Discover our 2020 list here
This International Women’s Day, we’ve launched our latest ‘10x10’ – asking 10 influential industry icons to each nominate 10 trailblazing women and non-binary people who they believe are redefining the creator landscape. The result? An incredible list of 100 trailblazers inspiring change.
Our list will be accompanied by a takeover on The Dots – look out for brilliant profiles and projects on the platform as we aim to inspire, as important as ever when considering ‘88% of young women say they lack role models’ – Ali Hanan, Creative Equals.
Join the celebration, explore the list and keep your eye on these trailblazers making waves.
Together, we can create a better and more diverse workplace, shaping a new creative industry for us all to enjoy.
Alex Mahon
CEO, Channel 4
Being the first woman to become CEO of a major UK broadcaster, Alex Mahon is a fearless leader committed to propelling diversity in the world of television. After 15 years running production companies, Alex moved into technology with high focus on links to creativity and culture.
Alex’s nominations:
Landy Slattery, creative director, All 4
Kate Ward, executive vice president, Refinery29
Rikke Rosenlund, founder & CEO, Borrow My Doggy
Alice Tonge, head of 4Creative
Sharmadean Reid, founder, Beautystack & WAH Nails
Ngoni Chikwenengere, fashion designer & founder, We Are KIN
Elizabeth Uviebinene, marketing manager & author
Kate Moross, non-binary art director, Studio Moross
Lisa Rodwell, chief customer officer
Julia Oh, commissioner, Film4
Nishma Robb
Ads marketing director, Google
Sales and marketing extraordinaire Nishma Robb spans experience in digital marketing to strategy and business management. As the previous chair of Women@Google, Nishma is often at the forefront of missions to inspire girls and women around the world in the fields of business, media and technology.
Nishma’s nominations:
Kate Bryan, art curator, writer & broadcaster
Es Devlin, artist
Pip Jamieson, CEO & founder, The Dots
Liv Little, founder, gal-dem
Chaka Sobhani, CCO, Leo Burnett
Shahnaz Ahmed, creative strategist, Facebook
Selma Nicholls, founder, Looks Like Me
Krystal Roxx, DJ & founder, WeareSuperfoxx
Sinead Burke, writer, academic & broadcaster
Lorna Turner, filmmaker
Nicola Mendelsohn
VP EMEA Facebook, charity campaigner
One of the leading role models for women in business and tech, Nicola has been named ‘the most powerful woman in the British tech industry’ by the daily telegraph. On top of paving the way at Facebook, Nicola is the non-executive director of drinks giant Diageo, chairman of the corporate board of Women's Aid and founder of #SheMeansBusiness.
Nicola’s nominations:
Cat Drew, director of policy and place, FutureGov
Margot Lombaert, graphic designer
Sarah Tasker, writer & photographer
Tamara Rajah, founder, Live Better With
Tanja Sharpe, founder, the Creative Counsellors Club
Nova Dando, music video & ad director
Charlotte Hugh, senior creative & founder, Badass.gal
Leyya Sattar, co-founder, The Other Box
Grace Wales Bonner, fashion designer
Julie Adenuga, radio presenter, Apple Music
Catherine Mayer
Author, journalist & co-founder of the UK's Women's Equality Party (WE)
After starting out her career at The Economist, Catherine has published a number of books, including an exploration of gender equality across the globe. In 2015, Catherine founded the Women’s Equality Party with Sandi Toksvig and in 2019, founded a Primadonna Fest to give prominence to work by women.
Catherine’s nominations:
Dr Helen O’Neill & Dr Natalie Getreu, co-founders, Hertility
Rahila Gupta, writer & campaigner
Jessica Swale, playwright, theatre director & screenwriter
Cathryn Summerhayes, literary agent
Kit de Waal, writer
Cassa Pancho, founder, Ballet Black
Athena Stevens, actor, writer, director & activist
Lily Bertrand-Webb, photographer
Andrea Wong, governor of the British Film Institute, trustee of the RA
June Eric-Udorie, author, campaigner & blogger
Yomi Adegoke & Elizabeth Uviebinené
Co-authors, Slay In Your Lane
Yomi and Elizabeth are the authors of the bestseller, Slay in Your Lane, the inspirational life guide addressing barriers for black women and puts in place practical advice for a new generation of black leaders. The book is complete with interviews from key figures from diverse backgrounds and career paths to emphasise how there are multiple routes to success.
