The 2025 New Woman Franchisor of the Year Award shone a well-deserved spotlight on an inspiring leader within the care sector: Karen Neil of Cardea Healthcare. Her story is one of dedication, passion, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others. Values that lie at the heart of both her business and her leadership style.
From the moment her name was announced, Karen describes the experience as “surreal”. Having never entered an awards programme before, winning wasn’t something she expected. “Shocked, excited, and very proud”, these were the emotions that hit all at once. For Karen, this wasn’t just a personal win; it was a moment of gratitude for the incredible team behind Cardea Healthcare. As she puts it, none of her franchising journey would have been possible without their dedication and support.
A Passion That Set Her Apart
Karen believes her award win comes down to something very simple – authenticity and drive. She explains:
“I believe that my passion for the care industry and my business is evident as I tend to wear these on my sleeve. I put a lot of effort into launching my franchise before moving forward with it as I wanted to give any future franchisees the best chance of success and to do that, I needed to ensure I was able to give them the support and mentoring they would need. I think the judges were able to see that drive and desire to build a genuine and thriving new franchise business within the care sector.”
Rather than rushing to scale, Karen focused on preparation. She built robust systems, mentoring structures, and hands-on support mechanisms designed to give franchisees real confidence from day one. The result? A franchise opportunity rooted not just in growth, but in genuine care and long-term sustainability.
The Power of Recognition
Winning the award has already had an impact. Karen describes the recognition as a powerful confidence boost, especially during those very human moments of self-doubt that every business owner faces. Being acknowledged by the EWiF Awards has reassured her that she is moving in the right direction and gives her even more momentum to continue shaping Cardea Healthcare into a market-leading brand.
Why You Should Apply for the 2026 Awards
Karen’s story is proof that you don’t need years of award experience, a perfect journey, or certainty that you’ll win. What matters is passion, purpose, and the courage to put yourself and your work forward.
The EWiF Awards are about celebrating the women behind the brand. Whether you’re building something new or scaling something brilliant, applying for the 2026 awards could be the opportunity that propels your business and confidence to the next level. Your story deserves to be seen. Just like Karen’s.
Could 2026 be your year?