Last year, Nat Taylor, founder of production company Poppet, took home the top honour at B&T’s Women in Media Awards, winning not only Creative Producer of the Year, but the Woman of the Year title too.
As entries open for this year’s B&T Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media, Taylor has reflected on the moment her name was called, which she admitted felt both surreal and completely unexpected.
Despite feeling confident about her chances in the Creative Producer category, the night took a dramatic and emotional turn when she was crowned Women of the Year.
Enter B&T’s Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media!
“I was really hopeful for Creative Producer,” Taylor told B&T on the eve of the 2026 Awards launch. “I’ve been doing this for 24 years, and it’s something I’ve poured my life into, so to be recognised there was incredibly rewarding.”
But when it came to the top prize, she admits she was caught completely off guard.
“We were sort of on the sidelines, where they had been taking everyone who had been a winner of the evening, and I thought we were just at the edge there, because we were going to need to be taken somewhere for photographs or something,” she recalled.
“We were standing off to the side, not really paying attention, and then suddenly my name was on the screen,” she said. “I just remember thinking, ‘What is happening?’ I had nothing prepared.”
“I was with Elle Bullen, who was Woman of the Year a few years ago, too and won Creative last year, too. She’s beautiful and an amazing woman, and I was with her, and I’m sort of just a bit dumbfounded looking at the stage, like, ‘Why is my name up on the big screen?’ And she was like, ‘You have to go up there now’.”
This year, the Women in Media Awards returns with two new awards: Education / Research and Finance & Accounting. These awards are designed to honour the behind-the-scenes leadership shown by countless women through the advertising, marketing and media worlds in their work as teachers, lecturers and academics, and those in finance teams.
As ever, we will be awarding a Woman of the Year, Rising Star, People’s Choice, Lifetime Achievement and other trophies. We will also be inducting a new cast of leaders to the Women in Media Power List.
Last year, Taylor was named Woman of the Year for her consistent, compassionate and inclusive leadership in the world of production. After founding Poppet in 2023, she has crafted not only an incredibly successful business but also an exemplar for the industry to follow with sweeping changes to ensure everyone on set is safe, heard and valued. She is also a longstanding mentor to others through her work with The Trenches and The Aunties.
Read why Taylor won big here and see the 2025 Women in Media Power List here.
“I definitely had a moment of trepidation when there’d been all of these incredibly impressive women all evening giving incredible speeches when they’d received their awards, and I was like, ‘I don’t have anything’.
“I had to go up and talk to something that was a total surprise, and then as soon as it was over, I got whisked off the stage and then interviewed, and so I could hardly breathe,” she laughed.
Enter B&T’s Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media!
That lack of preparation quickly turned into “a blur of adrenaline, emotion and impromptu speaking” in front of a room filled with some of the industry’s most accomplished women.
“I had to wing it,” she said. “Again, I could hardly breathe by the time I got off stage.”
Her advice to this year’s entrants? “Be ready, just in case”.
“Make sure you have something in your back pocket,” she said. “Even if you don’t win, there’s nothing wrong with being a little bit prepared.”
Beyond the trophies, Taylor said the recognition has had a lasting impact, particularly on her confidence. Running a business, raising two children and mentoring others, she admitted it’s easy to feel overlooked.
“It’s very common for women to not back themselves,” she said. “As a producer, my job has always been to champion others. There aren’t many awards that recognise what producers do, so it meant a lot to be acknowledged.”
“Winning these awards has definitely given me more confidence in my role,” she told B&T.
That sense of purpose extends beyond her own work. Taylor is a passionate mentor and advocate for inclusion, particularly when it comes to neurodiversity in the creative industries—an area she’s set to explore further on the global stage.
Enter B&T’s Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media!
Diagnosed with dyslexia as a child, she said those early labels shaped her perception of her own abilities, but ultimately became a strength.
“There’s still a stigma around neurodivergence,” she said. “But different ways of thinking bring incredibly powerful ideas. That diversity makes creativity better.”
Her broader message to women in media? “Keep going”.
“There will be days where things don’t work out, where you feel like giving up,” she said. “But those moments don’t define you. Don’t let a bad day reshape how you see yourself or your goals.”
It’s a mindset that has helped guide both her career and the growth of Poppet, which recently marked a major milestone – its 100th production in just three years.
“I couldn’t be prouder of Poppet,” she said. “We’re trying to be the change we want to see by building inclusive crews, championing diverse voices and creating work that really means something.”
Enter B&T’s Women In Media Awards, presented by Are Media!
