The Business Exchange Swindon & Wiltshire Edition 46: Dec/Jan 2019 | Page 6

BUSINESS NEWS
Denise O’Leary wins
International Stevie Awards
for Women in Business
Wiltshire marketing specialist Denise O’Leary
has won two coveted Stevie ® Awards at a
glittering ceremony in New York.
YES SUCCESS
2019 saw the launch of Young Enterprise Swindon
(YES), a business network for young people
(aged 18-35). YES is sponsored by the Swindon &
Wiltshire Growth Hub and facilitated by Andrew
Wells (Swindon Borough Council), Anita Jaynes
(The Business Exchange) and Ben Lawton and
Dan Pettitt (Ottr Works).
Aimed at entrepreneurs, young professionals
and students, the group brings together
like-minded people in a relaxed environment,
to connect, socialise, share knowledge and
ignite ideas.
YES highlights of the year include local
broadcaster and professional skateboarder,
James Threlfall MBE, appearing as guest
speaker as well as a night at Swindon’s
Hop Kettle Brewery accompanied with
food by The Grazing Company. A group
coaching session with voice, confidence and
engagement specialist, Kerry O’Dowd was
also held along with a special ‘going green’
themed event held at National Trust HQ.
Andrew Wells, said, “The first year of
Young Enterprise Swindon has been a
fantastic experience. We’ve met some
amazing young people who have set up
innovative and creative businesses or are
working for some of our fantastic employers
across Swindon & Wiltshire. The people that
have attended YES are as enthusiastic as we
are about building a community and network
for young people in business and we are
excited to see how the network develops in
year two.”
In December, Swindon’s Workshed is
playing host to a festive themed meet-up,
with laid back drinks provided by local
independent bar and coffee shop, Baila
Coffee and Vinyl.
YES will be back in 2020 with more events
across Swindon and Wiltshire. To find out
more about the network email: anita@tbesw.
co.ukand add YES Swindon to your favourites
in Eventbrite to be notified of future events.
Follow the conversation on social media:
@yeswindon #yeswindon
The founder of Purpol Marketing, based in Chippenham yet
working throughout the UK, was given a Silver award in the Female
Entrepreneur of the Year (Business Services, ten or less employees)
and a Bronze in the Most Innovative Woman of the Year (Advertising,
Marketing & Public Relations) in the 16th annual global Stevie Awards
for Women in Business.
The Stevie Awards for Women in Business
honour female employees, executives,
entrepreneurs and the companies they run
worldwide..
Nicknamed the Stevies after the Greek
word for “crowned,” the awards were
presented to winners during an event
attended by more than 550 people at the
Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.
More than 1,500 entries were submitted
this year in more than 90 categories,
including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur
of the Year, Company of the Year, Startup
of the Year, Women Helping Women and
Women-Run Workplace of the Year.
Denise said,“To be recognised as a
winner by the most prestigious awards for
businesswomen in the world is amazing and
humbling. Being a home-based business
amongst the largest global corporations,
with attendees from all corners of the earth,
all cheering each other’s achievements was
incredible. The whole experience was very
emotional.
“These awards acknowledge the effort
and dedication it takes to be a female
entrepreneur. To be in such esteemed
company of the best in the world makes me
feel incredibly proud.”
Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award
winners were determined by the average
scores of more than 150 business
professionals around the world, working
across eight panels. Further details about
the Stevie Awards for Women in Business
and the list of finalists in all categories
are available at: www.StevieAwards.com/
Women.
Turn to page 33 to read Denise’s
top tips for winning awards.
For more info:
www.purpolmarketing.co.uk
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