The Power of a Woman Awards 2025

WOMEN IN Business 2025

Celebrating women of colour and their achievements.

Read through the amazing contributions made by each and every one of our worthy nominees this year. Then, all you need to do is vote for the woman that you think should be the recipient of this year’s award.

You can vote for one nominee per category.

Your 2025 The Power of a Woman Awards Nominees are…
Annika Allen     |      Jael Spooner    |      Keshia East    |      Monique Fearon    |      Sarah Edoo    |      Sarah Tetteh    |      Selina Brown    |      Sheila Nortley    |     Simone Pennant     |      Vee Roberts    |      Zoe Bennett

Annika Allen

Business Nominee
Annika allen

Head of Diversity
Equity & Inclusion

Annika is an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) professional with a rich background in media and storytelling.

Starting her career in television and journalism, Annika worked at companies like Cactus TV and RDF Television, driven by her commitment to amplify underrepresented voices.

Now, as Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at All3Media, she leads the DEI strategy across 40+ production companies, focusing on creating a culture of inclusivity and belonging. Annika co-founded Join Our Table and Black Leaders in TV, supporting and celebrating Black talent. Her work, from strategic programmes to DEI collaborations across the TV industry, is dedicated to creating lasting, positive change.

Annika’s commitment to fostering diversity is rooted in her belief in the power of representation and her dedication to building a more equitable future for all.

On being a black woman...

“To me, being a Black woman is about strength, resilience, and creativity. It’s carrying the stories of my ancestors and turning them into inspiration for the future. It’s navigating a world that doesn’t always see or celebrate us fully, yet finding ways to shine brightly and authentically.As a Black woman, I feel an unspoken connection to a sisterhood of women who’ve paved the way and continue to uplift each other. It’s about standing in my truth, embracing my culture, and honouring the beauty of diversity within our experiences.It also means breaking barriers and creating spaces where others can thrive, whether that’s in the media industry, through my communities – Join Our Table and Black Leaders in TV, on the netball court, or in community discussions about creativity and health. I’m proud to be part of a legacy that’s defined by excellence, determination, and joy.”

Jael Spooner

Business Nominee
Jael Spooner

Founder,
Wealth Creators

My name is Jael Spooner, and I am an accomplished Property Developer, Entrepreneur and Investor with over 12 years of active involvement in both commercial and residential property sectors in the UK. At the age of 22, I began a career as an Interior Designer, utilising intuition, imagination, and visualisation to create luxurious interiors in the commercial sector, renovating run-down units across the City of London and the West End, transforming them into spectacular nightlife venues.

Following the acquisition of my council flat at age 28, I have since launched my impressive journey into real estate and development;
At age 36 I have become an accomplished Property Developer, Entrepreneur and Investor and have built a Residential property portfolio worth over £3,000,000 leveraging a variety of investment strategies in the property industry .

Over the past few years I have mentored thousands of students on how to do the same. And recently built Wealth Creators, a property training business that teaches clients the unfiltered knowledge in the property industry. Just like a doctor needs to learn the full anatomy of the human body, you need full knowledge of all the strategies in the property industry. 

On being a black woman...

“What it mean to be a black woman in todays society is nothing short of a gift. I feel as an investor and teacher I am constantly overwhelmed with the level trust and support from business partners, join ventures and mentees or social media followers. It is an hour to be black. Black is safely and acceptance, black is strength and wellness, black is ethical and powerful. I’m proud, honoured and grateful to be a black woman.”

Keshia East

Business Nominee
Keshia east

Founder of No Knot Co.
and Kurl Kitchen

Keshia East is an entrepreneur and founder of No Knot Co. and co-founder of Kurl Kitchen, two brands dedicated to empowering individuals with textured hair. Inspired by her personal journey of navigating a world that historically overlooked Afro and curly hair, Keshia is on a mission to redefine hair care through innovation, education, and representation. As the founder of No Knot Co., Keshia has developed recyclable, pain-free detangling tools specifically for coils, curls, and waves, now stocked in major retailers like Boots and Sainsbury’s. She also co-founded Kurl Kitchen, a natural haircare brand infused with West African ingredients and manufactured in the UK, available in over 500 Boots stores.

Driven by a deep passion for inclusivity, Keshia is not only creating products but fostering a movement of self-love and acceptance for those with textured hair. She envisions a future where everyone can embrace their natural hair with pride and ease.

On being a black woman...

“Being a Black woman to me means embracing resilience, celebrating culture, and creating space for representation and empowerment.”

Monique Fearon

Business Nominee
monique fearon

Founder of the Creative Industry Awards
and the Creative Industry Network

Monique is a successful businesswoman, motivational speaker, and founder of the Creative Industry Awards and the Creative Industry Network, a platform dedicated to highlighting underrepresented talent and creative pioneers across the UK.

