High-achieving organizations and executives around the world have been recognized as Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie® Award winners in The 21st Annual International Business Awards®, the world's only international, all-encompassing business awards program. The IBAs have been called “the Olympics for the workplace.”

Winners were selected from more than 3,600 nominations submitted by organizations in 62 nations and territories.

A complete list of all 2024 Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners by category is available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

More than 300 executives worldwide participated on 11 juries to determine the Stevie winners.

The top winner of Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards is Ayala Land of Metro Manila, Philippines with 25 Stevie Award wins.

Other winners of multiple Stevie Awards include, among others: Halkbank, Istanbul, Türkiye (18), Tata Consultancy, worldwide (14), Viettel, Hanoi, Vietnam (13), Akbank, Istanbul, Türkiye (13), DP DHL, worldwide (13), Miral, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (13), IBM, worldwide (11), Cathay United Bank, Taipei, Taiwan (10), Data Dynamics, Upper Saddle River, NJ, USA (9), PLDT and Smart, Makati City, Philippines (9), Abu Dhabi Customs, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (8), Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ltd. Taipei, Taiwan, (8), China Resources Land Limited, Shenzhen, China (8), Lounge Group, Budapest, Hungary (8), Manila Electric Company, Metro Manila, Philippines, (8), Atos Customer Services, Istanbul, Türkiye (7), BELBİM AŞ, Istanbul, Türkiye (7), Everise, Plantation, FL USA (7), pladis, Istanbul, Türkiye (7), Russell Harris Event Group, North Hollywood, CA USA (7), Sandoz AG, Basel, Switzerland (7), WNS, Mumbai, India (7), Wolters Kluwer, worldwide (7), A.S. WATSON, Hong Kong, China (6), Beyaz Kağıt San. ve Tic. A.Ş., Adana, Türkiye (6), Ceyhinz Link International Inc., Irving, TX USA (6), HKRI Taikoo Hui, Shanghai, China (6), LLYC, Madrid, Spain (6), Pan American Energy, Buenos Aires, Argentina (6), TELUS, Vancouver, BC Canada, (6), Thai Life Insurance Plc., Bangkok, Thailand (6), ZIMAT, Mexico City, Mexico (6), Mastercard, Miami, FL USA (6), Cisco Systems Inc, San Jose, CA USA (5), DDB Group Philippines, Taguig City, Philippines (5), Dito Telecommunity, BGC Taguig, Philippines (5), HCL Software, Noida, India and Santa Clara, CA USA (5), King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (5), KoçZer, Istanbul, Türkiye (5), KoçSistem Bilgi ve İletişim A.Ş., Istanbul, Türkiye (5), SOCAR Türkiye, Istanbul, Türkiye (5), FPT, Hanoi, Vietnam (5), Sleepm Global Inc., ON Canada (5), TriNet, Dublin, CA USA (5), and Yapi Kredi Bank, Istanbul, Türkiye, (5).

All organizations worldwide are eligible to compete in the IBAs and may submit any number of nominations in a wide range of categories for achievement in management, marketing, public relations, customer service, human resources, new products and services, technology, websites, apps, events, and more.

Winners will be celebrated during a gala event in Istanbul, Türkiye, at the InterContinental Hotel on October 11, 2024. Tickets are on sale now.

Nominations for the 2025 edition of the IBAs will be accepted starting in February.

Amazon, including Amazon Web Services, and Owkin (Paris, France) have won the Grand (“best of show”) Stevie® Award trophies in the first Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence, “the Olympics for technology.”

The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence are an international business awards competition that is open to all organizations worldwide. The awards recognize the remarkable accomplishments of individuals, teams, and organizations shaping the future of technology across all industry sectors. The competition’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie winners in the various categories were announced last week, and are available at www.StevieAwards.com/Tech.

Amazon/Amazon Web Services will receive the Grand Stevie trophy as the most honored organization in the 2024 competition on the strength of 21.5 award points earned through five Gold, one Silver, and three Bronze Stevie Award wins. To determine the Organization of the Year Grand winner, each Gold Stevie win counts for three points, each Silver Stevie for two points, and each Bronze Stevie win for one-and-a-half points.

The Grand Stevie Award for the Highest-Rated Nomination of the Year goes to Owkin, artificial intelligence (AI) biotech that unlocks complex biology to find the right treatment for every patient. The firm is headquartered in Paris, France with locations in Boston, Geneva, London, Nantes, and New York. The firm’s nomination "Bringing AI Cancer Testing to Patients with MSIntuit CRC” won the Gold Stevie Award for Technology Breakthrough of the Year – Healthcare, and received an average score from the judges of 9.5 out of a possible 10.

