
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment Announces 2025 Wonder Women Awards Finalists and Vanguard Honoree Maya Rogers
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