With a steadfast motto of “lead by example,” she is on a mission to empower thousands of women around the world by being the voice for those who feel unheard. Overcoming her beginnings as a teenage mother from a low-class background, Monique has transformed her life and narrative. Through her initiatives, she not only celebrates creativity but also inspires others to break barriers and pursue their dreams. Her journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the belief that anyone can change their trajectory with hard work and passion.

On being a black woman...

“Being a Black woman means embodying a rich legacy of strength, resilience, and creativity. It is a powerful identity that connects me to a lineage of trailblazers which inspires me to use my voice and experiences to pave the way for future generations.”

Sarah Bibi Edoo

Business Nominee
lady Bibi

Founder New Level
Promotions

Lady Bibi started New level promotions 7 years ago. After working in the charity field for the past 20 years, She has spent her time working on various charity projects as well as starting a printing company in 2009 which was run by ex offenders and offered placements for young offenders to work and gain skills and qualifications.

Her belief is that everyone should be given a second chance and if you havent made mistakes in life then you havent learnt. Working as a youth worker for over 10 years she has gained numerous recognitions by various awarding bodies such as being a runner up for the Pride of Britain awards, The Princes trust celebrate success award and she is one of 12 people in the UK to be awarded an Anne Frank award for helping people people turn their lives around.

On being a black woman...

“I must lead the way and set the pace for all ethnic minority’s. I need to lead, motivate and inspire. I must live with integrity and always be optimistic and nurturing. I must push myself and work a little bit harder if I want to make a difference in todays society. “

Sarah Tetteh

Business Nominee
sarah tetteh

Travel Business Entrepreneur

Sarah Tetteh is a celebrated showbiz and royal journalist, presenter and philanthropist – who has worked on national newspapers and TV for over two decades. She made her mark as a 3am Girl at the Daily Mirror where for a decade she delivered hard-hitting stories on the world’s most famous stars from Beyonce, John Travolta, Kanye and the Kardashians, to award-worthy coverage on Premiership footballers and the Royal Family.

Sarah is known for her compelling and ground-breaking celebrity interviews that have been known to go viral and in some cases break the internet.

After welcoming her three children, Sarah went freelance and ran popular blogs on The Huffington Post as well as launching her own top blog Showbizmama.

Sarah’s passion as an SEN mother is inclusion for children from all walks of life and she has campaigned tirelessly to help parents who struggle with getting the right support in education for their children with additional needs.

On being a black woman...

“As a woman of colour it means the world to be a trailblazer and pave the way for young, talented women to pursue their goals, work hard, overcome obstacles and with faith and self- belief, they too can make their big dreams a reality. “

Selina Brown

Business Nominee
selina brown

Author, Marketing Consultant
& Event Producer

Introducing Selina Brown: an accomplished Author, astute Marketing Consultant, and adept Event Producer. Raised by her Black British Mother and Jamaican Granny, Selina cultivated a profound affinity for words from an early age. Her journey is marked by exceptional achievements, having assumed the role of Youth MP for Nottingham at the age of 16 and obtaining two Degrees and a Masters by the age of 21. Her professional trajectory has encompassed pivotal roles at esteemed organisations such as the BBC, MTV, and Freud Communications, with work experience spanning across New York, Kenya, and Gambia.

Committed to diversity and with a remarkable presence in Birmingham’s creative landscape for over two decades, Selina is passionate about promoting inclusivity and artistic expression.

Amid the challenges posed by the pandemic, Selina demonstrated her versatility by authoring the cherished children’s book “Nena” series. In 2020, she established the Black British Book Festival, an embodiment of her visionary commitment to celebrating the vibrancy of Black British literature.

On being a black woman...

“It’s the greatest honour. I love my skin, I love my hair, I love my strength. I draw strength from the women who have walked this planet from the beginning of time to the matriarchs who surround me today. We are nurturers, warriors, goddesses… we are magical.”

Sheila Nortley

Business Nominee
sheila nortley

Writer & Producer

Sheila is an award-winning writer and producer whose credits include internationally acclaimed projects such as Zion, Victim, David is Dying, and the #1 Netflix series’ Stay Close and Supacell

In 2016, she won the Woman of the Future Award in Arts & Culture for her contributions to film and was invited to Buckingham Palace. Her film Limbo gained international recognition at multiple festivals the following year. In 2018, she became an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society following an invitation to 10 Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister. She has since contributed to Writers’ Rooms for dramas developed for Netflix and Channel 4.

In 2020, Sheila secured a groundbreaking development deal with SKY and joined the BFI Network x BAFTA Crew 2021. That year, she worked alongside award-winning talent on I Am Mary. In 2021, she produced Stay Close for Netflix and RED Productions and developed her debut feature script with BFI, Film London, and the BBC.

Recently, Sheila contributed to Writers’ Rooms for A Town Called Malice (SKY/Vertigo Films) and produced on the superhero series Supacell for Netflix, continuing to solidify her reputation as a leading creative force in the industry.

On being a black woman...

