Hosting Exec in Everywoman Awards

• By Anastasia Tubanos, November 14, 2008

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Novmeber 14, 2008 -- (WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- UK-based web hosting provider Memset (www.memset.com) said Friday its founder, Kate Craig-Wood, has been recognized as a finalist in the national NatWest everywoman awards (www.everywoman.com/everywomanAwards/) for "displaying great entrepreneurial flair."

Now in its sixth year, the NatWest everywoman awards recognizes the UK's most successful female entrepreneurs across all ages and sectors.

Craig-Wood, who launched Memset in 2002, has been shortlisted for the IBM-sponsored Demeter Award for being the most inspiring entrepreneur aged between 26 and 35.

Memset founder Kate Craig-Wood is a finalist in the UK's Everywoman awards.

Craig-Wood began her career in the Internet hosting business with the somewhat incongruous Masters degree in biomedical sciences. But after working at web hosting provider Easyspace and gaining experience in the industry, she founded Memset in 2002. Today, the company describes itself as "one of the UK's leading web and IT hosting providers with growth in the region of 75 percent year-on-year and an annual turnover of 1.2 million."

Memset says it became the UK's first carbon neutral Internet service provider, in 2006.

As entrepreneurial women go, Craig-Wood bears the unusual distinction of having been an entrepreneur previous to having been a woman. According to Memset's press release, Craig-Wood underwent gender reassignment surgery in 2005. Perhaps ironically, she says she has since encountered challenges trying to be taken seriously as a woman in a male-dominated industry. Those challenges may make Craig-Wood further emblematic of some of the spirit of the awards.

"Each journey of success, often in the face of adversity, makes [these women] compelling role models for the next generation of entrepreneurs," says NatWest of the finalists.

Craig-Wood is also a member of the British Computer Society's Data Centre Specialist Group and recently became the youngest person and third woman to join the board of Intellect UK, an IT, telecom and electronics trade association.

She also recently participated in the world's first skydive over Mount Everest to raise money for Computer Clubs 4 Girls, which aims to attract more girls to the sector by improving their technology skills.

"I hope to use my success as a woman in the IT industry to inspire others and bring about change in an industry with a dire shortage of women," says Craig-Wood, quoted in the press release.

The winners will be announced at a lunch ceremony on December 3 at the Dorchester Hotel in London, where guests will include VIPs from various sectors like business, government, the media and the entertainment industry.

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