Women Who Make a Difference
Celebrating exceptional leaders
Since 1987, this award celebrated the tremendous accomplishments and contributions that IWF members have made to their communities and the world.
Our honorees embody the values of IWF and have demonstrated innovative, transformational professional leadership over the arc of their careers. They are authorities in their professions nationally or globally, and the impact of their personal leadership is noteworthy, grounded in their communities and connected to the broader world.
Meet Our 2024 Honorees
Wafa Awni Alkhadra
Professor
American University of Madaba
IWF Jordan
Anilore Banon
Artist-Sculptor
Anilore Banon Studio
IWF France
Barbara Bylenga
Founder and CEO
SHE-CAN
IWF Northern California
Kai-Yin Lo
CEO
YIN Expressions Ltd
IWF Hong Kong
Kristen Miale
Managing Director
Caswell Advisory Group
IWF Maine
Liz Neumark
Founder and CEO
Great Performances
Women’s Forum of New York
Jacqueline Quamina
Consultant
Corporate Law, Governance, and Banking
IWF Trinidad and Tobago
Mina Teicher
Professor
Bar-Ilan University, University of Miami
IWF Israel
Shining a light on the art of the possible
Select Previous Awardees
Gloria Allred, Esq.,
- IWF Southern California
- Renowned civil and human rights lawyer
Dr. Cheong Koon Hean
- IWF Singapore
- Urban planner, architect, and Chief Executive Officer of the Housing and Development Board of Singapore
Ilya Espino de Marotta
- IWF Panama
- EVP for Engineering and Programs Management of the Panama Canal, and the woman who re-engineered the Panama Canal
Sister Stanislaus Kennedy
- IWF Ireland
- Visionary and social innovator, and Founder of Focus Ireland
The Honorable Madeleine Kunin
- IWF Vermont
- Former Governor of Vermont and US Ambassador to Switzerland
Zanele Mbeki
- IWF South Africa
- Founder, and Patron of the Women’s Development Bank Trust and former First Lady of South Africa
Denise Morrison
- IWF New Jersey
- Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Soup Company
Nyamko Sabuni
- IWF Sweden
- Swedish Minister for Gender Equality
Jo Luck
- IWF Arkansas
- CEO of Heifer International
All award candidates must meet the following criteria:
The candidate is an active, current member of the International Women’s Forum. She embodies the values of IWF’s founders and demonstrates innovative, tenacious leadership in the face of challenges and adversity.
The candidate has exhibited transformational professional leadership over the arc of her career. She is recognized as an authority in her profession nationally or globally.
The impact of her personal leadership is noteworthy and recognizable. She is grounded in her community and her engagement connects local to global and global to local.