Los Angeles, CA — Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT), proudly announces the 2025 Wonder Women Awards Finalists, an extraordinary group of women whose leadership, creativity, and innovation are shaping the future of toys, consumer products, licensing, and entertainment. The evening’s festivities will include the honoring of Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris, with the prestigious WiT Vanguard Award.

Our finalists represent the very best of our industry, from powerhouse executives and inspiring entrepreneurs to behind-the-scenes champions making a lasting impact. The Wonder Women Awards is where their stories are honored, their contributions recognized, and their communities elevated.

Adding to the night’s celebration, WiT is thrilled to present Maya Rogers with the 2025 WiT Vanguard Award, recognizing her transformational leadership. Maya has reimagined one of the world’s most iconic video game brands into a global lifestyle powerhouse, bringing Tetris into new cultural spaces across entertainment, consumer products, and fashion.

The WiT Vanguard Award honors those redefining what’s possible in our industry and Maya is a powerful example of what leadership looks like when driven by purpose, inclusion, and creativity.

This year’s gala will take place on Thursday, September 11th at 6pm at The Beverly Hilton, the iconic awards ceremony venue. The theme, “All That Glitters Is Truly Gold,” celebrates the brilliance each finalist brings to the industry through bold ideas and everyday excellence.

“The Wonder Women Awards is a reminder that our greatest strength lies in how we uplift and celebrate one another,” said Co-Chairs Nancy Molenda and Deirdre Cross. “This year’s finalists and our honoree Maya Rogers are shaping the future with bold vision, inclusive leadership, and a deep commitment to community. We’re honored to recognize their extraordinary impact.”

Voting for the Wonder Women Awards is open to WiT members from July 14 through August 1, 2025, and winners will be announced live at the gala.

To reserve tickets, view the full list of finalists, or learn more about the celebration, visit: https://www.womenintoys.com/wonder-woman-awards 

BRAND FRANCHISE

Anna Songco Adamian, Crunchyroll Esra Cafer & Kristin McKay, Hasbro, Inc.

Jamie Drew, Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences Laura Henderson, Spin Master

Maddie Boushie, LEGO Systems, Inc.

Melissa Rodriguez, Universal Products & Experiences

Ruth Henriquez, Mattel

Suzy Lee Raia, BBC Studios

Taryn Johnson, Disney Consumer Products

CATALYST FOR CHANGE (UNDER 500 EMPLOYEES)

Dr. Amanda Gummer, Fundamentally Children

Genna Rosenberg, GennComm

Juliana VanLaanen, 2MamaBees

Katie Goldstein, SuperAwesome

Lisa Boatman, Exploding Kittens

Nana Bouwens,Tears R us

Rachele Harmuth, MESH Helps and CrunchLabs

CATALYST FOR CHANGE (OVER 500 EMPLOYEES)

Alex Yee, Disney

Arianna Ryan, Asmodee

Carolina Giuga, LEGO Systems, Inc.

Kate Zahra, Moose Toys

COMMERCIAL EXCELLENCE

Amy Sullivan, Cloudco Entertainment

Ashley Emig, Melissa & Doug, Spin Master

Carrie Mueller, VTech Electronics North America

Celica Costantino, Ageless Innovation

Chelsea Wood, Relatable

Daniela Cavinatto, LEGO Systems, Inc.

Emily Maclennan, Moose Toys

Fiona Hardie, Amazon

Holly Sestak, Disney

Lauren Adelsberger Harmer and Megan Fenningham, Jazwares Megan Sapin, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Sara Humphreys, Hasbro, Inc.

Tara Gartman, Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

Tara George, Mattel

Tracy Rapose, Just Play

DESIGNER/INVENTOR – CORPORATE

Audrey Freda Tam, Moose Toys

Brianna “Bree” Woodward, Asmodee

Danielle Gleason, CrunchLabs

Emma Peat, Spin Master

Harmony Hines-Slattery, Disney Parks

Jihye Kim, Just Play

Kate Fakonas, Hasbro, Inc. Mari Sunderland, LeapFrog Global/VTech Michele Adamsen, Playmates Toys Inc.

Miya Kim, Jazwares

Rebecca Shipman, Mattel

Stephanie Kraus, Universal Products & Experiences

Sung Park, Disney Licensing

DESIGNER/INVENTOR – SMALL BUSINESS / ENTREPRENEUR

April Mitchell, 4A’s Creations, LLC

Carla Schneider, WubbaNub

Ellie Dix, The Dark Imp

Morgan Uhl, Knobēz

Sally Connolly, Napa Valley Toys USA

Serena Fadlun

DIGITAL INNOVATOR

Amanda Muller, Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

Christine Tran, Amazon

Daisy Ritz, Exploding Kittens

Jess Kirkman, Mattel  Katherine Schober, Jazwares

Lindsey Pitts, LEGO Systems, Inc. Marjory Laymon, Hasbro, Inc.

