success of Greentree and the creation of Camp Fun Club show that with the right mindset and effort, even a traditional industry can be transformed into something modern, efficient, and family-centred.” Contact: Melissa McCaslin Company: The Greentree Sportsplex and Camp Fun Club Web Address: www.greentreesportsplex.com The Greentree Sportsplex and Camp Fun Club Community Innovator of the Year 2025 (Mid-Atlantic USA): Melissa McCaslin Excellence Award in Youth Sports & Family Experiences 2025
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 9 Best Sports Governance CEO 2025 (Australia): Dinah Glykidis Based in Canberra, Boxing Australia is the national federation for amateur boxing, recognised as the National Sporting Organisation for Boxing by the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Olympic Committee, Commonwealth Games Australia, and World Boxing. Committed to growing the sport and ensuring Australian boxers are recognised among the best in the world, the organisation serves a wide range of clients, including its member associations, boxers, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators. Boxing Australia is headed by CEO Dinah Glykidis, who has served the organisation for more than four years. Before joining Boxing Australia, Dinah was the Competition Executive at Queensland Rugby League for seven years, and the Accounts and Membership Officer for Swimming Queensland for six years before that. These roles were instrumental in enabling Dinah to navigate the Olympic, Commonwealth, and World Championships landscapes, elevating her ability to lead in a professional sports setting. Today, Dinah’s responsibilities as CEO comprise the overall strategic, operational, financial, and commercial aspects of leading Boxing Australia. Her role also involves working with key stakeholders both domestically within Australia and overseas with the International Federation of World Boxing and other national federations across the globe. Dinah strives to work hands-on in all areas of the organisation, including the recently added High Performance Program, aimed at providing sustained achievement on the global stage. Across her extensive career, Dinah cites her current position at Boxing Australia as one of her biggest achievements. “Given it is such a male-dominated sport, that was a proud moment because it validated my skills and effort,” she told us. “But what I value most are the changes I’ve made since taking on the role: improving efficiency and seeing more females enter boxing as athletes, coaches, and officials. That’s what truly feels like the achievement.” When Dinah first entered the sporting industry 18 years ago, few women held roles at state or national level. Since then, she has witnessed a strong push for change; for example, fewer than five CEOs attended national meetings when she began at Boxing Australia, but that number has since grown. This evolution was underscored when Dinah was elected as one of the Vice Presidents of World Boxing, becoming the first woman to hold the seat and lead change across the organisation. Of course, there are and will always be challenges in such roles. “I’ve experienced so many as a woman,” Dinah shared. “From ‘What does she know?’, ‘She didn’t compete in this sport,’ or ‘She shouldn’t be in this position,’ to being yelled at, dismissed as ‘too young to last long,’ and ignored entirely. How I overcame this was to basically ignore them; I know my worth, value, and know what I’m doing in leading change to ensure we succeed together.” To enable the continued empowerment of women within sports, Boxing Australia has implemented a womenonly camp in Canberra. This camp is targeted towards developing athletes, coaches, and officials, providing them with a supportive environment to build skills and confidence. In addition, the organisation has introduced female-only “come and try” days, designed to encourage women of all skill levels to experience boxing – whether as athletes, volunteers, or officials – to reinforce that there is a place for women in every aspect of the sport. These endeavours align perfectly with Dinah’s hopes to leave a lasting, positive impact on the sport of boxing, and the people operating within it. Over the next few years, she aims to continue developing as a leader, whilst learning from others who are and have been leaders in top organisations. Through this development, Dinah intends to contribute towards an environment where athletes are centred, and the next generation of boxing is set up for the future – a mission worthy of her recognition as Australia’s Best Sports Governance CEO 2025. “Ultimately, I want my time as CEO to help set up Boxing Australia for long-term success,” she concluded. “The future is looking strong. We have a lot of up-and-coming athletes who are going places; they are strong and resilient, and I cannot wait to see them achieve their dreams on the national and international stage.” Contact: Dinah Glykidis Company: Boxing Australia Limited Web Address: www.boxing.org.au AIS-Oct25143 In a landscape long dominated by men, women are increasingly breaking down barriers and stepping into sporting leadership roles. At the forefront of this shift is the inspirational Dinah Glykidis, CEO of Boxing Australia, whose journey reflects both the challenges and the opportunities facing female leaders in sport. We sat down with Dinah for more, as she is named in the Female CEO of the Year Awards 2025.
