»ÆÉ«²Ö¿â

There was double success for »ÆÉ«²Ö¿â Leicester (»ÆÉ«²Ö¿â) as staff were among the winners of this year’s Enterprising Women awards.

The annual awards are run by East Midlands Chamber to celebrate the achievements of women in business at all stages of their careers.

Dr Dyneshia Johnson, of »ÆÉ«²Ö¿â’s Faculty of Business and Law, was named Innovator of the Year for her work supporting a university in The Gambia introduce entrepreneurial teaching and thinking into the curriculum.

Dr Dyneshia said: "It’s be an such a rewarding journey placing Leicester and the East Midlands on the world stage by sharing our expertise and knowledge in establishing functional innovation ecosystems and making real impact as education innovators in the international development space”

And Sarah Thomson, Principal Partnerships Officer, won the Social Commitment category in recognition of her efforts to support grassroots organisations and lead the university’s civic engagement.

Sarah said: “I’m truly honoured to receive the Enterprising Women Award for Social Commitment. It’s inspiring to see the impact of social commitment being recognised in this way, and I’m especially proud to be part of such a strong and supportive community of women in business here in Leicester”

»ÆÉ«²Ö¿â’s Helen Donellan, director of Research, Business and Innovation, and Dr Ismini Vasileiou also reached the finals of this year’s awards, which saw winners recognised in 10 categories including Apprentice, Business Woman and Team of the Year.

Enterprising Women Co-chair Eileen Perry MBE DL said: “An incredible evening – the atmosphere in the room was electric, you could feel the energy and excitement from the moment our wonderful host Emma Jesson took to the stage.

“The finalists this year were outstanding and the winners truly embody everything these awards stand for. It was a night filled with inspiration, celebration and, of course, plenty of glamour. Seeing everyone looking fabulous and enjoying themselves made it a truly unforgettable occasion.”

Enterprising Women co-chair Jean Mountain said: “What a brilliant vibe at our 2025 awards. The support and encouragement shown between the finalists was amazing, and the room was full of positivity. Our host and entertainment made it such fun and it was wonderful to see so many friends, colleagues and new connections come together.

“We were all there to celebrate the incredible achievements of women in business, and the stories we heard on the night were nothing short of inspiring.”