Veuve Clicquot reveals 2026 Bold Woman Award shortlist
Veuve Clicquot has unveiled the shortlist for its 2026 Bold Woman Awards, now in their 54th year and described by the house as the longest-running international honours for women in business.
According to Veuve Clicquot, the awards recognise “exceptional, audacious women in business who have achieved both institutional and personal success”, while the Bold Future Award celebrates ambitious emerging entrepreneurs. The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on 20 May.
Thomas Mulliez, president of Veuve Clicquot, said: “Madame Clicquot was just 27 when she took the reins of her husband’s Champagne house, in an era where women were excluded from the business world. She led Veuve Clicquot to become a brand of excellence, proving that courage, vision, and relentless determination can break barriers and rewrite the rules.
“This year’s shortlist truly embodies the legacy 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. Bold, inventive, and unafraid to challenge convention, they show that innovation and ambition can create both commercial success and lasting societal change.”
Bold woman award finalists
Among those shortlisted for the Bold Woman Award is Paula MacKenzie, chief executive of PizzaExpress. According to the organisers, during her tenure she has achieved record customer satisfaction, overseen a nationwide refurbishment programme and introduced new concepts including the PizzaExpress Pod. The business has opened dozens of restaurants in the UK and internationally and launched PX Records, while raising more than £1 million for charity.
Kanya King CBE, founder and chief executive of MOBO Group, also features. King has developed the MOBO Awards from what is described as a fringe celebration into a major cultural export. The MOBO Awards mark their 30th year in 2026. King recently launched House of MOBO, a cultural hub in South London, and MOBOLISE, a career development platform, which in late 2024 began a UK-first initiative aimed at equipping 100,000 Black talents with AI literacy and career opportunities.
Smruti Sriram OBE, chief executive of Bags of Ethics, completes the category. According to Veuve Clicquot, she has helped transform the business into a global leader in reusable packaging and merchandise, contributing to the elimination of more than 30 billion single-use items worldwide. Working with brands including Dior, Harrods and Nike, she has championed a vertically integrated supply chain employing an 80% female workforce and delivered 15 to 30% year-on-year growth.
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Bold future award finalists
The Bold Future Award shortlist includes Alisha Fredriksson, chief executive and co-founder of Seabound. According to the organisers, she has led the development of a modular carbon capture system designed to retrofit existing ships and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 95%. In under four years, she has taken the business from concept to commercialisation with tier one shipping companies, building a team of 18 and raising £8.5 million in funding and grants.
Josephine Philips, founder of SOJO, is also shortlisted. As per Veuve Clicquot, SOJO integrates proprietary technology, logistics and an in house repair centre and now provides repair services to brands including Ralph Lauren, Selfridges and Marks and Spencer.
Marisa Poster, co-founder of PerfectTed, is recognised for building what the organisers describe as a £50 million ARR business at the age of 28. PerfectTed products are stocked in more than 30,000 retail and café locations across more than 50 countries and, according to the awards body, it is the fastest-growing founder-led brand and retail business in the UK.
Judges on the barriers ahead
Sian Westerman, board member at the British Fashion Council and judge for the awards, said: “The path for women in leadership roles remains disproportionately steep. Many face hurdles from ingrained biases to a lack of funding for female founders.
“However, the women on this year’s shortlist refuse to simply endure this difficult ascent. Through their work, tackling some of today’s most pressing challenges. They don’t settle for the way things have always been done. They challenge, disrupt, and ensure the door remains firmly open for those who follow.”
Previous winners include Dame Julia Hoggett DBE, chief executive of the London Stock Exchange plc, Professor Sarah Gilbert for her leadership in developing Oxford University’s Covid-19 vaccine in 2021, and Anne Pitcher, former chief executive of Selfridges in 2020, according to Veuve Clicquot.
Champagne and couture
As previously reported by the drinks business, Veuve Clicquot has also pursued collaborations beyond the world of enterprise awards. In September 2025, the house partnered with French designer Simon Porte Jacquemus on a limited edition reinterpretation of La Grande Dame 2018, aligning its prestige cuvée with contemporary fashion.
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