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 10 arrie Van Meter leads All Access Accounting with the aim of empowering small- and mediumsized businessowners to maintain, grow, and scale their businesses to succeed. Understanding that intricate industry jargon can often overwhelm, Carrie and her team set out to serve as interpreters of the operational accounting language, translating complex concepts into terms that resonate with owners, managers, and team members alike. Prior to establishing All Access Accounting, Carrie aspired to work as a Human Resources Manager and would travel to Washington every year to lobby with SHRM for the manufacturing industry. As she spoke to the people on the manufacturing floor, she quickly learned that no employee could truly explain how their work impacted the bottom line of their business and, in some cases, neither could the management teams. This was a pivotal time for Carrie, as she identified a growing problem that most businesses had not realised was taking root: when businesses begin to lose money, they first look to cut employees. With this newfound insight, Carrie dove into the world of finance, determined to educate businesses on their financial operations and highlight the areas they should look to reduce before cutting their human capital investment. “Once you educate people as to the financial impact of their job, their performances will scale,” she explained. “Because now they know how to drive both their success and their employer’s stability. I strengthened my knowledge in finance to empower every level of personnel to be a part of contributing success to the bottom line of their jobs, thereby inspiring the human level to improve, scale, and succeed. I am a large believer in the human capital of every business.” To follow her calling, Carrie held Controller and CFO positions over the years for companies such as Automated Concepts Inc., Red Giant Oil, HKS Medical Information Systems, Quality Fence Co., Inc., Holt Family Funeral Home, and more. She maintained a stringent focus on operational accounting across these positions, ensuring that she not only made business changes in the present but also created change agents to ensure a successful future. After moving to Pueblo to be with her mother during illness, Carrie founded All Access Accounting in July 2020. In just five years, the Accounting CEO of the Year 2025 (Colorado): Carrie Van Meter Based in Pueblo, All Access Accounting is an accounting firm offering personalised accounting, payroll, and fractional CFO solutions. Guided by its mantra, “to be of service” in all facets of business, the firm’s tailored services are delivered by a seasoned team of accountants and payroll specialists. Leading the charge is Carrie Van Meter, a leader aiming to close the widening gap between people and numbers within organisations. We spoke with Carrie to learn more about her work, following her recent recognition in the Female CEO of the Year Awards 2025. firm has grown to boast 14 employees and nearly 200 clients, standing as the largest bookkeeping firm in Southern Colorado. Of this sustained growth, Carrie said: “I take no pride in this – I give this to God and His allowance to will us ‘to be of service’ to the small-, medium-, and large-sized businesses that are driving the economy.” As we leave 2025, All Access Accounting will be focused on broadening its existing impact. Since its inception, the firm has grown exclusively through relationships and referrals, and will now be stepping into the world of marketing for the first time. This will include enhancements to the company website, alongside investments into television and streaming commercials, with the ultimate goal of further expansion. As for her own professional path, Carrie hopes to continue growing a business steered by humility, faith, and servant leadership – a business that enables her team “to be of service” and act as the stewards of thriving businesses, allowing clients to fulfil their true purposes. For her unwavering dedication to this mission, demonstrated at every point in her career path, Carrie Van Meter has been named Colorado’s Accounting CEO of the Year 2025. In light of this significant achievement, Carrie shared: “Influence means nothing if you are not helping somebody to grow. The legacy I leave will not be measured by what I have, but by who I have helped. The only way for me to be remembered is to make people feel seen, to make people feel heard, to share what is learned, and to lift others as I climb. The impact I make on others will outlive every material thing we have chased. That is the difference between popularity and purpose.” “The legacy I leave will not be measured by what I have, but by who I have helped.” C Contact: Carrie Van Meter Company: All Access Accounting Web Address: www. allaccessaccounting.net
