Press release
10 Oct 2023 

EY announces 55 women founders selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ EMEIA class of 2023

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  • Represents 18 countries across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA)
  • Employed more than 1,600 people in 2022
  • The associated businesses represent 10 diverse sectors

The EY organization today announces the details of the 55 women founders, from 53 different businesses across 10 sectors, selected for the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women EMEIA class of 2023. Representing 18 countries across the EMEIA region, this international cohort employs more than 1,600 people.

The EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a bespoke executive program that identifies and champions savvy, ambitious women entrepreneurs, with established, profitable businesses, in fulfilling their bold ambitions and turning their visions into business masterpieces.

Julie Hood, EY EMEIA Strategy and Transactions Leader & EMEIA Entrepreneurial Winning Women Executive Co-Sponsor, United Kingdom, says:

“About 16 years ago, the EY organization looked to uncover the obstacles facing women entrepreneurs scaling a business. Today, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a thriving and impactful program. I am excited to welcome the new class coming in this year that will join the global community.”

This program targets high-potential women entrepreneurs with established businesses who are ready to scale and grow their business globally.

Suwin Lee, EMEIA EY Private Leader and EMEIA Entrepreneurial Winning Women Executive Co-Sponsor, United Kingdom, says:

“From five women entrepreneurs in one country to a global community of close to 900 entrepreneurs across almost 60 countries, EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a vibrant community made up of those who view challenges as an opening for opportunities and solving the world’s biggest problems.”

The participants of the 2023 EMEIA EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women program are:

  • Kremena Karaulanova (Bulgaria), Owner of Laren hotel cosmetics & textile
  • Eva Vucheva (Bulgaria), General Manager of Contento
  • Militza Zikatanova (Bulgaria), Owner of Wine Cellar Villa Melnik 
  • Anne Karina Asbjørn (Denmark), Co-founder and CEO of Copenhagen Cartel
  • Madonna Saied (Egypt), Founder and CEO of V-licious
  • Laura Figulla (Germany), CEO of Mbiomics 
  • Chanyu Xu (Germany), Founder and CEO of Her One        
  • Devidutta Dash (India), Founder and CEO of Lemme Be
  • Ishani Roy (India), CEO of Serein Inc
  • Anne Abberton (Ireland), CEO of FiXX Coffee
  • Elaine Brady (Ireland), Managing Partner of Barden
  • Loretta Dignam (Ireland), Founder and CEO of The Menopause Hub
  • Sandra Healy (Ireland), Founder and CEO of Inclusio
  • Stella Power (Ireland), Founder and Managing Director of Annertech       
  • Caroline Reidy (Ireland), Managing Director of The HR Suite           
  • Meg Faure (Jersey), CEO of Parent Sense
  • Dina Abdul Majeed (Jordan), CEO of 360Moms       
  • Stella Sigana (Kenya), Founder and Executive Director of Alternative Waste Technologies
  • Sophia Tienstra (The Netherlands), Founder and Owner of LX matten
  • Claire van Beek (The Netherlands), Co-founder of Moodies
  • Shadha Musallam (Palestine), CEO of Agritopia for Agricultural Technology
  • Irina Arsene (Romania), Founder and Chair of the Board of mindit.io
  • Muzon Ashgar (Saudi Arabia), CEO of MZN Bodycare        
  • Shereen Tawfiq (Saudi Arabia), Founder and CEO of Balinca
  • Lauren Anderson (South Africa), CEO of Koa Academy
  • Farana Boodhram (South Africa), CEO of Midesk Global
  • Ego Iwegbu (South Africa), Co-founder and CEO of MsLondon Cosmetics
  • Tarisai Moffat (South Africa), Co-founder and Managing Director of Gateway Synergy
  • Ngwanamatloa Mokone (South Africa), CEO of ABOT Technology    
  • Vanessa Raath (South Africa), Head Cheerleader of The Talent Hunter
  • Majbritt Byskov-Bridges (Switzerland), Co-founder and COO of Alver
  • Mine Uran, (Switzerland), Founder and CEO of Alver
  • Gülay Akay (Türkiye), Owner/Dentist of Dentakay
  • Züleyha Albaş (Türkiye), Co-founder of Buckaroo Food
  • Merve Çelebi Bayazıt (Türkiye), Board Member of Element Proje
  • Nesrin Doğan (Türkiye), Chairman of the Board of Directors of Doğanlar Tarım
  • Deniz Eraydın (Türkiye), General Manager of Reisswolf Türkiye
  • Tülin Kalyoncu (Türkiye), Managing Partner of Mat Consultancy & Packaging Solutions
  • Elçin Özkan (Türkiye), Founder of Sestri Travel
  • Nesrin Serin Onkardeşler (Türkiye), Founder and General Manager of USB Certification
  • Altınay Tunalı (Türkiye), Managing Director of Tunadan Makina
  • Nazlı Buse Üçer (Türkiye), Co-founder and Creative Director of Ribbon Flowers
  • Saana Azzam (United Arab Emirates), Chief Inspiration Officer of MENA Speakers
  • Heba Rumhein (United Arab Emirates), Owner of The H concepts and events
  • Margaret Dabbs OBE (United Kingdom), Founder and CEO of Margaret Dabbs London
  • Lemon Fuller (United Kingdom), Founder and CEO of Lemonade
  • Emma Macdonald (United Kingdom), Co-founder and CEO of TBCo
  • Nazanin Nankali (United Kingdom), Director of Powertutors
  • Emma O'Brien (United Kingdom), CEO of Embridge Consulting
  • Jenny Ousbey (United Kingdom), CEO of OVID Health
  • Pauline Paterson (United Kingdom), Founder and CEO of Dr.PAWPAW
  • Julianne Ponan MBE (United Kingdom), CEO of Creative Nature
  • Alla Ouvarova (United Kingdom), Co-founder and CEO of Two Chicks
  • Anna Richey (United Kingdom), Co-founder and CEO of Two Chicks
  • Helen Tupper (United Kingdom), CEO of Amazing If

-ends-

Notes to editors

About EY

EY exists to build a better working world, helping to create long-term value for clients, people and society and build trust in the capital markets.

Enabled by data and technology, diverse EY teams in over 150 countries provide trust through assurance and help clients grow, transform and operate.

Working across assurance, consulting, law, strategy, tax and transactions, EY teams ask better questions to find new answers for the complex issues facing our world today.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

About EY Private

As Advisors to the ambitious™, EY Private professionals possess the experience and passion to support private businesses and their owners in unlocking the full potential of their ambitions. EY Private teams offer distinct insights born from the long EY history of working with business owners and entrepreneurs. These teams support the full spectrum of private enterprises including private capital managers and investors and the portfolio businesses they fund, business owners, family businesses, family offices and entrepreneurs. Visit ey.com/private

About EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™


The EY organization is committed to seeing women lead. EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a global program for successful women entrepreneurs whose businesses show more potential to scale. Through access to EY professionals and global EY networks throughout the entrepreneurial ecosystem, pioneering women founders on every continent secure the resources, advice, operational know-how, contacts and community they need to unleash their ambitions, expand their companies to full potential and become the role models they never had. Visit ey.com/winningwomen

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