Skip to content
Women Who Make a Difference 2025

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 2025 Honorees

Beverly Morrow

Retired Owner

TLM Management
IWF Arkansas

Catalina Escobar

Founder and President

Juanfe Foundation
IWF Colombia

Adriana Silvia Sartor

Managing Director

Elettrotec Srl

IWF Italy

Katarina G. Bonde

Chairman of the Board

Stillfront Group, Mentimeter and Zimpler; Board Director, Mycronic AB and Viaplay AB

IWF Sweden and IWF Northern California

Mary Pugh

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Pugh Capital Management

IWF Washington State

 

Shining a light on the art of the possible

Select Previous Awardees

Jo Luck

  • IWF Arkansas
  • CEO of Heifer International

Sister Stanislaus Kennedy

  • IWF Ireland
  • Visionary and social innovator, and Founder of Focus Ireland

Denise Morrison

  • IWF New Jersey
  • Chief Executive Officer of Campbell Soup Company

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

Dr. Cheong Koon Hean

  • IWF Singapore
  • Urban planner, architect, and Chief Executive Officer of the Housing and Development Board of Singapore

Zanele Mbeki

  • IWF South Africa
  • Founder, and Patron of the Women’s Development Bank Trust and former First Lady of South Africa

Gloria Allred, Esq.,

  • IWF Southern California
  • Renowned civil and human rights lawyer

Nyamko Sabuni

  • IWF Sweden
  • Swedish Minister for Gender Equality

The Honorable Madeleine Kunin

  • IWF Vermont
  • Former Governor of Vermont and US Ambassador to Switzerland

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.