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 11 Most Innovative Learning CEO 2025: Sarah Morrison So much excellent work has been done in recent years to support children struggling in education, and one of those at the forefront of this push has been Elementa Education Group, which is committed to providing education professionals and settings – as well as young people and their families – with all of the support they need to thrive. Sarah Morrison, the CEO and visionary behind this comprehensive support partner for UK learning provisions, caught up with us for more on the back of her recognition as the Most Innovative Learning CEO 2025 in this programme. Ten years ago, Sarah Morrison made a promise to her husband that if she could not make self-employment work doing something she loved then she would go out and get a ‘proper’ job. Looking out over Elementa Education Group a decade later – it today has almost 200 staff, sites across the UK, and a leader esteemed for her work – what Sarah has created has had much more of an impact than most ‘proper’ jobs ever would. The Group is today active from Northampton to Devon and offers support in a variety of ways. “The reason I had the opportunity to give myself 12 months before getting a ‘proper’ job – I feel I don’t have a ‘proper’ job as I love it so much – is due to my mum passing away. A payment I was not expecting from her education pension allowed us to set up and be able to provide this education support. Poetic, some would say!” Elementa’s school-facing services today span everything from recruitment and school improvement through to behaviour and teacher training. Elmtree Learning Partnership is then the Group’s alternative learning network, and this is where it directly supports the children struggling in education. Examples of how it achieves this include the provision of tailored learning environments, online tutoring, and community mentoring, with this area of business hitting new heights last year, following the opening of its first school. Elmtree Grove in Bristol is a purpose-built school for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and specialises in supporting primary-aged children as they progress through their educational journeys. The school was opened after a staggering 16 schools refused to accept one of the learners accessing alternative provisions through Sarah and the team here. This marks the first in what will hopefully become a long line of schools, with another two (along with four alternative learning provisions) set for 2026. Guiding Sarah as she brings these locations to life is her wealth of experience in education, with 2025 actually marking her 20th anniversary in this environment. Sarah’s experiences have been highly diverse, ranging from training and safeguarding through to teaching the teachers. SEND is something that has always had a special place in Sarah’s heart, dating back to her days supporting SEND students whilst she was at university in Plymouth. Excitingly, this is home to Elmtree Sands, one of the schools up opening next year. However, it is not only through her education that Sarah has had her passion nurtured, and she has been fortunate throughout her career to have managers spot her determination and desire to learn, resulting in her achieving several ‘firsts’ for her previous employers. “I have never seen my gender or age as a reason not to push forwards”, Sarah explained. “Education in some areas is dominated by women, but as you move up to leadership that representation is not always replicated.” Elementa is different – dominated by female leaders. It is on the back of this exceptional leadership that Elementa has a great deal to celebrate as 2025 winds down, including the more than 2000 hours of alternative provision education it delivers each week, as well as the growing waiting lists for both its schools and other such provisions. As for its next steps, Sarah shared: “We are committed to growing by at least one school per year for the next five years. 2026 also sees us open in Wales, and I am very excited to have former colleagues join us to help develop our services.” Finally, touching on her own career, Sarah added: “I have been invited to be a trustee of a local education organisation which gives me the opportunity to influence SEND provision beyond Elementa and Elmtree.” This encapsulates what makes Sarah Morrison such an authority in the world of education, and it is our pleasure to recognise her as such through this award. More on Elementa Education Group’s great work can be found below. Contact: Sarah Morrison Company: Elementa Education Group Web Address: https:// elementa.org.uk/
