On International Women's Day 2025, we kicked off a special campaign to celebrate the remarkable women shaping the future of B2B events.
We proudly launched our first-ever Zuddl W50 Award to spotlight 50 standout women selected from nominations by event industry peers. Throughout March, we received hundreds of nominations, and based on stringent criteria, we narrowed down the top 50.
At our latest virtual event, Huddl with Zuddl (watch on demand), we announced these inspiring winners.
This blog post brings you all the details—the winners and their professional backgrounds, LinkedIn profiles, and exactly why they’ve earned this recognition. Feel free to connect, get inspired, and learn from these phenomenal leaders.
Meet the top 50 women shaping the future of B2B events
- Bridget Phelps: Director, Strategic Marketing Programs & Events at Alteryx
Bridget has been a driving force behind global programs like the Alteryx Executive Summit and Inspire conference. With over 13 years in the events space, she leads with precision and purpose, crafting standout sessions that spotlight Alteryx’s innovations and real-world AI impact.
- Merissa Sangenito: Director Event Marketing at Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.
Merissa brings nearly 30 years of vision and excellence to Broadridge’s events. She’s built conference experiences that marry precision with brand creativity—earning her a place as one of the finance industry’s most trusted event leaders.
- Meghan Rhoades: Director of Global Events at Avaya
Meghan is the powerhouse behind Avaya ENGAGE, blending 14+ years of experience with strategic vision and seamless execution. Her work brings large-scale global conferences to life, driving global impact through creativity, logistics, and leadership.
- Laura A. Bell: Sr. Director, Global Strategic Events at Coupa Software
At Coupa, Laura executes a global event strategy that unites marketing, sales, and customer success. Her leadership has turned Coupa Inspire into a flagship industry event for procurement and finance experiences.
- Kristen Flores: Head of Event Engagement at BetterUp
Kristen channels her 13+ years of expertise into creating immersive, human-centered event experiences that resonate. From experiential activations to meaningful conversations, she’s turned BetterUp’s events into connection-driven platforms with purpose and long-lasting impact. - Kathryn Kinneberg: US Event Marketing Manager at Crayon
With more than 10 years in events, Kathryn leads high-impact ABM events at Crayon. She blends creativity, competitive intel, and buyer intent to deliver experiences that punch above their weight and drive market differentiation. - Taylor Conway: Principal Director, Marketing Events at Envestnet
Taylor’s decade of experience shines through her high-impact financial services events at Envestnet. She constantly delivers high-value, human-centered experiences for advisors, partners, and clients. - Kate McCarthy: Director of Global Events at Datadog
Through her 10+ years of experience, Kate brings precision, poise, and white-glove execution to every event. With a background spanning corporate, government, and associations, she’s a strategic force behind Datadog’s DASH conference and its global success. - Kelley Sauer: Manager, Experiential Events at Figma
At Figma, Kelley crafts immersive experiences that fuel community and creativity. With 13+ years across brands like Shopify and Sparks, she brings a unique blend of logistics and storytelling to every touchpoint. - Amy Feinberg: Global Events Marketing Manager at Emerson Electric
Amy is a master of translating complex tech into engaging event stories. With 18+ years in automation, MedTech, and design, she turns Emerson’s Exchange event into an immersive, high-trust brand experience.
- Courtney Jackson: Senior Director, US Events Operations at Forrester Research
Courtney is the operational genius behind Forrester’s flagship events. With 20+ years of expertise, she scales event operations seamlessly across formats, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and unmatched attendee value.
- Dyan McClendon: Director, Events at Frost & Sullivan
Dyan is behind the super-successful Frost & Sullivan’s Customer Contact series. With 17+ years in events, she curates high-touch, insight-rich experiences that align strategic goals with real attendee value. - Amy Mackreth: Vice President, Global Event Marketing at Databricks
With 14+ years of events excellence, Amy transforms events into revenue engines—leading 200+ global activations and Databricks’ 16K+ attendee summit with unmatched creativity, scale, and execution. - Traci Stephenson: Senior Event Marketing Manager at Henry Schein Inc.
