Finalists Announced: Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WIT) proudly reveals the highly anticipated slate of finalists for the prestigious 2023 Wonder Women Awards. This esteemed recognition honors outstanding female executives, thought leaders, entrepreneurs and changemakers, whose exceptional accomplishments have made a profound impact on the toy, licensing and entertainment industries.
The 2023 Wonder Women Award Finalists are:
BRAND FRANCHISE
Anna Songco Adamian, Crunchyroll
Anne Marie Horne, Hasbro, Inc.
Melissa Rodriguez, Universal Products & Experiences
COMMERCIAL SALES
Alexis Hoopes, Mattel
Allyson Kalvonjian, Paramount
Angela Filippone, Just Play
Chelsea Stevens, ZURU
Jessica Wichard, Jazwares
Joy Booth, Spin Master
Julie Thompson, LEGO Systems, Inc.
Kristen Shackleford, Amazon
Mary Wood, TOMY International
Refugio Lando, Hasbro, Inc.
CREATIVE GENIUS
Carly McGinnis, Exploding Kittens
Jamie Emmick, Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company
Joanna Delany, Mattel
Julie Doverspike, Goliath Group
Kristen Beam, LEGO Systems, Inc.
Lauren Killian, Jazwares
Marlyn Palmer, Spin Master
Melissa (Mel) Hershey, Hasbro, Inc.
Rainey Perez, Amazon
Ruth Balbach, Universal Products & Experiences
DESIGNER/INVENTOR – CORPORATE
Allie Jennings, Hasbro, Inc.
Doreen Fazio, LEGO Systems, Inc.
Kana Claussen, Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company
Natasha McGrath, Mattel
Liv DeLuca, TOMY International
Sunny Cho, Jazwares
Vanessa Wilson, Spin Master
Wendi Wing, Moose Toys
DESIGNER/INVENTOR – INDEPENDENT
April Mitchell, 4A’s Creations
Britney Crowell, CurlCap
Elenor Mak, Jilly Bing
Lauren Cecchi, Signables
Marina Khidekel, Hugimals World
Melody Hsieh-Hornstra, Mobo Cruisers, ASA Products
Sheila Gray, Sheila Gray Collection
DIGITAL STORYTELLING
Alexandra Kavalova, Spin Master
Allie Walker, SuperAwesome
Amy Kelly, LEGO Systems, Inc.
Kat Marr, ZURU
Leah Ringelstein, Zigazoo
Sara DeWitt, PBS Kids
Sarah Braun, Amazon
Shenae Gill, Hasbro, Inc.
INBOUND LICENSING
Cat Caterisano, Goliath Group
Judy Huang, Mattel
Margaret Abroms, Spin Master
Molly Robbins, USPA Global Licensing
Surina Modha, Universal Products & Experiences
Tanya Thompson, Hasbro, Inc.
MARKETING
Amanda Moldovan, Mattel
Francesca Sonand, ZURU
Grace Ng, Moose Toys
Jessica Kalichman, WowWee
Jonelle Brown, Paramount
Julie Gwaltney, TOMY International
Kelly Searfoss, Jazwares
Lauren Haxell, Hasbro, Inc.
Stephanie Guo, Spin Master
Taylor Beach, Amazon
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Amarilis Whitty, Mattel
Caleigh Anthony, Spin Master
Claudia Vine, Moose Toys
Kassandra O’Brien, ChizSix Marketing & Media
Lauren Purnell, Universal Products & Experiences
Libby Shearer, ZURU
Molly Lindemann-Paolillo, TOMY International
Molly Martin, The LEGO Group
RISING LEADER (>500 EMPLOYEES)
Adeline Trento, Toys”R”Us at Macy’s
Alysha Curtis, Moose Toys
Angela Beck, Mattel
Elizabeth McFarlane, Paramount
Irene Li, ZURU
Lorena Montalvo, TOMY International
Madeline Boushie, LEGO Systems, Inc.
Meredith Brooks, Hasbro, Inc.
Rakhee Ghelani, Universal Products & Experiences
Reilly Bailey, Learning Express Toys
Sasha Bash, Amazon
Shabnam Elmi, Minecraft (Microsoft)
Vanessa Raponi, Spin Master
RISING LEADER (<500 EMPLOYEES)
Akruti Babaria, Kulture Khazana, LLC
Amy Bastuga, Radio Flyer
Anna Griese, Toysmith
Carolina Acosta, Tragos Games
Devanshi Kejriwal, Skillmatics
Kelly Kirk-Xu, Money Masters (Walter the Vault)
Kim Chang, Just Play
Lana West, Schleich USA, Inc.
Laurie Lane, Create A Castle
Shail Mehta, The Last Gameboard
Tysha Brown, Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company
SOCIAL IMPACT – CORPORATE
Crystal Miller, Mattel
Deb Silver, Jazwares
Emilia Hogan, TOMY International
Fiona Hardie, Amazon
Kara Hong, ZURU
Kate O’Loughlin, SuperAwesome
Nicole McGinn, Spin Master
Pamela Krominga, Target
Shelly Mazzanoble, Hasbro, Inc.
Victoria Gomez, LEGO Systems, Inc.
SOCIAL IMPACT – INDEPENDENT
April Showers, Afro Unicorn
Helen Townsend, Sustained Fun
Kirsten Field, Kid Crafts, LLC
Kusuma Reddy, Culturorama Toys
Paige McInnis, Little Change Creators
Dr. Zabina Bhasin, In KidZ
Voting will be open to all WIT members, from Wednesday, August 9 to Wednesday, August 23, 2023. Winners will be announced at the Wonder Women Awards Gala, to be held Sunday, October 1st at Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, coinciding with Toy Fair New York.
“The Wonder Women Awards is a beacon of inspiration, spotlighting visionary women in our industry for their exceptional dedication and innovation,” said Ehi Oviasu-Kahn, Wonder Women Awards Committee Co-Chair. “These remarkable finalists represent the pinnacle of success and exemplify the spirit of excellence that drives the WiT community and our industry forward.”
“This year’s theme of Thriving Together: Celebrating Boldness, Impact and Collaboration, echoes the core values of WiT,” said Nancy Molenda, Wonder Women Awards Committee Co-Chair. “We celebrate these extraordinary women for their outstanding achievements, which have propelled positive change that continues to shape our industry’s landscape, and empower the next generation of leaders.”
Click here to learn more about the 2023 Wonder Women finalists. To purchase tickets/tables, or to sponsor the Wonder Woman Awards, please visit www.WomenInToys.com.
With gratitude, WiT thanks its generous 2023 sponsors, including Mattel, Paramount, Amazon, Hasbro, LEGO, Spin Master, Jazwares, Bandai Foundation, TOMY, and the many sponsors whose donations support the organization year-round. Proceeds from this event help fund the WiT Foundation Scholarship Program, and critical year-round WiT programming and initiatives.
