Meet the Judges – Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Revealing the winner of the Global Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award has long been a highlight on the YBI calendar.  This year’s iteration of the esteemed award features a judging panel who boast between them expert knowledge of what it takes to overcome the odds and start a successful business as a young person, industry expertise and start-up know-how.

Nine young entrepreneurs are shortlisted as finalists. Three outstanding young people were chosen across the three categories Green Business of the Year, Covid Resilience Award and Business for Good Award. The nine young entrepreneurs will travel to The Netherlands to participate in Youth Business International’s Global Youth Entrepreneurship Summit.

The judges’ decision will take into account the results of the public vote which has been live since the start of September and closes on 30 September 2022. 

Meet the judges: 

Jay Blades

Jay Blades is the UK’s favourite furniture up-cycler who inspires individuals, companies and charities to transform old furniture into works of contemporary design

Jay is the host of BBC1’s primetime heart-warming show The Repair Shop. This year, Jay released two documentaries, Jay Blades: Learning to Read at 51 on BBC1 and Jay Blades: No Place Like Home on Channel 5. In 2021, Jay starred in BBC2’s Jay’s Yorkshire Workshop.

In addition to presenting, Jay spends a large amount of time working on furniture projects for commercial and individual clients, running workshops and motivating disadvantaged people in the community.

Amruta Mangale

Amruta Mangale from India is the winner of our Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2020 with her business M/s Hindavi Solution Private Limited, which manufactures a wide range of adhesives, glues and pigments. The international jury was impressed by Amruta’s leveraging of technology, continued focus on research and development and employee retention during COVID-19. She has been supported by YBI’s member in India, Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST).

Timi Merriman-Johnson

Timi Merriman-Johnson is an award-winning financial content creator, podcaster, author and founder of Mr MoneyJar, a UK-based financial education company.  Mr MoneyJar offers accessible, practical financial guidance, through digital content, events and 121 coaching, and has been featured on the BBC, LadBible and Sky News.

Timi is an ambassador at National Numeracy, an independent UK charity that promotes the importance of numeracy. He is also the host of The Mr MoneyJar Show, a weekly podcast, featuring individuals and organisations who are using money to create a positive impact.

Ingrid Kersten

Ingrid Kersten is the Sustainability Services Lead for Accenture the Netherlands and is based in Accenture’s Amsterdam office.

Ingrid is responsible for defining and driving Accenture’s Sustainability Practice and Services out of the Netherlands and delivering on Accenture’s Sustainability Value Promise. She has held a variety of positions in Consulting, Technology and Business Process Outsourcing and has led large scale transformation programs many of which in the Resources industry. Ingrid holds an International Management degree from the University of Maastricht.

Marta Krupinska

Marta Krupinska founded her first business at 19. She has since co-founded three businesses and been widely recognised for her achievements and contribution to the field of entrepreneurship, including recognition in Forbes’s 30 Under 30 in 2016 and their top 60 Female Tech Executives globally in 2018. Currently, she focuses her role as Head of Google for Startups in the UK to connect and empower entrepreneurs from less advantaged backgrounds and less developed ecosystems. As Chair of ACUA Ocean, she is working towards creating the world’s first zero carbon H-USVs for monitoring and sustainable management of oceans and waterways.

Anita Tiessen, CEO YBI, said,

“We are honoured and humbled by our impressive line-up of judges whose collective experience is an asset to this year’s competition.  I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone on the panel for volunteering their precious time in helping us recognise the incredible achievements of this year’s finalists.“

Jay Blades said,

“As a former young entrepreneur I know how tough it can be – I’m so impressed with the calibre of the entries and it’s incredibly impressive to see these young people overcoming the crises of recent years, especially when their businesses are set to improve societies and tackle global challenges.”

The winner will be announced at the Global Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, which will be taking place over three days in The Hague, The Netherlands, from 18 – 20 October 2022. The theme is Unleashing the Power of Youth Entrepreneurship as a Force for Good.

Over three days we will shine a light on the inspiring young people from across our network and showcase how their businesses are addressing global issues like hunger and climate change, driving forward the green economy and plugging gaps in social welfare.

The Summit will bring together leading experts, influencers, funders and decision-makers in youth entrepreneurship. This will be a momentous occasion for our network. Our chance to reflect, connect and collaborate in person after the challenges of recent years.

Get more information about the Summit and read about all the finalists here.