Yomi & Elizabeth’s nominations:
Phoebe Parke, social media editor & journalist
Sherida Kuffour, visual designer
Ife Akinroyeje, writer
Yolanta Rosetta, blogger & advertising creative
Frances Acquaah, writer
Clarissa Pabi, marketing manager & producer
Eniola Awoyemi, producer
Kuba Shand-Baptiste, commissioning editor & columnist
Seneo Mwamba, marketer & editor
Dani Nicholls, social & community consultant
Cindy Gallop
Advertising consultant, founder of BBH USA & founder of companies; IfWeRanTheWorld & MakeLoveNotPorn
The self-proclaimed ‘Micheal Bay of business – I like to blow shit up’ Cindy Gallop is a legend in the advertising world and the founder of BBH US. When not consulting or talking about an industry embedded in misogyny and how to tackle that, Cindy divides her time between founding and igniting her startups ‘IfWeRanTheWorld’ and ‘MakeLoveNotPorn.
Cindy’s nominations:
Natasha Chetiyawardana, product designer & co-founder of Bow & Arrow,
Addie Wagenknecht, artist & researcher
Joyce Wu, Writer, director, actor & comedian
Kai Deveraux Lawson, producer & blogger
Robyn Frost, creative
Phoenix Perry, games designer
Shaniqwa Jarvis, photographer
Elizabeth Stark, co-founder, Lightening Labs
Karen Langley, fashion editor & stylist
Bea Arthur, founder, The Difference
Lu Li
Founder of Blooming Founders
Lu Li is the founder of Blooming Founders, the business social network and support community for early-stage women entrepreneurs based in London. Lu has also published a book titled ‘Dear Female Founder’ and is a UK ambassador for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day.
Lu’s nominations:
Carolyn Dailey, founder, Creative Entrepreneurs
Laura Connolly & Holly Macnaghten, co-founders, HM London Creative
Diana Greenhalgh, co-founder, My Bespoke Room
Anne-Laure Le Cunff, founder, Ness Labs
Roberta Lucca, Creative director, blogger & co-founder, Bossa Studios
Saija Mahon, DJ & founder, Mahon Digital
Sharmadean Reid, founder, Beautystack & WAH Nails
Emma Gannon, author, broadcaster & podcaster
Amalia Agathou, entrepreneur, innovator & blogger
Abadesi Osunsade, co-founder, Elpha
L.A. Ronayne
Creative director, Stink Studios & trustee, D&AD
L.A. began interning at Ogilvy and Mather before becoming a top creative director via AKQA and Havas. When not creating for clients like Rimmel, Adidas and Heineken, L.A. shares her time between being a trustee at D&AD and writing for the award-winning magazine Riposte.
L.A’s nominations:
Geej Ower, director & editor
Katie Puccio & Liz Wells, founders, Desk Lunch
Alice Stewart, creative technologist & founder, TouchyFeely.Tech
Matilda Finn, director
Gabby Edlin, founder, Bloody Good Period
Jenn Nkiru, director
Joyce Ng, photographer
Flavia Zimbardi, type designer & visual artist
Steph Davidson, designer, illustrator & coder
Goom Heo, fashion designer
Cheyney Robinson
Executive creative director, D&AD advisory board member
With a plentiful amount of awards and bags of experience in omnichannel, Cheyney is at the forefront of creative direction. Deeply committed to promoting diversity and gender equality in the creative industry, Cheyney is a member of the Advisory Board for D&AD and the Board of Directors for Creative Equals, alongside volunteering for Apps for Good and SheSays.
Cheyney’s nominations:
Anna Jobbins & Kate Lloyd, creatives, AKcreates
Maya Patterson, product designer
Kim Williams, design director
Stef Sword-Williams, founder, F*ck Being Humble
Gracie Page, creative technologist
Nicole Chen, art director
Debola Adegbulugbe, creative team lead
Ese Akpobi, social innovation fellow
Lori Booker, walmart
Julia Akpan, content strategist
Maria Lopez Pozuelo, digital strategist
Pip Jamieson
Founder & CEO, The Dots
Voted in Sunday Times’ Top #100 Disruptive Entrepreneurs, Pip Jamieson is our very own founder. A zealous speaker on subjects such as future of creativity and a diversity advocate, Pip puts helping businesses build diverse teams at the heart of her mission - 68% + of The Dots community is female, 31% + BAME & 16% + LGBT+.
Pip’s nominations:
Priya Matadeen, general manager, commercial, Dazed Media
Ali Hanan, CEO, Creative Equals
Elizabeth Akanbi-Ogabi, founder & editor, For Working Ladies
Nene Parsotam, senior art director & co-founder, We Are Stripes
Ella Goldner, co-founder, Zinc VC
Paris Lees, journalist, presenter & transgender rights activist
Amie Snow, creative, Ogilvy
Isabel Farchy, founder & CEO, Creative Mentor Network
Ellen Turnill Montoya, senior creative, Anyways
Mercedes Benson, founder, SocialFixt & social media + influencer consultant
Melanie Eusebe, chair & co-founder, Black British Business Awards
A special thanks to Flora Maclean, Zanara Art & Erin Aniker who contributed their beautiful imagery for our social media posts.