Memset CEO gets female biz-leaders' award from IBM

Famed skydiving hosting-biz queenpin Kate Craig-Wood, head of Memset, last week won an IBM and NatWest sponsored award for successful women in business.

Memset representatives informed the Reg:

Kate has overcome personal hurdles having undergone a gender reassignment in 2005, which involved numerous operations, whilst still successfully running the business.

The expensive process of becoming a woman, largely undertaken in overseas hospitals, was paid for entirely out of Craig-Wood's own pocket.

"The determination demonstrated by the many female entrepreneurs we come across every day has been astounding," said Karen Gill, co-founder of the NatWest everywoman awards.

"Women business owners have a huge desire for growth ... these winners are truly an inspiration to other women who are thinking of starting up their own venture at this time."

Craig-Wood started Memset, "the UK's first carbon-neutral ISP", in 2002, while still a man. She was honoured with the "Demeter" everywoman award, which is sponsored by IBM, at a ceremony in London last week.

Helen Wood, Leader of IBM's UK Women’s Leadership Team, added: "Kate is a real inspiration and role model, helping to give confidence to other young women starting out on a similar journey."

Craig-Wood recently undertook a skydive above Mount Everest to raise money for the charity Computer Clubs for Girls (CC4G), which seeks to attract more young females into an IT career. ®