Winners will be celebrated and presented with their Stevie Awards during a joint awards ceremony with the ninth annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on September 16. Tickets are now on sale. The presentations will be broadcast live.

More than 600 nominations from organizations in 21 nations and territories were evaluated in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 100 professionals worldwide, acting as judges.  Some of the other organizations with winning nominations announced last week include Adobe, Africa Fintech Network, Google, IBM, Lenovo, Meta, Octopus Energy, Samsung, TELUS, and Tesla, among others.

The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence recognize achievement in many facets of technology. Categories are grouped in 20 technology-industry sections:

• Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations Technology
• Aerospace Technology
• Agricultural Technology
• Architectural Technology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Assistive Technology
• Biotechnology
• Business Technology
• Communication Technology
• Educational Technology
• Energy Technology
• Entertainment Technology
• Financial Technology
• Government Technology
• Green and Clean Technology
• Healthcare Technology
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing Technology
• Marine Technology
• Transportation Technology

The awards are presented by the Stevie Awards, which organizes nine of the world’s leading business awards shows including the prestigious International Business Awards® and American Business Awards®.

Bank of America (Charlotte, North Carolina, USA) and Eren Enerji (Zonguldak, Türkiye) have won the Grand (“best of show”) Stevie® Award trophies in the ninth annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers, “the Olympics for human resources.”

The Stevie Awards for Great Employers are an international business awards competition that are open to all organizations worldwide. The awards recognize the world's best organizations to work for, and the HR teams, professionals, achievements, new products, and suppliers that help to create and drive great places to work. The competition’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie winners in the various categories were announced last week, and are available at www.StevieAwards.com/HR.

For the second year in a row, Bank of America has won the Grand Stevie for Organization of the Year, on the strength of 52 award points earned by nine Gold, eight Silver, and six Bronze Stevie Award wins. To determine the Organization of the Year Grand winner, each Gold Stevie win counts for three points, each Silver Stevie for two points, and each Bronze Stevie win for one-and-a-half points.

The Grand Stevie Award for the Highest-Rated Nomination of the Year goes to Eren Enerji for their nomination “Eren Enerji's Corporate Social Responsibility Projects,” the Gold Stevie winner for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy. Eren Enerji's nomination received an average score of 9.6 out of a possible 10 from the judges.

Winners will be celebrated and presented with their Stevie Awards during a joint awards ceremony with the first annual Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on September 16. Tickets are now on sale. The presentations will be broadcast live.

More than 1,000 nominations from organizations in 35 nations and territories were evaluated in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 130 professionals worldwide, acting as judges. The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recognize achievement in many facets of the workplace. Categories include:

• Employer of the Year Categories
• HR Achievement Categories
• HR Individual Categories
• HR Team Categories
• Solution Provider Categories
• Solutions, Implementations, and Training Programs or Media Categories
• Thought Leadership Categories

The awards are presented by the Stevie Awards, which organizes nine of the world’s leading business awards shows including the prestigious International Business Awards® and American Business Awards®.

A sponsor of the 9th annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers is HiBob.

Stevie-winner Tangible Words Ltd. is a marketing and sales enablement agency dedicated to helping businesses grow their revenue through strategic content marketing and sales support.

The company specializes in creating and executing comprehensive marketing plans that align with clients' business goals. They ensure that every piece of content produced is designed to attract, engage, and convert potential customers.

In addition to content marketing, Tangible Words offers a suite of services aimed at enhancing sales processes and improving overall business performance. These services include website optimization, lead generation, email marketing, and customer relationship management. By integrating marketing efforts with sales strategies, the company helps clients streamline their operations, increase efficiency, and ultimately boost their bottom line.

Education and Empowerment
A key aspect of Tangible Words' approach is their commitment to education and empowerment. The company provides training and workshops to equip clients with the knowledge and tools they need to maintain and grow their marketing and sales efforts independently. This commitment extends to their employees as well.

According to Co-founders Vicky Marrack and Alysha Dominico, working women are rarely given the privilege of personal time, so they created Tangible Words with a vision of genuine work-life balance. Long before the pandemic popularized virtual offices, the two created a work structure that supports personal life.

