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Women Who Make a Difference

Celebrating transformational leaders

Women Who Make A Difference salutes IWF members who have demonstrated innovative, tenacious and transformational leadership, both locally and globally, over the arc of their careers. Their accomplishments are an inspiration for current and future leaders seeking to change the world.

Meet Our 2023 Honorees

Sylvia Sánchez Alcántara
Sylvia Sánchez Alcántara Founder, Retos Femeninos and President
Marketing Lab
IWF Mexico
Rosemary Barkett
Rosemary Barkett Judge on the Iran-U.S. Claims
Tribunal
IWF Florida
Aytül Erçil
Aytül Erçil Co-Founder & Co-CEO
Vispera A.S.
IWF Turkey
Esther George
Esther George Retired President and CEO
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
IWF Kansas
Jeanne Herberger
Jeanne Herberger Philanthropist and President
Herberger Enterprises Inc.
IWF Arizona
Florine Mark
Florine Mark Wellness Influencer, Former President and CEO
The Weight Watchers Group
IWF Michigan

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.

Portrait photograph

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