The Rising Star Award
This is in recognition of the women in the pipeline of up-and-coming industry talent who are set for a bright future ahead. These women inspire others by role-modelling the Women in CX values of courage, collaboration, inclusivity, authenticity, and audacity and are taking bold steps to shape their careers in their own way, on their own terms.
Winner!
Kajol Patel
Principal, Gate One
Kajol Patel is a Customer Experience Strategy Leader with over eight years of experience helping FTSE100 and NASDAQ-listed brands deliver omnichannel transformation and next-generation customer strategies. Her career spans a remarkable portfolio of work across organisations like Deloitte Digital, Dyson, Burberry, and now Gate One—demonstrating an extraordinary breadth of impact and accelerating leadership.
During her time at Deloitte, Kajol led the Customer Experience Strategy team of 30, embedding CX into enterprise-wide transformation. Her projects included building an internal CX capability from scratch, gaining senior stakeholder buy-in, and scaling the team and sales pipeline significantly. She worked with over 30 partners to create a compelling business case for customer experience, helping to generate millions in pipeline through CX-led transformation.
She played a central role in shaping a CX-led proposition at Specsavers, embedding customer experience at the heart of a multi-year commerce platform transformation. Her roadmap continues to influence Specsavers' customer strategy today. At Burberry, she built the omnichannel customer vision—a strategy that was adopted by 2000 IT colleagues across the organisation.
Kajol also led the global launch of Dyson’s Beauty vertical, overseeing the development and delivery of the customer experience, go-to-market strategy, and transformation roadmap for the brand’s entry into a new product category. The initiative delivered early, boosted revenue, and was recognised internally as best-in-class. She coached a global team through CX methods and stakeholder engagement, building a reputation as a Deloitte Future Leader and earning external honours including Top 100 Women in Tech, MCA Young Consultant of the Year finalist, and Women of the Future – Tech & Digital runner-up.
Now at Gate One, Kajol is part of the Experience & Digital Senior Leadership team, already leading proposition development and converting new retail clients.
Beyond delivery, Kajol is a passionate mentor and advocate. She supports early-career professionals, speaks at industry events, and shares CX frameworks with a wide audience via her YouTube channel.
Judge’s comment:
"The remarkable intensity and consistency of achievements within just a decade of entering the professional world is not only rare—it is profoundly inspiring. This level of accelerated growth is typically seen in only a handful of standout professionals."
Judge’s comment:
"Kajol’s journey, ambitions, and the outcomes she’s delivered are truly inspiring. She has built something that others can aspire to, learn from, and replicate."
With accolades like MCA Young Consultant of the Year finalist and Women of the Future: Tech & Digital runner-up under her belt, Kajol’s impact is already far-reaching. And the best part? She’s just getting started.
Highly Commended!
Rebecca Gordon
Head of Online Customer Experience, Westminster City Council
Rebecca Gordon is a bold, values-driven leader transforming public services through digital innovation. Her journey from Junior Project Manager to Head of Online CX is a testament to her grit, empathy, and forward-thinking leadership. Whether standing up emergency contact centres during the pandemic or leading complex multi-team digital programmes, Rebecca consistently shows up with care, clarity, and conviction.
Rebecca Gordon has been recognised as Highly Commended in the Rising Star category for her exceptional work reshaping digital services in local government. As Head of Online Customer Experience at Westminster City Council, she has demonstrated both bold leadership and deep empathy, delivering accessible, AI-powered services that centre real resident needs.
Rebecca’s approach to leadership is rooted in care, clarity, and inclusion. She has led major transformation projects — including the council’s award-winning ‘Report It’ service — and helped establish a culture where innovation and integrity go hand in hand. Through her mentorship of others, her openness about overcoming imposter syndrome, and her advocacy for non-traditional career paths, she’s building a more inclusive future for public service leadership.
Judge’s comment:
“Driving change in public service at any level is no small feat. Well done on the courage to do this with such credibility that it is now a model for other public services.”
Judge’s comment:
“Rebecca has forged a path to success and impact by doing right by doing good [...] We need more role models like her to show that this work is dynamic, vital and inspiring.”
Rebecca, your courage, care, and commitment are lighting the way for a more human future in public service.
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