Traci brings a sharp mix of creativity and clarity to health tech events. At Henry Schein, her Thrive Live series redefines event marketing—delivering seamless execution and standout brand engagement. - Keegan Hooks: VP, Global Events at Informatica
A 20-year industry veteran, Keegan leads global event experiences with intention and innovation. At Informatica, she builds immersive, data-driven programs that deepen enterprise relationships and deliver measurable business outcomes. - Tanya Angus: Director, Global Events at Kinaxis
With 13+ years in the industry, Tanya leads global events with strategy, scale, and a human-first mindset. At Kinaxis, she’s known for flawlessly delivering large-scale experiences that center attendees, proving that operational and creative excellence go hand in hand. - Melissa Vinall: Senior Event Marketing Manager at Morningstar Investment Management LLC
A versatile events and marketing specialist, Melissa brings 8+ years of experience to Morningstar. She blends precision and creativity to deliver conferences that inform, inspire, and move the needle for both attendees and the business. - Michelle Mathias: Director of Events at NICE Ltd
Michelle is the strategic genius behind NICE’s event success. With a strong grasp of both audience behavior and brand value, she designs events that are deeply engaging, high-performing, and unforgettable. - Samantha Muntean: Event Manager, Tradeshows at Actimize
Samantha brings 9+ years of rigor and intention to every tradeshow she touches. In her current role at Actimize, she drives excellence and innovation across the company’s global tradeshow strategy. - Emily Lachapelle: Senior Director, Events & Marketing at NielsenIQ
Emily combines 15+ years of trade show and brand marketing expertise to deliver results-driven experiences at NielsenIQ. Her data-driven, high-growth approach keeps events aligned with business strategy and attendee expectations.
- Paige Tyson: Event Marketing Manager at Prometheus Group
At Prometheus Group, Paige delivers user conferences that are strategically aligned and community-focused—creating real value for attendees and driving connection at every level. - Juanita Pina: Senior Event Marketing Manager at Moody’s RMS
An event pro with 11+ years under her belt, Juanita turns strategy into impact at Moody’s RMS. She’s the powerhouse behind Exceedance, blending tight project management with creative execution to build brand equity. - Kimberly Dorony, CMP, DES: Director, Events at Sage
With 20+ years in events, Kimberly brings a powerful mix of precision, vision, and heart. At Sage, she leads global event strategy rooted in operational excellence and authentic brand storytelling. - Julia Ross: Director, Events Marketing at Tyler Technologies
Julia is the architect behind Tyler Connect, a leading event for public-sector tech. With 11+ years in the field, she designs experiences that educate, connect, and inspire long-term partnerships and community growth. - Kristina DeBrito: Director, Strategic Events at Iterable
With over a decade in events, Kristina is redefining B2B event excellence through bold strategy, innovation, and creative leadership at Iterable. - Dianne Keohane: Senior Manager, Events at Workhuman
Dianne brings 9+ years of experience across digital and in-person event production to drive authentic, human-first experiences at Workhuman. - Trinia Bruchman: Senior Event Manager & Producer at Zuora
Trinia is the creative engine behind some of Zuora’s most engaging events. With 15+ years of production experience, she seamlessly blends story and strategy to turn events into unforgettable brand experiences. - Melanie Robinson: CEO at WEBB Productions
Melanie blends operations savvy with creative tech innovation, delivering unforgettable brand experiences as CEO of WEBB Productions. - Jackie Colligan: Director, Global Field Marketing at Reltio
Jackie scaled Reltio’s event marketing from zero to 30+ annual programs post-COVID—driving serious impact across pipeline and sales. - Misty Kaufman: Marketing Events Manager at The 20 MSP
With 14+ years in event marketing, Misty is the powerhouse behind VISION—The 20’s flagship MSP conference—turning it into a high-impact, community-driven industry staple. From strategic planning to immersive branding, she continues to set the bar for events in the IT space.
- Kayla Drake: Director of Field Marketing & ABM at StackAdapt
Kayla brings over a decade of expertise to transforming complex field marketing strategies into clear, actionable programs and actively mentors emerging event marketing leaders. - Jess Smith: Head of Marketing EMEA at Meltwater
With 8+ years in events, Jess skillfully leads Meltwater’s EMEA marketing, tailoring standout event formats, whether it’s hosting Business Breakfasts in London, CMO Circles in Amsterdam, or Executive Dinners in Dubai. - LaKisha Mosley: Mental Health Advocate & Coach
LaKisha leverages 12+ years of expertise to create transformative wellness experiences through events, empowering women entrepreneurs to prioritize mental health alongside business growth.