With minimal required weekly meetings, their remote team of 70% women contractors create personal work schedules that best fit their lifestyle. Contractors don’t sacrifice their personal goals for work goals but are encouraged to find balance, leaving room for development in both spheres. Vicky and Alysha lead by example in this pursuit of balance. The flexible work schedule gives greater freedom in work hours, allowing them to volunteer at their kids' school and cheer them on at sporting events. Vicky is an avid athlete fitting in time to play golf, basketball, and ultimate frisbee, and Alysha is a fiction writer, and both find time to develop these skills while leading a successful, growing agency.

Instead of molding their team into a singular work style, Vicky and Alysha embrace differences, bringing out each team member’s strengths to create meaningful results. The success of Vicky and Alysha’s workplace structure is not only seen in the company's achievements but also in the personal achievements of their team.

As pioneers of this work structure, Vicky and Alysha continue to find unique ways to connect their far-flung contractors. They implemented social Slack channels to share stories and fun personal updates and scheduled virtual escape rooms to solve excitingly complicated puzzles. Vicky and Alysha use these shared online spaces to celebrate their team loudly in all their achievements, maintaining a togetherness despite the distance. 

Supported by the successful structure they have created, Tangible Word’s flexibility allows Vicky and Alysha the time to help others achieve. In addition to their agency, the two created Tangible Help which contributes time and money to projects of change in underrepresented groups. Sponsoring the Wheelchair Basketball Canada tournament in Ottawa, Canada, and sponsoring a women-owned landscaping company are two of the many ways Tangible Words continues to give back.

Understanding the dangers of burnout, especially for women, Vicky and Alysha pioneered an online office structure that prioritizes professional and personal development. Working in a personalized way that brings out their best, the Tangible Words team aims to show that with strong leadership and care, work doesn’t have to stall life – instead, work can enhance life.

Tangible Words won a Silver Stevie Award for Women-Run Workplace of the Year in the 2023 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2024 awards program?

Winners in the 2024 (first annual) Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence, “the Olympics for technology,” were announced today. The awards celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of individuals, teams, and organizations shaping the future of technology across all industry sectors. Individuals and organizations worldwide are eligible to enter - public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.

Among the organizations with multiple Stevie Award wins are Amazon/Amazon Web Services (9), IBM (5), the City of Sydney, Australia (4), Gabriel Marketing Group, on behalf of several of their clients (4), Impel (4), LandGate (4), Lenovo/Lenovo India Pvt Ltd/ Lenovo PCCW Solutions (LPS) (4), BostonGene (3), Cisco Systems Inc. (3), CleverTap (3), Google (3), Gov2Biz Inc (3), MicroHealth, LLC (3), and Constructor (3).

Winners will be celebrated during a gala awards banquet on Monday, September 16 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Tickets are now on sale. The presentations will be broadcast live.

More than 600 nominations from organizations in 21 nations and territories were evaluated in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 100 professionals worldwide, acting as judges. The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence recognize achievement in many facets of the workplace. Categories are grouped in 20 technology-industry sections:

• Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations Technology
• Aerospace Technology
• Agricultural Technology
• Architectural Technology
• Artificial Intelligence
• Assistive Technology
• Biotechnology
• Business Technology
• Communication Technology
• Educational Technology
• Energy Technology
• Entertainment Technology
• Financial Technology
• Government Technology
• Green and Clean Technology
• Healthcare Technology
• Information Technology
• Manufacturing Technology
• Marine Technology
• Transportation Technology

The awards are presented by the Stevie Awards, organizer of nine of the world’s leading business awards shows including the prestigious International Business Awards® and American Business Awards®.

Die polySTAGE setzt neue Maßstäbe im Bereich der multimedialen
Event-Installationen und gewinnt verdient gleich zwei der begehrten
German Stevie Awards

Die polySTAGE des Austria Center Vienna (IAKW-AG) gewinnt dieses Jahr bei den German® Stevie Awards sowohl einen Gold-Stevie in der Kategorie "Technologische Innovation des Jahres" als auch einen Silber-Stevie für "Besondere Leuchtturm-Projekte".

Das Projekt wurde zusammen mit dem renommierten Wiener Unternehmen Media Apparat vorangetrieben, das sich an der Schnittstelle zwischen Kunst, Design und Technologie befindet. Dieses hat bereits zahlreiche andere internationale Projekte realisiert, wobei die polySTAGE jedoch ihr Meisterstück darstellt, welches die Eingangshalle des Austria Center Vienna zu einer individuellen Bühne macht, die ihresgleichen sucht.

