Veuve Clicquot unveils bold woman award shortlist for 2026
The chief executive of PizzaExpress, the founder of MOBO Awards and the co-founder of one of Europe’s fastest-growing matcha brands are among the finalists for the 2026 Veuve Clicquot Bold Awards.
Now in its 54th year, the awards are the longest-running international honours dedicated to celebrating women in business. Founded in tribute to Madame Clicquot — who took over the Champagne house at 27 and defied the conventions of her era — the programme recognises women who combine commercial success with bold, transformative leadership.
The awards are split into two categories: the Bold Woman Award, honouring established leaders, and the Bold Future Award, spotlighting emerging entrepreneurs shaping the next generation of enterprise.
Among this year’s senior leaders is Paula MacKenzie, chief executive of PizzaExpress. Since taking the helm, MacKenzie has overseen a nationwide refurbishment programme, introduced new concepts including the PizzaExpress Pod, and expanded the brand both domestically and internationally. Under her leadership, the company has achieved record customer satisfaction levels and launched PX Records, its own record label, while raising more than £1m for charity.
Kanya King CBE, founder and CEO of the MOBO Group, is also shortlisted. Over three decades, she has grown the MOBO Awards from a niche celebration into a globally recognised cultural platform. In recent years she launched House of MOBO in South London and introduced MOBOLISE, a UK-first initiative aimed at equipping 100,000 Black talents with AI literacy and career development opportunities. The MOBO Awards mark their 30th anniversary in 2026.
Completing the trio is Smruti Sriram OBE, CEO of Bags of Ethics under parent company Supreme Creations. Sriram has positioned the business as a global leader in reusable packaging, working with brands including Dior, Harrods and Nike. Her vertically integrated supply chain model, which employs an 80% female workforce, has helped eliminate more than 30 billion single-use items worldwide while delivering consistent double-digit growth.
The Bold Future Award highlights ambitious founders building high-impact ventures.
Alisha Fredriksson, co-founder and CEO of Seabound, has developed a modular carbon capture system that can retrofit existing ships and reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 95%. In under four years, she has taken the business from concept to commercial deployment with major shipping operators, building a specialist team and securing £8.5m in funding.
Josephine Philips, founder of SOJO, has modernised the clothing repair sector by integrating proprietary technology, logistics and in-house operations. The platform now partners with brands including Ralph Lauren, Selfridges and Marks & Spencer.
Marisa Poster, co-founder of PerfectTed, rounds out the shortlist. At 28, she has helped scale the matcha-based drinks brand to a reported £50m in annual recurring revenue, with distribution in more than 30,000 retail and café locations across over 50 countries.
Previous winners of the awards include Julia Hoggett, Professor Sarah Gilbert and Anne Pitcher, reflecting the breadth of sectors represented, from finance and science to retail and culture.
Thomas Mulliez, president of Veuve Clicquot, said this year’s shortlist reflects the pioneering spirit of Madame Clicquot. “They are redefining what business can be — from tackling plastic pollution and fashion waste to cementing Black music at the heart of British culture.”
Sian Westerman, board member of the British Fashion Council and a judge for the awards, said the finalists exemplify resilience in the face of structural barriers that continue to challenge women in leadership and entrepreneurship.
The winners will be announced at a ceremony in London on 20 May, bringing together senior figures from across business, culture and industry to celebrate audacious female leadership.
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Veuve Clicquot unveils bold woman award shortlist for 2026
