The Moxie Awards
Tech Woman of the Year
We are pleased to announce the following outstanding women as our finalists for The Moxie Awards' Tech Woman of the Year.
Amanda Lannert
C.E.O. - The Jellyvision Lab
In her role as C.E.O., Amanda's focus is to apply brand management, strategic planning and product development disciplines to fuel Jellyvision's growth and the adoption of the Interactive Conversation Interface in the business marketplace.
Prior to joining Jellyvision, Amanda was a marketer at Leo Burnett, where she developed strategies and implemented campaigns for global Kellogg CPG brands, in addition to spending two years in a new business and new brand development think tank.
Amanda received a B.A. in English Literature from Haverford College in Pennsylvania and a concentration in Augustan to Romantic Literature from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland.
Amanda is a member of the Academy of Interactive Art and Design and serves on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Improv Festival. She has climbed Mts. Rainier, Kilimanjaro, and Salcantay.
Desiree Vargas Wrigley
CEO & Co-Founder - GiveForward
Half Costa Rican half Kansas Citian, Desiree graduated from Yale University with B.A. in Latin American Studies in 2004. Prior to launching GiveForward, she worked as a specialist in collegiate entrepreneurship at the Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City and as an independent consultant for Arabella Philanthropic Investment Advisors. She is passionate about philanthropy and the role that young and small-scale donors can have on our communities. When not working, she spends her time inventing new recipes that don’t always work, walking her golden retriever, Ellie, and spending time with her crime-fighting husband, John, and her hilarious stepdaughter.
Elisa All
Founder, President & CEO - 30Second Mobile
Elisa All founded 30Second Mobile, a new-media company redefining content, conversations and connections for mobile platforms. The first brand launched by 30Second Mobile is 30Second Mom (www.30secondmom.com), a stream-based website, iPhone and Android app tied into the leading social networks that provide moms with quick and helpful tips - each in about 30 seconds or less - delivered straight to their smartphones, tablets or computers. The company was selected as one of the “5 Hottest Start-ups in Chicago” by The Digital Collective in April 2012.
Previously, Elisa was founder of iParenting Media, a leading multimedia publishing company and digital hub for parents that was acquired by the Walt Disney Company in 2007. What began as a single publication and website devoted to expectant mothers grew to become one of the most-respected dot-coms for parents. As President of iParenting, Elisa led the company to be recognized as “Best of the Web” by Newsweek, US News & World Report and The London Times, among others.
Elisa earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and her Master’s degree in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Elisa is a member of Northwestern University’s Council of 100, a mentoring organization composed of NU’s leading women alumni. She is a Leader for the Girl Scouts, and is a Member of the National Conference of Puerto Rican Women, the Women’s Board of Boys Hope Girls Hope, and the School Board where her three children attend school.
Katy Lynch
President and Co-founder - SocialKaty, Inc
Katy is the President and Co-founder of SocialKaty, Inc, a Chicago-based social media marketing agency that manages online communities for small to mid-size businesses. SocialKaty’s services include day-to-day management of Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, LinkedIn and blogs for brands as well as social advertising, social contests, design and development.
Rona Borre
Founder, President and CEO - Instant Technology
Rona began her career in the technology staffing industry as an Account Manager at a global recruiting firm in 1996. She quickly became the top producer in Sales corporate-wide for four years in a row and exceeded every sales goal and company benchmark previously established. Rona built and ran a $30 million book of business before venturing out on her own to establish Instant Technology.
Since founding Instant Technology in 2001, the company has become a nationally-recognized Woman-owned Business Enterprise and consistently doubled in total revenue and net income the first five years in business. Rona has been honored as an Influential Woman in Business byThe Business Ledger and the National Association of Women Business Owners, and an Enterprising Woman of the Year by Enterprising Women Magazine, in addition to the number of accolades awarded to her agency. Rona contributes to staffing industry publications such as Staff Digest and is often interviewed as a Subject Matter Expert for various publications. She is a member of the Young Professionals’ Organization/Chicago Chapter as well as The Executives’ Club of Chicago, and is involved with a number of industry organizations and philanthropic activities. She received her BS in Business from University of Arizona.
