Women of Inspiration™ Awards| Universal Womens Network™

Celebrate Her!

Women of Inspiration™ Awards - Lead, Inspire and Motivate!

The Women of Inspiration™ Awards recognizes the achievements of women who lead, inspire and motivate. We celebrate women from diverse industries together with allies who SupportHER™.

Who Inspires You?

A Woman of Inspiration™ is a role model who inspires those around her to be more and do more. She uses her influence and position of power to inspire change in her network, workplace or community. She is admired and respected for her resilience, leadership and humility. She has grit and fights for what she believes in, regardless of the barriers. She isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves. She ignores the naysayers and fearlessly steps outside of her comfort zone to pave the road for others to follow.

Who can Apply: We recognize female leaders from diverse industries and sectors representing the diversity of female leadership as Executives, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Founders, Athletes, Business Leaders, Creators, Artists and Entertainers, Musicians, Coaches, Authors, Tradeswomen, Designers, Lawyers and more.

A SupportHER™ is an individual (male allie) or company that champions women in their network, workplace, and community. SupportHERs are: Executives, Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and Industry Leaders.

Top Company – SupportHER™ Champions are committed to the advancement of women and leading by example in their industry to inspire change for a more equitable world. Apply.

Women of Inspiration™ Awards

Nomination Process

Step 1: Nominate or Apply

Step 2: Submit the Nomination Package – Application Fee $199 (Includes Official Nominee Logo, Women of Inspiration™ Virtual Networking Mixers, Listed as a Nominee in the UWomen Magazine™ Awards Issue.

- Woman of Inspiration™
- SupportHER™ (Male Allie)

Timeline

Applications Open – January 31, 2026
Deadline – June 30, 2026
Winners Announced November 20, 2026

OFFICIAL JEWELERY PARTNER

Women of Inspiration™ Award Categories

The Women of Inspiration™ Award categories recognize inspiring women from all industries, sectors and stages of life. Women of Inspiration™ celebrate female entrepreneurs and leaders from across industries along with our SupportHER™ allies committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. Our awards recognize the valuable contribution women make to the workforce or economy, inspire future generations of leaders, bring awareness to industries underrepresented by women and unite companies with the common goal of achieving gender equity. Award Categories

Why Recognizing Women Is Important?

Celebrating women recognizes and honors their achievements and contributions. Recognizing women brings awareness to the contribution women are making in the economy, female entrepreneurship, and in industries underrepresented by women. Recognizing women inspires change for gender equality and challenges societal norms and stereotypes that may limit the potential of women and girls. By recognizing and celebrating the achievements of women, we can work to create a more inclusive and equitable society for everyone.

The Advantages of Recognition

Since the launch of the Women of Inspiration™ Awards in 2015, we have honored women from various industries and levels of business. The Women of Inspiration Awards is the only award program in North America that celebrates both women and men who are dedicated to supporting women’s advancement. These remarkable individuals are entrepreneurs, executives, business leaders, and changemakers who have made significant impacts in their networks, workplaces, and communities. Participating in the Women of Inspiration Awards offers a valuable chance to enhance your brand, showcase your leadership, recognize your team, and elevate your career or business.

Awards offer increased brand awareness
Utilize your nomination to bolster your reputation as a business leader
Engage with local PR for potential media coverage
Harness the power of your social media presence
Expand your network and connect with like-minded, influential leaders
Inspire broader change on a significant platform
Gain international recognition and credibility
Receive acknowledgment for your achievements
Serve as a visible role model, inspiring the next generation of leaders
Cultivate thought leadership and credibility within your industry

Testimonials – Brands committed to the advancement of women.- WATCH

ROCHE Canada – CEO, Brigitte Nolet, DELL Technologies – Pamela Pelletier, DELLTechnologies – Naz Zehra, One Entertainment – Oliver Tutte – VP Technology, ProServeIT – Eric Sugar – CEO, ProserveIT – Mihae Ahn – VP Marketing, TikTok Canada – Erinn Piller – Head of Marketing_