- Merry Austin: Marketing Manager, Events + Community at Osano
In just 4+ years, Merry has raised the bar with her positive energy, detailed planning, and effortless execution—making Osano’s events truly memorable and impactful. - Tenny Andriassian: Sr. Director, Corporate Marketing at ServiceTitan
Over the course of her 19+ years career, Tenny has turned events at Cornerstone and ServiceTitan into high-impact, community-driven experiences that redefine the power of B2B gatherings. - Jules Kelly: Sr. Field Marketing Specialist at Jellyfish
Jules quickly rose from BDR to independently leading Jellyfish’s event strategy, becoming a valued field partner and cultural leader. - Esther Kim: Director of Marketing at Effectual
With 10+ years of industry experience, Esther blends elegance, vision, and flawless execution across Effectual’s events. She passionately advocates for women in leadership. - Dionne Maria Vaz: Marketing Director at CoinDesk
Dionne’s impressive 10+ years of experience across diverse industries—from defense to blockchain—helps her effectively manage events ranging from intimate gatherings to 20,000-attendee conferences. - Mary Tetlow: Chief Brand Officer at UiPath
Mary leverages her remarkable 25+ years of marketing and brand experience to drive UiPath’s flagship global events. She’s best known for her storytelling skills, humor, and charisma. - Chloe Richardson: Head of Content, ELX
With 15+ years shaping event strategies, Chloe is the industry’s go-to “Event Rockstar”, celebrated for her influential advocacy and creative leadership.
- Sonali Nair: CEO at Segment Agency
After 12+ years in events, Sonali pioneered Segment Agency’s groundbreaking event-sourced pipeline attribution model, proving events as powerful growth engines. - Keri Ibbitson: Director of Scientific Engagements & Events at Danaher Corporation
Keri brings 12+ years of event expertise, having grown from a logistics pro to a strategic leader. She’s constantly building strong teams and inspiring the next wave of event leaders. - Stephenie Lintl-McLean: Founder & Senior Event Strategist
With 15+ years driving strategic events aligned with business objectives, Stephenie actively empowers teams, mentors rising talent, and contributes significantly to women’s networks in events. - Nida Ateeq: Strategic Digital Marketing Leader at Anagar Media
Nida leads high-impact B2B events, driving data-driven audience strategies, innovative campaigns, and passionate advocacy for women entrepreneurs and immigrant communities. - Diana Kolesarova: Senior Event Marketing Manager at Superside
Diana leverages her 7+ years of expertise to craft brand-driven field experiences. She successfully executes targeted events from San Francisco to New York City, fueling significant revenue growth. - Katherine Tooley: VP of Global Events and Experiential Marketing at HubSpot
Katherine, an accomplished events pro with 22+ years of experience, leads global experiential marketing at HubSpot. She’s previously held senior roles at powerhouse brands like VICE Media and Refinery29. - EJ Oelling: VP, ABX at 6sense
EJ is a seasoned marketing leader known for delivering strategic events and campaigns that deeply connect with audiences and drive measurable business outcomes. - Stephanie Anderson: Event Manager, Community at ClickUp
Stephanie’s decade-plus years in show production and event management for audiences of 40,000+ highlight her hyper-organized creativity and meticulous attention to creating impactful experiences. - Sara Straw: Head of Events & Field Marketing at Deel
With 20+ years of global experience, Sara strategically leads field marketing at Deel, actively contributes to industry networks, and hosts The Solo Travel Woman Podcast. - Danielle Damiano Medeiros: Brand & Experiential Marketing Leader at LinkedIn
Danielle transforms every event at LinkedIn into a powerful masterclass in brand storytelling, experience design, and strategic execution. She’s an event pro with over 15+ years of industry experience.
That’s it for the winners of this year’s Zuddl W50 award. These 50 remarkable women aren’t just redefining B2B events; they're taking the entire industry forward. At Zuddl, we celebrate their achievements and eagerly look forward to the innovations they'll inspire next.