ISG is hosting the ISG Women in Digital Awards to bring visibility and recognition to the rising stars, rock star leaders, women’s advocates, digital innovators and titans of our era. These awards celebrate the women who are breaking biases, investing in women and equity, defining new possibilities for women in the workforce and delivering outstanding contributions to the digital world. Among the finalists are 17 Foundever leaders recognized, three from the Americas, six from EMEA and eight from APAC and India.
Americas
Diluckshnie Jayawardena: Rising Star
Diluckshnie “Di” Jayawardena serves as Global Head of Analytics for Foundever where she has used her +21 years of experience in the BPO industry to significantly contribute to team growth and client satisfaction, doubling her team’s size in just two years. Known for her leadership, strategic vision and ability to solve complex problems, Di ensures clients achieve their goals through data-driven insights. Beyond her professional achievements, she actively volunteers in her community and enjoys traveling, dining and Netflix marathons.
Michelle Parks: Rock Star Leader
Michelle began her career as a contact center agent for financial services to finance her studies (while in nursing school) — and left 18 years later, after evolving from outbound calls to management positions, to join what is known as Foundever today. What makes her a real rock star digital leader is her passion and her ability to see beyond business objectives and associates’ needs. Michelle serves as CEO – U.S. Market.
Kelly Reese: Digital Innovator
Kelly Reese is the VP of Business Information Security at Foundever, overseeing global operations and acting as a key liaison between operations and clients on security issues. She has successfully led the implementation of an enterprise security scorecard review process, ensuring adherence to security standards and building trust and collaboration. Known for her expertise, stakeholder engagement and leadership, Kelly drives innovation and maintains a secure digital environment for Foundever.
EMEA
Ana Athayde: Rock Star Leader
Ana’s journey as a digital innovator started when she created her own startup of media monitoring and analysis at the end of the 1990s. Ana joined Foundever to help shape its innovative contact center software and bring Foundever customer interactions and case management platform — innso — to the market. She currently holds the position of Global Head of Transformation & Strategy. Her strengths: a holistic view of business and the ability to think outside the box.
Marchela Bozhilova: Digital Innovator
Marchela Bozhilova has been a game-changer, spearheading the creation of our Intelligent Automation Center of Excellence (COE). As the Automation & Optimization Strategy Lead at Foundever, her leadership has unified automation platforms across the organization, resulting in more efficient workflows and significant cost savings. Known for her motivational spirit and expertise, she’s also a thought leader in the field, sharing her knowledge through LinkedIn courses and articles.
Kim Hanchet: Digital Innovator
Kim Hanchet is the Director of Global Employee Experience Platforms at Foundever, where her digital innovations have transformed the company and its employee experience tools. She led the development and global rollout of EverConnect, an award-winning intranet system with an 84% global adoption rate and created a generative AI chat tool to boost internal support. Kim’s work has significantly enhanced communication, employee engagement and digital fluency across the organization, resulting in high eNPS scores and considerable cost savings. She’s also a strong advocate for women in tech and promotes a collaborative, positive work environment.
Benedita Miranda: Women’s Advocate
With over 20 years of experience in customer experience management, Benedita Miranda has demonstrated exceptional leadership and growth since joining Foundever in 2010. She currently oversees operations as the General Manager for the Multilingual Region, which includes Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria, Egypt, Romania, Serbia, Poland and Hungary, leading a team of +10,000 employees. With advanced degrees in psychology, marketing, and business, Benedita’s strategic vision and dedication have driven successful expansions and elevated the company’s presence across multiple countries.
Cátia Moreira: Digital Innovator
Cátia Moreira, VP of Performance for the Multilingual Region at Foundever, is recognized for her exceptional leadership and innovative approach. She oversees continuous improvement initiatives across ten countries, driving operational efficiency and excellence. Her implementation of Lean Sigma/DMAIC methodology has significantly enhanced performance metrics, leading to notable cost savings and increased client satisfaction. Cátia’s commitment to quality and security standards ensures Foundever remains a leader in digital innovation.
Laura Rodriguez Blanco: Rising Star
Laura Rodriguez Blanco has rapidly risen through the ranks at Foundever, now serving as our Global AI Operations Manager under the leadership of Global Chief AI Officer, Guillaume Laporte. Since starting as an intern in 2018, Laura has excelled in various roles, from sales to marketing, and now AI operations. She leads the AI Evangelist Program, educating leaders worldwide and certifying over 150 employees. Known for her dynamic communication skills and innovative spirit, Laura is instrumental in making complex AI concepts accessible to everyone at Foundever.
APAC & India
Chie Fortuna: Women’s Advocate
Chie Fortuna began as an agent in 2001 and now serves as VP of Operations in the Philippines, overseeing U.K. support for various sectors. Chairperson of Women at Foundever, Chie empowers 3,228 members through mentorship and events. As a seasoned operations leader, Chie’s commitment is to deliver excellence in everything she does as evident in both individual and team awards received, significant growth in the accounts that she has managed and development of the individuals she has mentored. Chie’s leadership inspires women to strive for success and overcome challenges.
Eden Gutierrez: Rock Star Leader
Eden Gutierrez, VP for APAC Operations & Country Head for China and Malaysia at Foundever, has made a remarkable impact with her strategic initiatives and compassionate leadership. With 21 years in the BPO industry, she’s known for her strategic crisis management, creating over 1,000 new jobs during the pandemic. Eden is also active in advocating for employees with disabilities and collaborates extensively with local and international organizations. Known for her dedication to both business excellence and team wellbeing, Eden continues to drive significant advancements across her regions.
Urvashi Kanaya: Rock Star Leader
As the Regional Director of Learning & Development at Foundever in India, Urvashi Kanaya is a dynamic leader focused on team growth and success, equipping her team members with essential skills like time management, client management and personal life management. Known for her open-door policy and collaborative spirit, Urvashi champions employee happiness, resulting in higher productivity, retention and engagement. She actively participates in initiatives like “Coffee with Director” gatherings and DEI roadshows, sharing her insights and building a supportive work environment.
Dupinder Kaur: Women’s Advocate
Dupinder Kaur, Senior Manager of Leadership Development & DEI Advocate, has significantly contributed to the Women at Foundever program, increasing women applicants for leadership roles by over 300% since 2021. Known for her practical interventions and creating the Leaders Speak platform, she promotes professional development and inclusivity. Dupinder’s positivity and advocacy inspire women across Foundever, driving the company closer to its diversity and inclusion goals.
Chessy Muller: Rising Star
As Senior Manager – Human Resources, Chessy Muller has significantly optimized processes and improved compliance in Australia and New Zealand at Foundever. She led the successful implementation of Success Factors, boosted adoption of our employee intranet platform EverConnect to 65%, and launched multiple growth programs. Known for her excellence in team development, mentorship and process optimization, Chessy consistently delivers impactful results through her dedication and exceptional leadership.
Debbie Paz: Digital Innovator
Debbie Paz serves as the Director for Learning & Quality at Foundever in the Philippines and has revolutionized training with innovative tools like Training Simulator and Solaris, boosting speed to proficiency from 67% to 78%. Known for her visionary leadership, she creates engaging training solutions across generations and is a sought-after CX industry speaker. Debbie’s cohesive team strategy ensures continuous improvement and success in learning programs.
Veronica Sequeira: Digital Innovator
Veronica Sequeira excels in driving digital innovation at Foundever as a Manager of IT. Her strategic use of tools like Jira has optimized project workflows, enhanced team efficiency and improved performance management. Known for her exceptional leadership and communication skills, Veronica encourages collaboration and empowers her team, significantly contributing to our organization’s success and digital transformation. Her dedication to excellence and proactive approach makes her a standout leader and a deserving candidate for recognition.
Ira Vargas: Rock Star Leader
As VP of Transitions & Business Development at Foundever in the Philippines, Ira Vargas had the opportunity to build the Transitions, Sales Support & Business Development, and Critical Account Management teams from the ground up. Typically, a three-department function, she effectively consolidated these teams, driving increased client retention, revenue growth and workforce stability. Within the organization, she’s an active member of Women at Foundever, a group providing a safe space and platform for women, aiming to transform every woman’s experience at Foundever through mentorship, empowerment and support in the workplace.
Whether they emerge as winners or finalists, our exceptional women in digital are paving the path for future generations, demonstrating that Foundever is a place where they can build successful careers in any field they choose. Discover more about our dedication to equity and our approach to Environmental, Social & Governance.