Your shortlist for the 2025 Customer Success Awards

After receiving nominations from customer success professionals across the globe, we've narrowed down the field to the elite shortlist candidates in each category. 

Now it's time to spotlight these standout individuals and teams who are raising the bar for customer-centric service.

Stay tuned for the big reveal at the virtual Customer Success Awards 2025 ceremony on December 1st at 5pm GMT. Mark your calendars, dust off your glad rags and get ready to celebrate the crème de la crème in customer success.

Customer Success Leader of the Year 

The top customer success leaders cultivate passion, inspiration, and unity among their peers, motivating them to surpass expectations. But which individual has risen to the pinnacle of leadership this year?

Our shortlist candidates have built the customer success powerhouses of tomorrow, riding the wave of innovation and helping transform the way we interact with clients.

Have they delivered a mind-blowing keynote that sparked your "eureka!" moment? Or perhaps their advocacy has driven impressive MRR growth for their company. Whatever the case, these leaders are the heroes of customer satisfaction.

The 2025 shortlist candidates are:

• Raymond Otero, Director, Global Customer Experience at Microsoft 
• Kylie James, Director of Customer Success at Side
• Kimberly Ayala, Director of Customer Success (the Americas) at Akeneo
• Jeremy Donaldson, Senior Director, Customer Success at LifeLoop
• Frank Auger, VP of Customer Success at OnRamp

Customer Success Rising Star 

Customer success is all about staying ahead of the curve and zeroing in on results. That's why we're excited to recognize the fresh faces already making waves in the field.

Think of those CS newbies whose potential is shining bright. These exceptional talents are touted to become bona fide legends pretty soon.

The 2025 shortlist candidates are:

• Bianca Schwartz, Head of Customer Success at Stampede
• Dimple Athavia, Customer Success Manager at Mimecast
• Shani Maritz, Digital Customer Success Manager at Fuse Universal
• Joe Di Grande, Director, Digital Customer Success at Gong.io

Customer Success Team of the Year

Behind every great company is an amazing customer success team working cohesively to create remarkable customer experiences.

This award is all about the top-notch customer success crews. We all know no one's a solo act, and collaboration is the secret sauce. Client wins thrive on the collective hustle and loyalty of the crew, that sense of being in it together. 

The 2025 shortlisted teams are:

• Intuit
• Culture Amp
• Side
• Observe.AI

Customer Support Leader of the Year

Exceptional customer support leaders are the unsung heroes behind every great customer experience. They foster empathy, efficiency, and excellence within their teams, ensuring every interaction leaves a lasting impression. But who has truly set the standard for support leadership this year?

Our shortlists have redefined what it means to deliver world-class support. From building high-performing teams that turn challenges into opportunities, to championing innovation that elevates the customer journey, these leaders inspire confidence and trust with every ticket closed.

Have they led a transformation that slashed response times and boosted satisfaction scores? Or perhaps they’ve built a culture where customers and agents alike feel genuinely supported? Whatever their superpower, these leaders are the heartbeat of customer happiness.

The 2025 shortlist candidates are:

• George Dilthey, Head of Support at Clay
• Kenji Hayward, Senior Director of Customer Support at Front
• Shubha Rao, Director, Support Strategy, Ops & Planning at LinkedIn
• Stephane Gonthier, Head of Global Support at Builer.io
• Ekaterina Vaulina, Associate Director of Customer Support at Semrush

The stage is set for a celebration of customer success excellence.

We applaud all the deserving shortlist candidates and can’t wait to reveal the winners! 

So, stay tuned for the awards ceremony that honors these customer-centric champions during our virtual Customer Success Awards ceremony online on December 1st, 2025.