Veuve Clicquot’s Bold Woman Award 2023 Celebrates Trailblazing Female Entrepreneurs in Style
The prestigious Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award for 2023 saw to two exceptional female entrepreneurs, Tessa Clarke and Karen Scofield Seal, emerge victorious.
These inspiring women were both recognised in different categories for their remarkable achievements in business and their dedication to driving positive change.
Tessa Clarke, the co-founder and CEO of the food-sharing app Olio, was bestowed with the esteemed Bold Woman Award. The accolade acknowledges her pioneering work in creating a platform that connects communities and prevents food waste on a global scale. Since its launch in 2015, Olio has attracted over 7 million users and forged partnerships with major food retailers, including Tesco, Iceland, and Amazon Fresh. The app has already saved an astounding 100 million portions of food from going to waste. Tessa’s elegant and simple solution to this pressing issue, combined with the community-building efforts of Olio’s 86,000 Food Hero volunteers, garnered high praise from the judging panel.
Karen Scofield Seal, the CEO and founder of OCEANIUM, a seaweed innovation firm, was awarded the Bold Future Award by Veuve Clicquot. This honour celebrates emerging female leaders who are making a significant impact in their respective industries. OCEANIUM, despite being in its early stages, has already raised over $10 million from ocean impact funds, including the World Wildlife Fund and Builders Vision.
The company is harnessing the vast potential of seaweed to develop bioactive ingredients for health, cosmetics, food, and innovative, sustainable materials. The judges applauded Karen’s commitment to driving systemic change within her industry and her ambition to establish a thriving seaweed farming industry in the western hemisphere.
The announcement of these exceptional women as the winners of the Bold Woman Award coincided with the release of the Veuve Clicquot International Barometer, a study revealing fascinating insights into the experiences of women in entrepreneurship. The barometer revealed that nearly half of women in the UK perceive building a business as riskier for women than for men, and a substantial portion feel the need to adopt masculine behaviours to succeed professionally. However, the study also highlighted the significance of role models, with two-thirds of women considering them essential for becoming successful entrepreneurs.
The award ceremony, a momentous occasion celebrating the achievements of these trailblazing entrepreneurs, took place in London, and was hosted at Veuve Clicquot’s Solaire Culture Exhibition, which showcased the rich history of the House through an immersive journey, featuring nine renowned female artists.
Tessa Clarke accepted her award in the presence of influential figures, following in the footsteps of previous winners such as Professor Sarah Gilbert, Anne Pitcher, and Dame Zaha Hadid.
The Bold Woman Award, an evolution of the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award established in 1972, continues to pay homage to Madame Clicquot, an audacious and pioneering woman who revolutionised the champagne industry. The panel of judges comprises industry leaders and influencers, including Kristina Blahnik, Pip Jamieson, Sian Westerman, and Naomi Kerbel. These remarkable women embody the spirit of Madame Clicquot, and their selection of Tessa Clarke and Karen Scofield Seal as this year’s winners reflects their commitment to innovation, ethical leadership, and entrepreneurial daring.
The award remains a symbol of recognition for female entrepreneurs who redefine success on their own terms and inspire future generations of women in business. Through this prestigious accolade, Veuve Clicquot aims to foster a supportive environment for women and promote gender equality in entrepreneurship.
Jean-Marc Gallot, President of Veuve Clicquot, said: “The Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Awards have been celebrating strong female entrepreneurs for over fifty years during which we have recognised women who have made a mark in history. Nominees are assessed across four key areas, from successfully reinventing traditions and demonstrating entrepreneurial daring, to championing better representation of female leaders and maintaining an ethical approach, and I’m delighted that this year’s winners are pushing boundaries with innovation and their ambition to achieve sustainable and societal impact.”
