Get To Know Our Finalists for the 25th Annual WIT Awards – Small/Emerging Category
Allison Giddens
Allison Giddens worked for Win-Tech before buying the company with her business partner in 2020. From assistant to co-owner over the course of almost 19 years, Allison now leads as CIO and COO.
Allison holds degrees from University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. Allison helped found the Georgia Chapter of Women in Manufacturing. She serves on The National Defense Industry Sharing & Analysis Center Board and on the National Tooling & Machining Association Board. She is the Board Chair for LiveSafe Resources and founded The Dave Krache Foundation.
Allison has been honored with many awards, including the 2019 CEW Woman of Distinction and a Manufacturing Institute 2022 STEP Ahead Honoree. In 2023, she was named City of Kennesaw Citizen of the Year.
Allison has performed stand-up comedy at The Punchline in Atlanta. She and her husband Matt collect vinyl records, love their Atlanta Braves, and do a decent job of divvying up the housework.
Shana Sanders
Shana Sanders is the Founder and CEO of We Create Tech, a fast-rising nonprofit committed to closing the opportunity divide in STEAM through culturally relevant tech education. A former Title I educator, branding expert, and Emmy-winning media professional, Shana leads national and global initiatives focused on youth empowerment, certification access, and workforce readiness.
Under her leadership, We Create Tech has partnered with Microsoft, Google, Best Buy, CompTIA, and the U.S. Department of State via the Mandela Washington Fellowship. She is the creator of TechRise, a digital ecosystem for student success, and is leading efforts to launch a free tech hub in Atlanta.
Shana was recognized as a trusted voice in Microsoft’s UniversalHer program and is widely known for her bold, equity-centered approach to education, mentorship, and innovation.
Celine Vignal
Celine Vignal, founder of Seesaw Health, is a leader in women’s health innovation. With over 15 years of global experience in health technology, she previously co-founded NeurodigitX and has a strong background in marketing and product development. Her personal journey with chronic migraines and discovery of cyclical inflammation as a root cause inspired her to create data-driven solutions for flare-up recovery.
At Seesaw Health, she has united top scientific and tech minds to launch a patented digital biomarker and app designed for daily inflammation management. Her work sits at the intersection of science, technology, and self-care.
Céline holds degrees in marketing and media from ECG Business School, Université de Tours, and is an alumna of Davidson College. She was named to the 2021 Forbes Next 1000 and recognized among the 50 most influential French in the U.S.
