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.