Debbie Flevotomou, a multi-award-winning architect, entrepreneur, educator and creative strategist whose work spans architecture, property development, education, the arts and immersive entertainment, has been nominated for the Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026. As the founder and CEO of Debbie Flevotomou Architects, London Berkeley Developments and London Ballet Theatre, she has built a career around turning ambitious ideas into commercially successful and internationally recognised ventures. Her entrepreneurial approach is driven by the belief that design should create both cultural and commercial value. At the heart of her work is THINK NATURE, her pioneering design strategy that brings together biomimicry, biophilic design, advanced geometry, sustainability, human wellbeing and commercial thinking. Rather than treating sustainability as an additional cost, Debbie has developed an approach that seeks to demonstrate how nature led design can enhance performance, value and long term investment potential.
Her work has achieved significant international recognition, including winning Best Interior Design UK at the 2025 to 2026 International Property Awards, alongside numerous other national and international accolades. Her practice has received more than 85 awards, reflecting a consistent commitment to innovation, design excellence and ambitious thinking. Education is another major part of Debbie’s entrepreneurial mission. She is Professor of Design at Hult International Business School, Industry Patron and MA lecturer at Arts University Bournemouth, and has taught, mentored and spoken at universities and institutions internationally, including London South Bank University and institutions across Europe and the Middle East. Over nearly two decades, she has delivered talks and educational programmes connecting students with real world professional practice, entrepreneurship, design innovation and global opportunities.
Beyond architecture and education, Debbie has extended her entrepreneurial vision into the arts and entertainment through London Ballet Theatre, bringing together international creative talent and developing ambitious new projects. Her ability to operate across traditionally separate sectors including architecture, property, education, culture and entertainment is central to what makes her entrepreneurial journey distinctive. Debbie’s work is ultimately about creating possibilities: challenging conventional thinking, connecting disciplines and building ventures where creativity, innovation and commercial strategy work together. Her vision through THINK NATURE is not simply to design better buildings, but to rethink how we create value for people, business and the planet.
Debbie is also the UK Country President of Salvator Mundi Global, an international leadership and business platform connecting entrepreneurs, investors, academics, scientists, government representatives and other influential leaders across more than 40 countries and five continents. The organisation operates through 16 global councils covering areas including entrepreneurship, education, sustainability, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, economic development and sports and entertainment innovation. In this role, Debbie contributes to an international ecosystem focused on ethical leadership, collaboration, innovation and the development of meaningful cross border opportunities. Country Presidents are part of the organisation’s international leadership structure and play a role in developing their national communities and connecting opportunities with the wider global network.
Her academic work further extends this international influence. Through her involvement with universities, Debbie works with students, academics and emerging professionals, sharing industry knowledge while encouraging entrepreneurial and innovative thinking. This connection between education, industry and international business is an important part of her wider mission. Debbie’s THINK NATURE strategy has also developed into a platform for bringing together design, nature, innovation and sustainability, reflecting her belief that entrepreneurial thinking can be applied not only to business creation, but to solving wider challenges and creating new models for the future. Together, these roles demonstrate the breadth of Debbie’s influence beyond her own businesses, as an entrepreneur, international leader, educator, innovator and connector of people and opportunities across sectors and borders.
What distinguishes Debbie Flevotomou is her ability to bridge disciplines and create value at the intersection of design, business, education and culture. She has built a career that defies traditional boundaries, demonstrating that entrepreneurship is not limited to a single industry or sector. Her nomination for the Entrepreneur of the Year award at IMA 2026 celebrates her extraordinary contributions to architecture, property development, education and the arts, and her enduring legacy as a leader who challenges conventional thinking and builds ventures where creativity, innovation and commercial strategy work together to create lasting value for people, business and the planet.