“Being a Black woman means connection, beauty, freedom, to love and be loved and be love — to just experience life as completely as any one else would regardless of their identity and labels. But, to live life fully and show up in this way, in a society that often tells Black women that we are the most unprotected, unwelcome and undesirable demographic of women in the world is remarkable. In that, the connection, beauty, freedom, and love… that all becomes something new.”

Vee Roberts

Business Nominee
vee roberts

Brand & Marketing
Professional

Vee Roberts is a Brand and Marketing Professional who supports business owners with tips, free resources and ideas to grow your business using strategic branding and marketing.

A mother of 4 she has 27 years of experience and is devoted to serving others and helping them understand how branded promotional campaigns can using online and offline tactics can generate awareness and make you money!

On being a black woman...

“To be a black woman to me means: living on purpose as a creator and leader with a vision and changing stereotypes and redefining the future, by being uniquely me and embracing all of my flaws – whilst supporting others doing what I love, making an impact and being the voice for the voiceless whenever I can”

Zoe Bennett

Business Nominee
zoe bennett

Founder
Training Personified Ltd

Zoe Bennett, BEM, also known as “The Motivational Queen,” is an acclaimed international speaker, Mindset Resilience Coach, and multi-award-winning entrepreneur dedicated to empowering individuals through personal development, employability, and entrepreneurship.

As the founder of Training Personified Ltd, Zoe works with a diverse client base—including Serco, Deloitte, Heinz, the FA, and NatWest—focusing on confidence-building and resilience for groups such as the homeless, ex-offenders, and those with mental health challenges. Her motivational approach encourages people to achieve their career aspirations by coaching themselves to success. Zoe has partnered with NatWest since 2018, running masterclasses that help business owners scale their ventures.

As CEO and Founder of the prestigious MBCC Awards, she recognises unsung heroes in the community, and provides a platform of support and visibility for them. Amongst all Zoe was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2023 for her work inspiring disadvantaged individuals.

On being a black woman...

“Being a Black woman means embodying resilience and excellence under unique pressures—where the path is often steeper and the scrutiny much sharper. It’s about working not just twice as hard, but triple hard, to reach goals that others might achieve with less effort or resistance. The constant expectation to exceed, to excel, and to prove oneself at every turn can be overwhelming, but it also shapes a strength and tenacity unmatched by any other experience.

For a Black woman, every move and every word carries weight. Navigating interactions with an unspoken awareness that things others take for granted—expressing frustration, asserting boundaries, or even simply being unapologetically oneself—can be misinterpreted or used against her. There’s no room for mistakes; the consequences are amplified, often unfairly, demanding a constant vigilance and composure.

Living without the safety net of privilege, without the space for even minor missteps, shapes an extraordinary resilience. It means refining the art of perseverance, of staying true to yourself while always being mindful of how you’re perceived. This strength isn’t given; it’s forged, day by day, through the determination to rise above expectations and to shine in spaces that weren’t always made with you in mind.

Being a Black woman means embodying grace under pressure, turning challenges into triumphs, and pushing forward with an unshakeable belief in your worth and capabilities—even when the world isn’t ready to recognise it. It’s power, wisdom, and unwavering strength, wrapped in dignity and pride.”

Simone Pennant

Business Nominee
simone pennant

Founder
TV Collective

Simone Pennant, MBE, is the founder and driving force behind The TV Collective, a pioneering network dedicated to connecting Black and Global Majority creatives within the screen industries to paid opportunities, the industry, and each other. With a clear mission to amplify underrepresented voices, Simone has supported hundreds of creatives over the years, most notably through the Breakthrough Leaders programme. Which in partnership with Sky, BBC, ITV, and Fremantle, has supported well over 200 industry leaders to smash the glass ceiling and make significant advancements in their careers.

Simone also hosts a thought-provoking podcast, offering candid discussions on industry challenges and opportunities from the unique perspectives of the community she serves. This conversation extends further through her TV Collective LIVE festival—a dynamic eight-day event featuring high-profile speakers and experts who connect, share advice, and inspire emerging and established talent alike.

Her transformative impact was recently recognized by the Royal Television Society, who honoured Simone with a Special Impact Award for her tireless support of freelancers during one of the industry’s most challenging years since the pandemic.

On being a black woman...

“The power to create WORLDS lies in our hearts, heads and between our thighs”

Don't miss The Exciting Awards Ceremony & After-Party

9th March 2025, London

You’ve voted for your favourite nominee, now show your support and secure your place at this gala Awards night, celebrating women of colour and their achievements.

THE POWER OF A WOMAN AWARDS 2025
Sunday 9th March

De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, 
London WC2B 5DA

THE POWER OF A WOMAN AWARDS

Sunday 9th March 2025

De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms,  London WC2B 5DA

PROUD SUPPORTERS OF
Pink Ribbon Foundation supports woman with cancer.
(Reg. Charity No. 1080839)
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