2024 finalists
Freelancer of the Year Finalists
Shalini Chadha
Eva Appleton
Survivor Award Finalist
Stacy Thal
Gaby Surkin
At the start of the year, Gaby hit rock bottom—no boyfriend, no money, no home, and only her cat for company. After a sudden breakup and major life changes, she moved from Berlin to New York, determined to rebuild her life. Through hard work and perseverance, she landed her dream job as a creative strategist for luxury brands and earned recognition as a juror for prestigious awards like the New York Festivals and Shorty Impact Awards. Looking back, Gaby reflects on overcoming loneliness and doubt, proving that even when life falls apart, it can be rebuilt stronger.
Liberation Award Finalists
Michelle Doucette
Michelle, a new member of the Rosie team, worked for nearly a decade in various roles at the same organization, including copywriting and account leadership. She realized her passion was in writing and sought more control over her work-life balance. Taking a bold step, she left her full-time role to pursue freelancing. Her journey came full circle when a freelance opportunity with her longtime employer opened at We Are Rosie, bringing her back to her roots as a copywriter. Michelle’s inspiring story highlights the power of self-belief and following your passion.
Kaitlin Graham
This year Kaitlin has grown her freelance business exponentially to be able to continue living a more balanced life. She started with one wonderful client at the beginning of the year. Kaitlin focused on growing her personal brand by consistently creating content and interacting on LinkedIn. Her efforts were rewarded with four new clients this year! She’s grown her reputation as an industry expert through her LinkedIn posts and now gets inbound leads. Her experience in copywriting and dedication to providing her clients with well-researched, well-written content has driven her freelance opportunities!
Michele Jaret
Michele is a long-time freelancer, and for the last several years she has been supporting other creative souls in their transition out of corporate and into a more suitable working style, via freelance. She spent time building a freelance career that allowed her to have the balance in her life that she was looking for. And through this, she is now able to pay it forward and help others liberate themselves from their full time roles that are not fulfilling them. She regularly shares motivation and words of wisdom on Linkedin that supports many people. She is excited to be helping others find the freedom that she has come to value so much!
Renaissance Award Finalists
Renee Griffin
Renee Griffin, a freelance creative director at a major hospitality brand for nearly 4 years, has been instrumental in transforming the company’s creative direction. She played a key role in launching the brand’s loyalty program with a stunning global campaign, blending her artistic vision with technical expertise to enhance the design system for the program’s email platform. Known as the “Queen of Loyalty,” Renee has also led impactful projects, luxury ads, and co-brand credit cards, all while mentoring her team and fostering collaboration. Her ability to balance creativity and strategy makes her an invaluable leader.
Kayla Life
Kayla embodies the Renaissance Award spirit by driving innovation, resilience, and creativity across disciplines. As founder of The Rebrand Creative Agency and the Rebrand Institute of Tech Equity, she leverages AI to transform education and nonprofit support. Her initiatives, including the AI platform HeyKrystal, empower marginalized communities, mentor women in tech, and streamline nonprofit operations. A leader in equity and innovation, Kayla inspires others to embrace and thrive in change
Dynamic Duo Finalists
Kaytee Miller + Jane Chance
Kaytee and Jane go by many names on our team: “the dynamic duo,” “the dream team,” “the power couple.” Having worked together for the past 3 years on everything from commercial campaigns, to partnership marketing, to new brand launches and more, their portfolio and track record is truly impressive. Jane’s depth of knowledge in copy and storytelling unlocks clients’ tones of voice. And Kaytee develops a robust design system for client brands, allowing them to elevate and streamline creative. Together, there is no creative challenge too big and no brief that this powerhouse can’t crack. They ask the right questions, challenge creative boundaries and are trusted partners who always deliver. Every campaign and asset they touch is curated, impactful, contextual and fit for purpose. Not only are Jane and Kaytee incredible at what they do, they are also wonderful human beings. They are kind, collaborative, and committed!
Greater Good Award Finalists
Diana Scholl
Diana has spent 2024 freelancing full-time, focusing on impactful projects that support racial diversity in social media (#DiversifySocialMedia), prisoner clemency campaigns (Free Greg Mingo), and LGBTQ youth (We Are the Youth). Drawing on her experience at Google and YouTube, she uses her skills in strategy and marketing to amplify meaningful causes, including work with the Brennan Center for Justice, NYCLU, and more. As a queer white woman, Diana prioritizes inclusivity and creating space for underrepresented groups, making her an outstanding award nominee.
Kyla Scott
It is easy to SAY we want a better world for ourselves, our neighbors and our children, but what can we actually DO to make that change happen? Kyla founded Rooted Sonshine, an organization dedicated to building strong and vibrant communities by bringing people together and fostering meaningful relationships. The organization believes a welcoming and inclusive environment creates a sense of belonging that supports everyone in achieving best results toward their group and individual goals. The mission is to promote social interaction, intercultural communication, intellectual stimulation, and practical collaboration that strengthens human connection. Through the programs, events, and initiatives, they aim to cultivate confidence and bolster productivity that is rooted in mutual respect, understanding, and shared values. Rooted Sonshine believes that every small act of human kindness should be celebrated as the potential to be influential and invaluable.
2024 The Rosie Awards Voting
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