Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards 2022 has named Suzanne Linton as its Business Woman of the Year
The Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards has named a Warwickshire resident as its Business Woman of the Year, as the prestigious ceremony returned for its 40th anniversary year.
One of the UK’s longest running annual awards, the esteemed organisation celebrates the achievements of exceptional women, and highlights individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to their business, sector or wider community.
Suzanne Linton from Warwickshire has been named Business Woman of the Year at this year’s ceremony, which took place on Friday (1 April 2022). The award is designed to celebrate the success of an individual making transformational changes within their organisation or sector.
Suzanne is the CEO of Freestyle, a tech agency that helps brands by creating strategy-first solutions made for tomorrow. The business offers a full-service digital consultancy aiming to build better customer experiences and improve business performance. Established in 1996 as an early digital pioneer by its current owners, the business now employs 30 people.
A strong advocate for a healthy work-life balance, Suzanne has instilled this belief across the company. With a focus on building trust, openness and a positive working culture, Freestyle is well-regarded for placing employee development and well-being at the heart of the business.
Suzanne Linton said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be named Business Woman of the Year and it’s a real honour to be recognised in this way. I’d like to thank Women of the Year for this wonderful accolade and for helping to shine a light on the achievements of women in business. I admire the passion and dedication of all my fellow finalists and it’s been so inspiring to hear their stories and celebrate their work at this year’s ceremony.”
The 40th anniversary of the annual awards ceremony took place at Hilton Birmingham Metropole and welcomed over 600 professionals from the private and public sectors.
Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, CEO of Twycross Zoo and WOTY director, said: “We are so pleased to announce Suzanne Linton as our Business Woman of the Year, one of our most prestigious accolades. Suzanne was shortlisted alongside seven other inspiring women of huge talent, skill and determination and this year’s ceremony has been a fantastic opportunity to celebrate their achievements and highlight their important work. It’s so important to support and champion fellow women in business and Suzanne is a wonderful advocate for that.”
Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards was established in 1982 as a ladies’ luncheon to raise vital funds for charitable causes and to highlight and celebrate the many and varied achievements of women.
Since then, the annual awards have gone from strength to strength both as an event and as a movement to promote women’s achievements. Over the last four decades, winners have included Baroness Karren Brady CBE, Katie Piper, Dame Asha Khemka DBE (Principal and CEO of West Nottinghamshire College) and British Paralympian, Martine Wright MBE.
Zalena Vandrewala, chair of the Awards, added: “This year’s ceremony, our 40th anniversary year, was a wonderful celebration and a truly inspiring event. After two years of absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it felt particularly poignant to all come together and showcase the fantastic achievements of women in business. We’d like to congratulate Suzanne and all our other winners and finalists from this year.”
All proceeds from this year’s Women of the Year Luncheon & Awards will go directly to charity, with just under £600,000 raised to date. For 2022, the event will support The Prince’s Trust: Women Supporting Women Initiative, a passionate group of supporters who are committed to changing the lives of young women, and NHS Charities Together which continues to support our NHS in the life saving work that they do.
For more information, please visit www.womenoftheyear.org.uk.
