Meet Katerina Mouliadou: MBA alum and Women in Innovation award winner

As we approach International Women’s Day, we are speaking to some inspiring women in our alumni networks.

Here, we caught up with MBA alum Katerina Mouliadou. Katerina currently works as Innovation Lead at ATS Global and has also founded LIGNOO, a brand dedicated to creating genuinely sustainable water bottles for kids, for which she has recently been awarded the Women in Innovation Award 2025 from Innovate UK.

Katerina is an engineer and innovation leader with over 15 years of experience driving technological advancement in manufacturing. Her background in Product Design, a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering, and experience with multinational corporations and UK SMEs, paved the way for her entrepreneurial journey, inspired by motherhood.

What does International Women's Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the achievements of women across all aspects of life. It’s an opportunity to have open, honest conversations about what’s possible - encouraging more women to chase their dreams and passions, no matter their age or background. But beyond inspiration, it’s also about recognising the real effort, sacrifices, and support required to get there. I believe this celebration should include everyone, not just women, because success is never achieved alone. Parents, partners, siblings, friends, colleagues, managers and mentors all play a vital role in empowering and uplifting women.

Can you share a moment when you felt particularly empowered as a woman in your career?
I believe empowerment comes from confidence and a deep understanding of your self-worth, and this realisation happens at different points for everyone. For me, it happened when I became a mother. It was the most vulnerable I had ever felt, I lost my sense of identity and questioned everything I was doing. But at the same time, it became a transformational journey where I discovered a stronger, more evolved version of myself. This personal shift had a profound impact on my career as well. I became more empathetic, more efficient in getting things done, and more driven than ever to succeed and make a meaningful impact.

Who is a woman that inspires you and why?
Honestly, there are so many - some well-known and others I’ve been fortunate to meet throughout different walks of life. What they all have in common is their determination to keep going, no matter what obstacles life throws at them or what limitations society has placed on them. They turn challenges into opportunities and persevere against the odds. This resilience is especially inspiring given that, historically, women have had to fight (and still are) for equal access to education, opportunities, and recognition.

One woman who inspired me is Dame Stephanie Shirley (or simply ‘Steve’!). I had the privilege of hearing her share her story in person, and what struck me most was not just her incredible success but her vulnerability in opening up about her background, the societal barriers she faced, and the personal challenges she endured. At a time when women had little opportunity in business, she built a pioneering tech company that exclusively employed women working from their kitchens, offering them flexible careers long before remote work was mainstream. Yet, despite her innovation, she had to sign her name as "Steve" because banks wouldn’t open accounts for women. Beyond her professional struggles, she also spoke openly about the difficulties in her personal life, including the health challenges of her child. Her resilience, innovation, and commitment to philanthropy—donating much of her wealth to autism research and other causes—make her an extraordinary role model. She didn’t just break barriers; she redefined them, proving that success is possible even in the face of immense adversity.

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to enter the business world?
My biggest advice is to trust your gut instinct—it’s one of the most powerful tools you have. When we’re young, that inner voice is especially strong, and if you learn to listen to it early, it will always guide you in the right direction. In the business world, much like in engineering, there’s often a misconception that women need to adopt more traditionally "masculine" traits to succeed. But true success comes from being authentic, investing in your knowledge, and eliminating unnecessary dependencies. At the same time, it’s crucial to master the art of delegation - trying to do everything yourself leads to burnout. Build confidence in your abilities, stay true to your values, and don’t be afraid to carve your own path.

How do you think the business landscape has changed for women over the years?
There is certainly more pressure to achieve gender balance in the workplace, driven by ESG reporting requirements and the need for some businesses to publish gender pay gap data. This has encouraged many companies to rethink their policies, leading to more women being promoted and hired across all levels. However, in some cases, these initiatives are treated as procedural checkboxes rather than genuine cultural shifts, meaning there’s still a long way to go in normalising true equality—not just in the workplace but also in business investment. Programmes specifically designed for female entrepreneurs have had a significant impact in addressing this gap. One great example is Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation Award, which shines a spotlight on women leading groundbreaking businesses, helping to level the playing field and drive real change.

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