Jean Freeman and Angela Wells Earn Ad Age Leading Women and Rising Star Nods

Zambezi and FIN Studios both received top recognition as part of the 2025 Ad Age Leading Women and 2025 Rising Star lists--making the indie agency the only one represented with two honorees listed. Zambezi Principal and CEO Jean Freeman led the article and list as a 2025 Leading Woman, and FIN Studios Content Producer Angela Wells was one of only seven selected for this year’s Rising Star class.

Ad Age remarked on Jean’s leadership over one of the fastest-growing independent agencies, all while “dedicating her spare time to helping more women in the industry pursue their entrepreneurial endeavors.” As Zambezi approaches its 20th birthday, and Jean now in her 10th year of agency ownership control, Ad Age looked back at its highly successful 2024, where Scale by Zambezi, its media agency, earned 25% year-over-year revenue growth under Jean’s leadership, while retaining all of its clients and adding six more. They also recognized her achievements with Own It, the initiative to track and increase the number of women-owned agencies, and how rapidly it grew in the last year.

Read Jean’s full interview, with advice for her younger self and other business knowledge, here. 

Meanwhile, Angela shone with her work ethic, achievements beyond her years, and her infectiously positive enthusiasm. While her background is in social marketing, she took the leap to join FIN Studios as a post producer and learned on the job, not letting the challenge break her stride. She has even contributed to several new business wins with clients including Bose, ESPN, NFL, JPMorgan Chase, and Under Armour—all of which led to her place on the list.

Read Angela’s article here.

See all of the winners here.