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 12 Inclusee is a non-profit established as a way to address the growing issue of social isolation amongst Australia’s older generation. Joining as CEO in 2019, Rachael Cook ensured that Inclusee performed exceptionally and received commendation in its last audit, fulfilled all funding agreements for the first time in its 50-year history, For a number of generations, the online world is something that today comes naturally to them. They traverse it with relative ease, using it for everything from speaking to friends to engaging with media, and this technology has become part of their daily lives. Many older people are not so lucky, and though some have children and grandchildren to help guide them through this digital landscape and show them how to use their devices, there are still a huge amount of social isolation. Inclusee is seeking to mitigate this across Australia, and CEO Rachael Cook was on hand to tell us how. and maintained 98% staff engagement across its 100% remote workforce. This barely scratches the surface of the remarkable work this CEO has done since joining the fold six years ago, with her efforts concerning the Virtual Community Centre (VCC) being especially noteworthy. Recognising that traditional community programmes usually exclude those who are housebound or disconnected from the digital world, the VCC stands as a 100% virtual, co-designed community that meaningfully connects seniors, carers, and volunteers across Australia, through programmes built around inclusivity and empowerment. Using the VCC, Inclusee offers more than 200 online activities for its members each month, with these ranging from morning meditation through to book clubs, art therapy, singing groups, writing meets, and more. The purpose of every session delivered is the same: to ensure every participant finds a place to belong, learn, and contribute, all whilst building their confidence using technology. This results is a model that is safe, scalable, and responsive, with farreaching implications for independence and longevity of life for members. “Our core mission is to create a world where every older person feels connected, valued and empowered, regardless of geography, ability, cultural background or socioeconomic status.” Whilst Inclusee may have existed long before Rachael came aboard, the synergy that exists between this CEO and her organisation has caused both of them to develop massively. This comes from the experiences Rachael has had over a diverse and dynamic career in this space, which has played out against a backdrop of wider societal change concerning women in leadership roles. The result has been a general redefining of what effective leadership looks like, and Rachael prides herself on always remaining in tune with these developments. Rachael’s approach continues to be shaped by this, as she explained: “Leading organisational change programmes and building high-performance cultures in both for-purpose and commercial environments have both given me the skills to drive innovation and deliver measurable impact at Inclusee.” She continued: “With over two decades in executive and operational leadership across health, aged care, banking, and franchise sectors, my previous experiences have also been instrumental in shaping my approach as CEO at Inclusee.” The direct outcomes this pioneering spirit translate to for Inclusee are clear to see, including last year, when the organisation achieved the milestone of 100,000 connection hours, paving the way for the next big milestone of 1,000,000 connection hours. Driving this goal is the expanding influence of the organisation, which is today connecting more people than ever across Australia. It is achieving this though initiatives such as ‘Say G’Day Day’, a national awareness day encouraging social connection to be prioritised as part of good health. As Rachael told us, this is part of something much bigger: “I am truly dedicated to creating a cultural shift in our society, inspiring Australians to see social connection as a vital health requirement.” Inclusee is mirroring this through its plans for 2026 and beyond, a snapshot of which includes launching a dedicated app for the VCC, raising awareness of the above-mentioned Say G’Day Day (held on annually on 21st November), and ramping up collaborations with likeminded organisations to bolster the huge impact its work has. With Rachael Cook leveraging the power of connection to improve social health for thousands of Australians from across the country, it is our pleasure to recognise the efforts of both her and Inclusee more broadly with this award. For more on the exceptional work this CEO and her team are doing in driving social connection, follow the link listed below. Contact: Rachael Cook Company: Inclusee Web Address: https://inclusee. org.au/ Social & Digital Inclusion CEO of the Year (Australia) 2025: Rachael Cook
