Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) announced the winners of the 2025 Wonder Women Awards, celebrated in true fashion at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles last week. This year’s gala embraced the theme “All That Glitters Is Truly Gold” — a tribute to the brilliance that every honoree brings to our community, WIT told Toys n Playthings.
The evening also honoured Maya Rogers, CEO of Tetris, with the prestigious Vanguard Award. Rogers was recognised for her exceptional leadership and vision in elevating one of the world’s most iconic entertainment brands, reimagining Tetris into a global lifestyle powerhouse while inspiring generations of leaders across gaming, consumer products, and entertainment.
The 2025 Wonder Women Award Winners Are:
● Brand Franchise: BBC Studios: Suzy Raia, Kirsten Fallon, Paulina Abrams, Jill Cook, Katie Scalere, Kealan Casey, Josh Pavloff, Francesca Flanagan, Carolina Cabal, Shannon Cuthbert, Stephanie Mendoza, Melissa Majerowicz
● Catalyst for Change (under 500): Rachele Harmuth, CrunchLabs & MESH Helps, Genna Rosenberg, GennComm
● Catalyst for Change (over 500): Alex Yee, Disney
● Commercial Excellence: Tara Gartman, Paramount
● Designer/Inventor (Corporate): Kate Fakonas, Hasbr
● Digital Innovator: Christine Tran, Amazon
● Emerging Technology Leader: Kristin Size, LEGO
● Inbound Licensing: Hollie Holmes, Moose Toys
● Licensing Agent: Heidi Schwartz, Universal Branding & Media
● Marketing: Katie Buford, Mattel
● Mentor of the Year: Tal Schrieber, Spin Master
● PR Excellence: Sara Rosales Montalvo, Jazwares
● Rising Leader (under 500) Employees: Audrey Torrence, Basic Fun
● Rising Leader (over 500) Employees: Megan Margolis, Hasbro
● Small Business Owner of the Year: Justine Tiu, The Woobles
● Unsung Hero (under 500) Employees: Ashlee Virtue, Relatable
● Unsung Hero (over 500) Employees: Stephanie North, Just Play, Stephanie Fischer, Bandai
● WiT Champion: Julien Sharp, Asmodee
“The Wonder Women Awards is more than an evening of trophies — it’s a golden moment where our community shines,” said Nancy Molenda and Deirdre Cross, Co-Chairs of the Wonder Women Awards.
“Tonight we celebrate women who invent and design, market and mentor, license and lead — the very leaders who build the products we love and the partnerships that move our industry forward. This event captures the brilliance of what happens when our WiT community comes together and proves that when one of us wins, we all win.”
WiT extends heartfelt thanks to its 2025 sponsors including Amazon, Mattel, Hasbro, Paramount, Bandai, Disney, Jazwares, LEGO, Spin Master, VTech, and many others for their generous investment in driving positive change for women. Proceeds from the Wonder Women Awards support WiT’s vital programming, mentorship, and the WiT Foundation Scholarship Program
Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment (WiT) is a 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.
