The Solopreneur of the Year Award
This award recognises women running their own CX businesses who are making a significant impact. These solopreneurs embody entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and innovation, demonstrating success through their unique contributions to the CX industry. They inspire others by overcoming challenges, driving growth, and delivering meaningful results for their clients, all while staying true to their vision.
Winner!
Katie Stabler
Founder and Director, CULTIVATE Customer Experience by Design
Katie Stabler is the founder of CULTIVATE Customer Experience by Design, a global consultancy that fuses behavioural psychology with practical business strategy to deliver powerful customer experience transformation. With over a decade of experience across sectors—including finance, not-for-profits and international organisations—Katie helps teams build meaningful, human-centred experiences that create lasting impact.
Her philosophy of CX-ISM challenges outdated perceptions of customer experience as a tactical function and reframes it as a cultural movement. Under CULTIVATE, Katie offers advisory, training, experience design, and keynote speaking, working with clients to build emotionally resonant strategies rooted in empathy and evidence. She is the host of the CX Awards, author of the book CX-ISM, and co-author of the Amazon #1 bestseller Customer Experience 2.
Katie’s journey as a solopreneur has been marked by honesty, resilience, and heart. When a long-term client contract ended unexpectedly, she faced financial uncertainty and self-doubt. She responded with agility, securing new work and rebuilding confidence. She navigated the end of a 22-year relationship, drawing strength from her business and continuing to show up for her clients, including hosting her first awards event during this time.
The judges were struck by the powerful way Katie shared both her challenges and her commitment to creating positive change through CX.
Judge’s comment:
“Katie's list of challenges impressed me and resonated with the reality of going alone. The testimonials show an all-round ability… and Katie is finding opportunities to stand out, and stand on stage to create recognition.”
Judge’s comment:
“Katie’s response to the question on challenges and innovation was particularly powerful… It is an inspiring entry that reflects genuine resilience and passion.”
Backed by a wealth of glowing testimonials, Katie has delivered real-world transformation for clients through learning, communication and design interventions. From creating CX-TV content that keeps customer experience top of mind to training frontline teams, her influence is practical, effective, and warmly received.
Katie Stabler has proven that solopreneurship can be a vehicle for purpose, empowerment, and professional brilliance. Her success is a shining example of how clarity of vision, integrity, and courage can redefine what it means to lead on your own terms.
Highly Commended!
Natalia Cerezo Martin
Founder, Empower & Lead
Natalia Cerezo Martin has been recognised as Highly Commended in the Solopreneur category for her values-driven work empowering women in CX and tech leadership. As the founder of Empower & Lead, Natalia combines coaching, emotional intelligence, and strategic insight to help women lead authentically and successfully.
Natalia’s impact shines through in the way she champions non-hierarchical leadership, creates psychologically safe spaces for growth, and supports those navigating imposter syndrome and career transitions. Her community-based approach includes workshops, coaching, and pro bono support for people affected by redundancy — all rooted in a clear commitment to inclusion and resilience.
Judge’s comment:
“Natalia’s commitment to supporting women in leadership is well-received, and her supportive approach comes through in the submission.”
Judge’s comment:
“I am also pleased Natalia has been able to share the reality of being a solopreneur, and speak of the downside as well as the growth and good times. Many people are benefiting from the work Natalia delivers, and this is to be applauded and acknowledged.”
Natalia’s influence is already sparking transformation — not only in her clients’ lives but across the wider CX industry. Her clarity of purpose, generosity of spirit, and commitment to redefining leadership through empathy and inclusion make her an inspirational force. This Highly Commended recognition celebrates the meaningful, lasting impact of her work.
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