Independent jury announced the winners of the Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders 2026 competition

19 May 2026

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This year, the Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders competition welcomed 69 applicants from 13 regions across Russia, as well as from Belarus. The competition finalists were shortlisted in April 2026 after the participants met with the independent jury.

The awards ceremony was held on 19 May at The Carlton, Moscow. The central theme of the event was the image of the woman in Russian fairy tales.

“Since 2013, the Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders program has been bringing together all those who work hard and ideate boldly to advance women’s leadership, set new business benchmarks, pursue ambitious goals and easily reach new heights, while serving as an inspiring role model for others. We are proud to be part of this vibrant and warm professional community where everyone seizes new growth opportunities through a candid dialogue with experts, shares their expertise and finds reliable partners for collaborative initiatives.”

Мarchello Gelashvili

B1 Group Managing Partner

“In Russian tradition, the sun is more than just a celestial body. In our culture, the sun is also a powerful symbol of order and wisdom. And, of course, it embodies the reign of good and the triumph of light over darkness and reason over chaos. While the sun is the source of life, the woman is its guardian and bearer. That’s why all the confidence, strength and creative energy of the sun are exhibited by the heroines of Russian fairy tales: filled with warmth and light, they remain a source of inspiration up to date. Each heroine, just like the sun in the sky, walks her own path of transformation. And this is what makes her stronger. That’s exactly how modern women work towards their goals, and the Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders Program helps with their endeavors by bringing together incredibly talented heroines,”

Natalia Starygina

B1 Group Deputy Managing Partner, supervisor of the Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders Program

The winners of the Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders competition were selected by the independent jury composed of successful entrepreneurs, independent experts and prominent representatives of the business and academic communities. In 2026, the independent jury comprised:

Raisa Demina, Founder, Velcom Group; chair of the jury
Natalia Galkina, Founder and CEO, Neurotrend and NeuroChat
Marina Zhigalova, investor and entrepreneur
Marina Karban, Dean for Educational Programs, SKOLKOVO Moscow School of Management; head of Next Step and Leaders as Teachers Programs
Mikhail Kopeikin, Advisor to President – Chairman of the Management Board, VTB
Stanislav Kostyashkin, Founder and CEO, Continent Express
Alexey Malinovsky, Chair of the Board, T-Technologies

Winners of the Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders 2026 competition:

Educational Services category – Irina Bakhareva, Founder and CEO, Znanie college and institute
Corporate Governance Champion category – Svetlana Vinogradova, General Director, ROLF Group
Social Entrepreneurship category – Elena Gnedovskaya, Founder, Management Committee member, FRONTMED Foundation
Business Community Champion category – Zhanna Kazanskaya, Founder, Woman Wings Forum
Information Technologies category – Darya Kotlyarova, Managing Partner, Orbita Group
Serial Entrepreneurship category – Maria Kravchenko, Co-owner, Nebo Group
Family Business category – Yulia Kuzyakova, Co-founder, CEO, Viva Confectionery Plant
Beauty Industry category – Vita Nosova, Founder, POLUBVI brand
Sustainable Business Model category – Svetlana Obruchkova, General Manager, Jacobs Douwe Egberts Rus
Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals category – Katerina Pogodina, Managing Director, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, Russia & CIS
Charity Funds category – Miroslava Sergeenko, President, Oncologica Charity Fund
Travel & Lifestyle category – Elena Filipchenkova, General Manager, Aspire Lifestyles, EECA
Special award for Preservation of the Cultural Heritage – Yevgenia Gladkina, shareholder, Board member, Fedoskino Factory
Special award for Professional Commitment – Irina Golovchenko, General Manager, Valta Pet Products
Special award for Innovations in Agribusiness – Svetlana Gorkunova, Deputy General Director for Floriculture Division, Gorkunov Group of Companies
Special award for Master of Crisis Management – Olga Dargel, Director, Anticrizisnoye Upravleniye
Special award for Business Reputation – Natalia Melnikova, General Manager, Mission Foods Stupino
Special award for Transformation in Agriculture – Ekaterina Shutova, Vice President for HR and Strategic Development, Board member, KOMOS Group Agricultural Holding
Special award from Hit Woman Club – Yulia Egorushkina, Founder, Psychological School for Parents

In 2026, the competition was held with support from the Eurasian Women’s Forum.

One of our partners for the competition was Dr. Hauschka, a premium brand of skincare and makeup products.
Our floral partner was Theatre Garden, a place where flowers, theater and love of art come together in one inspiring space.

Special partners:

Hit FM, a federal musical radio station
Hit Woman Club, a program for successful women with an inspiring career

Media partner:

Inc., a media resource for entrepreneurs

Information partners

Global Women’s Service, an international information platform for modern women
SKOLKOVO Women’s Association, a community of bright leaders who graduated from the SKOLKOVO Moscow School of Management
BigData Media, a publishing house specializing in the publication of special printed materials, thematic series and magazines, anniversary editions and corporate periodicals

Intellectual partner:

Alpina, a major universal independent publishing group in Russia

About the Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders Program

Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders is a program, including an annual competition, designed by B1 to promote entrepreneurship. The program is intended for women entrepreneurs who manage businesses with high growth potential. Participation in the program helps them unlock that potential. The competition is open to established entrepreneurs and senior executives of major Russian and international companies. In Russia, the program, including the competition, has been running since 2013.

The Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders Program embraces educational projects, networking events and coverage of program initiatives in mass media. The program enables its participants to obtain hands-on advice and share contacts, tools and resources to develop leadership skills and enhance business performance. Program events are held on a regular basis. Women entrepreneurs can stay on the program for as long as they feel it right for their business.

About B1 Group

B1 Group offers a comprehensive suite of professional services, including assurance, strategy, technology, consulting, transactions, valuation, tax, law and business support.

With over 35 years in Russia, we have built a strong team of professionals with diverse expertise and a wealth of experience in delivering most challenging projects. B1 Group operates across 11 cities: Moscow, Vladivostok, Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnodar, Novosibirsk, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, St. Petersburg, Togliatti and Chelyabinsk.

Our mission is to help clients uncover innovative solutions, drive growth, transform their business and achieve success—all while boosting their financial resilience and nurturing talent.

www.b1.ru