CEO MONTHLY / FEMALE CEO OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2025 13 Best Sustainable Finance & ESG Advisory CEO 2025 (London): Maria Lombardo Maria Lombardo took a giant leap of faith last year, leaving the security of her banking job to pursue her vision. In 2025, she founded RO-SE, a firm built on a foundation of expert partnerships, designed to help corporate and financial institutions speak the same language on sustainability. The firm translates conversations between the two worlds, leveraging a unique model that combines a curated network of specialist partners with bespoke, action-oriented advisory services. Within just two months of founding RO-SE, Maria established an international network of ten core institutional partners and assembled an advisory board of distinguished industry leaders. “Building ROSE from concept to operational reality in a very short period of time stands as my defining achievement,” she said. “I consider this my legacy work, and something that came at a stage of my career when people usually start thinking about their pension.” RO-SE is the second company Maria has launched, following Lumar Partners, an independent advisory firm specialising in capital introductions and strategic communications. Maria has taken on a full-time commitment with RO-SE, drawing inspiration from her tenure at Standard Chartered Bank; as Global Head of ESG Advisory, she built a successful practice from the ground up, delivering sustainability focused projects in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Maria’s career spans more than three decades in emerging market equities, investment banking, and sustainability. She has held senior roles at leading institutions including Invesco Global Asset Management, CDP, UniCredit, Sberbank, UBS, British International Investment (formerly CDC) and Lazard. This new chapter of RO-SE represents the culmination of Maria’s experience, combining strategic insight with a commitment to advancing sustainable finance across global markets. “Every role has taught me something essential,” Maria told us. “When I give a quick definition of what I bring to the table with my experience, I always say that my journey from equity sales in emerging markets to ESG leadership has provided me with a unique perspective; I can understand both sides of the equation – what investors need and what companies can deliver. This dual lens is also essential for RO-SE’s mission.” Across her extensive career, Maria has learned the power of building her expertise deeply and using it to create bridges with a 360 degree prospective. Rather than adapting to existing structures, she opts to create new ones that reflect her core values. RO-SE embodies this mission exactly through its partnership model, bringing together diverse expertise to solve complex challenges. The firm is designed to be bigger than any individual, including Maria herself, with an unwavering team spirit driving every partnership built and every project delivered. Maria’s values are rooted in family history, a legacy she continues to uphold. “RO-SE is a love letter to my grandmother,” she shared. “She ran a sartorial business, listening to clients, bringing in the right craftspeople, delivering solutions that fit perfectly. We do the same thing, just with sustainability and finance instead of fabric. Our philosophy of ‘craftsmanship, partnership, and bespoke solutions’ is deeply personal, indeed inspired by my grandmother’s sartorial business legacy.” Ultimately, Maria aspires to establish RO-SE as the goto partner for organisations navigating the sustainabilityto-bankability gap in emerging markets. The team are currently working on expanding the firm’s client reach and partner network strategically, focusing on regions where RO-SE can create maximum impact, particularly in underserved markets. The next few months will be pivotal for RO-SE, as the firm strengthens its capabilities and proof-of-concept while preparing key areas of the business that promise opportunities for scaling. ROSE will formalise its delivery methodology, develop sector-specific transition toolkits, and scale its AIenabled implementation tools, with growing excitement surrounding its expanding pipeline in Asia, Africa and the Middle East, as well as its investment readiness service designed for innovative climate companies. As for Maria’s future plans, the CEO stated: “I could have stayed comfortable as an employee until retirement, but comfortable isn’t my style. My goal? In five years, I want RO-SE to be the model others take as best practice. I want to leave something good that my children can feel proud of.” Contact: Maria Lombardo Company: RO-SE Global Advisors Web Address: www.ro-se.global RO-SE Global, that stands for Resilient Organisations for Sustainable Economics, is a London-based sustainability advisory firm aiming to bridge the critical gap between corporate and financial institutions. Working with corporations, sovereign wealth funds, and financial institutions, the firm transforms sustainability from a compliance burden into a strategic advantage. At the heart of this mission is Founder and CEO Maria Lombardo, whose expertise has shaped the firm into an emerging leader in its inaugural year. We heard more from Maria below, as she is named in the Female CEO of the Year Awards 2025.
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