Submit Nomination Package - Women of Inspiration Submit Nomination Package - SupportHER

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UWomen Magazine - 20205 Awards Issue

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Women of Inspiration Podcast

Woman of Inspiration™ Awards

Recognizing the Achievements of Women

Testimonials

Good words from good people

Attending the Women of Inspiration was a terrific event. It was a gathering of exceptional women from a variety of backgrounds. Every person there had a remarkable story, and it was a great opportunity to build connections. I was delighted to be the keynote speaker and share in the challenges of racing my boat around the world and honoured to receive the Women of Inspiration Women in Sport Award. The essence of the event is to celebrate all that women have accomplished; from developing a new idea, overcoming challenges, to creating opportunities, or chasing a dream. There are no limits.

Melodie Schaffer, Melodie Ocean Racing | Women of Inspiration™ Women in Sport Award

The Women of Inspiration™ Award Gala was an incredible celebration of female empowerment and achievement. I was very inspired by the remarkable stories and accomplishments we heard from the various women and "SupportHERs" tonight. I also just had a really great time at our Roche table where we had an amazing blend of some of our most senior leaders as well as some very early in their career colleagues, all very different women, but all equally inspiring. Brigette Nolet- President and CEO, Roche Canada Pharma Supporting other women is so crucial. I think we as female leaders bring many unique and powerful qualities to the table - empathy, courageous authenticity, the power to inspire.. and when we lift each other up & show support, we create a network of support and opportunity. Together, we can break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and pave the way for future generations of female leaders. Brigette Nolet- President and CEO, Roche Canada Pharma

Brigette Nolet- President and CEO, Roche Canada Pharma

It was an honour to be recognized amongst so many women role models who leverage their influence and positions to inspire change. Thank you, Universal Womens Network™ for leading the way and providing the format and opportunity to celebrate, while also continuing to advance women’s agenda across North America. For me it was extra special to be surrounded by my family and see three generations of women together who truly inspire each other. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to share that moment with them. #AspireHigher Gina Izumi - Senior Vice President, SAP Canada – 2023 Women of Inspiration™ Authentic Leader Award.

Gina Izumi - Senior Vice President, SAP Canada – 2023 Women of Inspiration™ Authentic Leader Award.

At Gilead Sciences, we set – and achieve – bold ambitions to create a healthier world for all people. From our pioneering virology medicines to our growing impact in oncology, we're delivering innovations once thought impossible in medicine. As we develop innovative medicines for life-threatening diseases, we recognize it takes more than medicine to improve wellbeing for people around the world. We know we are a stronger company and that innovation flourishes when we are informed by a diverse set of backgrounds, experiences and points of view. Our Women at Gilead employee resource group focuses on enhancing gender equity for women in opportunities and experiences at all levels. We are incredibly proud to be a sponsor for the Women of Inspiration™ awards which recognizes the achievements of women who lead, inspire and motivate others. We are delighted to have some of our own leaders recognized through these awards - Sharon Grehan, PhD for her authentic leader award and Shelly Smith, MBA as a finalist among strong female leaders across North America. Sharon Grehan – Women of Inspiration™ Authentic Leader Award

Sharon Grehan – Executive Director of Business Strategy & Operations /Global Lead for Women at Gilead Sciences | Women of Inspiration™ Authentic Leader Award

Simply humbling to be in the midst of such accomplished and inspiring women across industries within North America! Celebrating the successes of women and the SupportHER™ men will universally drive the change we need to create an equitable future. Congratulations to all the award recipients – your continued accomplishments will serve as a beacon of hope for so many others. Victoria Nguyen, ICD.D Vice President, Direct Financial Services-Simplii Operations, CIBC Capital Markets, 2020 Women of Inspiration™ Authentic Leader

Victoria Nguyen, ICD.D Vice President, Direct Financial Services-Simplii Operations, CIBC Capital Markets, 2020 Women of Inspiration™ Authentic Leader