Ray Billings, The Op Games

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY LEADER

Aditi Mittal, Amazon

Carrie Buse, Mattel

Deborah Stallings Stumm, FUNfluential

Hannah Grant, SuperAwesome

Kristin Size, LEGO Systems, Inc.

INBOUND LICENSING

Amy Jarashow, Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

Charlotte Payne, Cloudco Entertainment

Donyelle Evans, Mattel

Hollie Holmes, Moose Toys Kathleen Lin Wo, LEGO Systems, Inc. Kathryn Hardy, Just Play Marianne James, Hasbro, Inc.

LICENSING AGENT / AGENCY

Carla Silva, King Features – a unit of Hearst

Heidi Schwartz, Universal Branding & Media

Laurie Smith, The Brand Liaison

MARKETING VISIONARY

Audrey Cao, The Woobles

Elizabeth Ing, Entertainment Earth

Estelle Vareilles, Asmodee

Georgia Manolas Walker, Playmates Toys Inc.

Holly Koval, Spin Master

Jillian Schumacher, Brotherwise Games

Julie Poulter, Moose Toys

Karen Balduf, VTech Electronics North America

Katie Buford, Mattel

Kelly Ryan, Amazon

Kristeen Tibbits, Cloudco Entertainment

Meghan Quinn, Just Play

MENTOR OF THE YEAR

Alysha Curtis, Moose Toys Jessica Schultz, Just Play Jill Strain, LEGO Systems Inc.

Karen Branson, Relatable

Laura Christy, Jazwares

Morgan Renken, Entertainment Earth

Tal Schrieber, Spin Master

PR EXCELLENCE

Caleigh Anthony, Spin Master

Elisa Martinez, Mattel

Elizabeth Foster, Licensing International

Lucy Silag, Amazon

Rachel Sandler, Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

Sara Rosales Montalvo, Jazwares

RISING LEADER (UNDER 500 EMPLOYEES)

Audrey Torrence, Basic Fun, Inc.

Berit Ginsberg, King Features – a unit of Hearst

Haley Hinshaw, CrunchLabs Joyce Sprau, Creata (USA) Inc.

Kellee Vopelak, Exploding Kittens

Liz Starry, Relatable

Michelle Hawthorn, Born To Play

RISING LEADER (OVER 500 EMPLOYEES)

Angie Oung, Moose Toys

Catherine Sutherland, Paramount Consumer Products & Experiences

Deborah Strumpf, Mattel

Elaine Chase, Ravensburger

Jackeline Gonzalez, Universal Products & Experiences Jayme Thompson, Just Play

Jennifer Nelson, LEGO Systems Inc. Megan Margolis, Hasbro, Inc.

Minna Seifert, Spin Master

Serina Fignole, Jazwares

Taylor Mason, Amazon

Tiffany Lavery,  VTech Electronics North America

SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

Brea Brand, CONNETIX

Heather O’Neill, 9th Level Games

Helen Smith, Roo & You™

Justine Tiu, The Woobles

Kusuma Reddy, The Culturorama

Macy Schmidt, Overture Global Entertainment

Marjorie Spitalnik, Little Rebels

Rachel Neill, Figgy

UNSUNG HERO (UNDER 500 EMPLOYEES)

Aly Ard, CrunchLabs

Amy Baker, Exploding Kittens

Ashlee Virtue, Relatable

Cheyanne Huke, Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld

Christina Smith, Miniature Market

Gabi Mattinson, Cloudco Entertainment

Helen Xu, The Woobles

Maria Ungaro, Licensing International

UNSUNG HERO (OVER 500 EMPLOYEES)

Cameron Brown, Amazon

Céline Bucki, Asmodee

Kathy Casey, Mattel

Katie Generazio, Hasbro, Inc.

Keren Globus, Jazwares

Libby Birch, Moose Toys

Stephanie Fischer, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America Inc.

Stephanie North, Just Play

Tina Colantuono, LEGO Systems Inc.

WIT CHAMPION

Gabby Diaz, LEGO Systems Inc.

Julien Sharp, Asmodee

Robin Darling, Mattel

Stacy Lewis, StacyLoo

Stacy Liebensohn, The Toy Association

ABOUT WOMEN IN TOYS, LICENSING & ENTERTAINMENT
Founded in 1991, Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) is the leading global 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving women across the toy, consumer products, licensing, and entertainment industries. WiT empowers women to create, make, and monetize their expertise, connecting the economic value chain from concept to commerce through access, resources, and community. With 25 chapters worldwide, WiT supports a diverse network of professionals at all career stages through impactful programming, mentorship, scholarship, and community-building. Our coalition of women and men is driving positive growth, reshaping the business landscape, and creating unparalleled opportunities for its members. Learn more at womenintoys.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook