AWARDS 2024
EMERGING ENTREPENEUR OF THE YEAR
STEFANIE FLÜCKIGER-MANGUAL
FOUNDER and CEO TOLREMO THERAPEUTICS AG
When science takes responsibility - rethinking cancer treatment.
Stefanie Flückiger-Mangual started out in research: after completing a Master’s in Biochemistry and a PhD in Molecular and Translational Biomedicine at ETH Zurich, she chose to bring insights from the lab to patients – curiosity turned into responsibility. With Tolremo Therapeutics, her focus shifted from asking “Is this hypothesis correct?” to “Can this actually help a patient?”. As CEO, she shapes a
workplace culture where true balance is lived: meetings move when children are sick, family time is normal, and responsibility is shared between women and men. In an environment where only a small share of start-ups is led by women, she has secured substantial funding and shows how a female founder can build and position a highly complex biotech company internationally. She embodies a modern kind of leadership in the life sciences that combines scientific depth with humanity and entrepreneurial courage.
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
KATHARINA BARMETTLER-SUTTER
CEO SUTTER BEGG AG
Creating a home with heart, courage and craft.
Katharina Barmettler-Sutter is the CEO of Basel-based family business Sutter Begg and leads around 280 employees in a locally rooted bakery that aims to offer far more than just good bread. For more than a decade she has been shaping the company as a home in Basel – with initiatives such as yoga, dance classes or menopause workshops that raise awareness internally and radiate outward. Two-thirds of the team are women; her commitment to female empowerment shows in bold decisions like renaming a product to “Glückbringer” and introducing self-service so shop staff can meet guests at eye level. She stands firm through criticism and online backlash, insisting that unpopular decisions require consistency – even when leadership can feel very lonely. For her, innovation is a team effort: apprentices contribute new ideas and even run their own branch in the “Rookie Club”. What matters most to her is the social dimension rather than “just selling bread” – with a clear local strategy instead of expanding across Switzerland, driven by ecological conviction and solidarity with other bakeries.
ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
ELISABETH SCHNEIDER-SCHNEITER
Quiet in the background, powerful for visible women.
Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter is an entrepreneur, President of the Chamber of Commerce of both Basel (HKBB) and a long-serving politician who has been working for equal opportunities mostly behind the scenes for many years. She does not see herself as a classic feminist, but realised early on that women in politics and business are often still too cautious and face a “glass ceiling” – from boardrooms to gender medicine. Precisely because she often sits at tables with almost only men, she actively advocates for competent women in leadership and board roles and knows how strongly women can enrich discussions. Instead of focusing on quotas or symbolic marches, she drives practical change in everyday life: she encourages women to step into the spotlight, builds networks such as the HKBB women’s network and deliberately strengthens women’s visibility for one another. She sees women not as victims but as confident actors who earn respect through performance. Her vision for the region: more women breaking the glass ceiling, better compatibility of work and family, and truly equal partnerships as the new normal.
FINALISTS
EMERGING ENTREPENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes a female co-/founder who has made significant contributions in the development of an innovative products or services that have a social, economical and/or environmental impact on society. This award honors the dedication, perseverance and achievements of co-/founders who have demonstrated entrepreneurial skills, leadership and vision, positioning them as role models and inspiration for future generations.
FINALISTS
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
The Entrepreneur of the Year award recognizes a female co-/founder or CEO with remarkable achievements in the business landscape. This category celebrates entrepreneurs who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, strategic thinking, innovative approaches to launch and grow their businesses across various industries, creating jobs and contributing to the economic growth and development of their communities. This award honors the role of business founders as inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in diverse industries.
