the authentic brand
nominees
The Authentic Brand honours female founders who stay true to themselves and their values.
These women lead with honesty and transparency, building businesses that reflect their genuine selves and fostering deep connections with their audiences.
01
MICHELLE HARTLEY
PEOPLE SORTED
Transforming HR from beige to brilliant with magical energy, Michelle is on a mission to help people get their HR mojo back!
Offering a range of solutions for businesses and HR people alike, People Sorted are HR consultants like no other. Services include Coaching, Mentoring, Insights Discovery, Team Building, Training, Facilitation, Professional Development and more.
connect with michelle
02
Kelly swinger
Kelly swinger
With £28billion being lost through absence caused by burnout and work-related stress in the UK alone, Kelly’s vision is to banish burnout.
Founder of the Burnout Academy, Burnout Club and the Burnout Recovery Method - Kelly is a global keynote speaker on the topic and delivers talks and workshops to Exec and Leadership teams on how to support colleagues to be happy, healthy, and high-performing in the workplace.
connect with kelly
03
Paula brockwell
the employee experience project
Paula is on a mission to make work great through great workplace: rooted in the belief that when businesses provide good work - this not only drives commercial success, but also positively impacts employees, their wider families and our communities.
She founded The Employee Experience Project to cut through the overwhelm, isolation and frustration that activating a change in culture creates. This has included actively building capability for culture change in the HR community through her free community, SPARK.
connect with Paula
04
Annette cairns
Green shed talent
An experienced professional facilitator who specialises in leadership development and behavioural change, Annette is passionate about developing managers to become Net Postive managers who have people clamouring to be in their teams!
With a simple strategy and a commitment to making learning sticky, Annette’s focus is that people can take their new-found learning and use it straight away back at work.
connect with Annette
the AUTHENTIC brand
judge
LAURA BRUNTON
Laura is the perfect judge for the Authentic category, bringing her vibrant energy and passion for helping women create businesses they truly love. As a business coach, global speaker, and founder of Totally You, Laura empowers women to build profitable, purpose-driven businesses while staying true to themselves. Her high-energy, no-nonsense approach helps female entrepreneurs attract their dream clients, overcome the overwhelm of marketing, and scale their businesses with confidence. Laura’s commitment to authenticity and her sisterhood-driven ethos make her an ideal judge to celebrate the women who lead with heart and genuine purpose.