Die Installation aus 52 einzeln ansteuerbaren und zum großen Teil beweglichen LED-Paneelen hebt die gesamte Präsentationstechnologie auf eine neue Ebene. Der aus einem inneren und einem äußern Ring bestehende zentrale Teil der Installation bietet eine gigantische Fläche von 174 Quadratmetern, um Videos, Bilder und Text-Informationen darzustellen und in einen außergewöhnlichen Kontext zu setzen. Ergänzt werden die beiden Ringe aus einzeln beweglichen Paneelen durch fest installierte LED-Banner an den Seitenwänden und der Rückwand, die ebenfalls einzeln oder zusammen im Konzert mit den Ringen mit Content bespielt werden können. Zusammen stehen so mehr als 310 Quadratmeter LED-Fläche mit insgesamt 107 Millionen Pixeln zur Verfügung - genug für einen echten "WOW"-Effekt bei den Besuchern. Um das Erlebnis abzurunden, wird es durch ein Spatial Sound System ergänzt, das das immersive Erlebnis auf den Hörsinn erweitert, um den Zuschauer komplett in das Erlebnis eintauchen zu lassen.

Die seit September 2023 existierende Einrichtung legt die Messlatte für diese Art von Installationen auf eine neue, zuvor ungekannte Höhe. Die technischen Herausforderungen, die es dabei zu lösen galt, bestanden nicht nur in der Größe der verwendeten LED-Panele - das Gesamtgewicht der Installation liegt bei 18 Tonnen, der bewegliche Teil bringt es auf immerhin 7 Tonnen! -, sondern vor allem auch in der Entwicklung der nötigen Tools und Steuerungs-Software, die alleine etwa 200 Tage beanspruchte. Damit die einzelnen Komponenten in ihrer Choreographie synchronisiert werden können, wurden mehr als 27 Kilometer Kabel verlegt.

Die polySTAGE kann sowohl von Endkunden als auch Agenturen gebucht und mit eigenem Content versehen werden, wobei die IAKW-AG und ihre Partner natürlich den gesamten Prozess sowohl kreativ als auch technisch begleiten. Die polySTAGE bietet dabei ein Veranstaltungserlebnis, das sich von allem unterschiedet, was es in der Branche bisher gab, und besitzt somit ein einzigartiges Alleinstellungsmerkmal, das nicht nur den digitalen Fokus des ACV widerspiegelt, sondern sich auch auf die dargestellten Inhalte überträgt. Die Einsatzmöglichkeiten der polySTAGE sind dabei nahezu unbegrenzt: Von einer Startposition wechselt die Installation in eine fließende Wellenbewegung, wobei die dargestellten Inhalte auf den Screens von der Bewegung unberührt wirken oder diese spielend aufnehmen. In anderen Settings bilden die LED-Paneele statische Räume für Registratur und Messestand oder für scheinbar schwebende Kunstausstellungen, sowie als interaktive Bühne für hybride Diskussionsrunden, wo Speaker vor Ort mit zugeschalteten Teilnehmern räumlich in Verbindung treten. Eine weitere Einsatzmöglichkeit bietet sich für interaktive Bühnen z.B. bei hybriden Diskussionsrunden, bei denen Teilnehmer vor Ort mit solchen auf der anderen Seite des Planeten räumlich in Verbindung treten können. Zudem ist ein Wechsel zwischen den einzelnen Szenarien in kürzester Zeit möglich.

Die polySTAGE hält somit das Versprechen, das sie mit ihrem Name gibt: Ein Vielfalt von Inhalten auf die digitale Event-Bühne des 21sten Jahrhunderts zu heben und dabei die Zuschauer in ihren Bann zu ziehen!

Die IAKW-AG  - Internationales Amtssitz- und Konferenzzentrum Wien - ist verantwortlich für die Erhaltung und den Betrieb des Vienna International Centre sowie des Austria Center Vienna. Mit 19 Sälen, 180 Meetingräumen sowie rund 26.000 Quadratmeter Ausstellungsfläche ist das Austria Center Vienna Österreichs größtes Kongresszentrum und gehört zu den Top-Playern im internationalen Kongresswesen. Bereits im Jahr 2022 hatte die IAKW-AG einen der begehrten Gold-Stevies in der Kategorie "Bestes Event zum Markenerlebnis" mit ihrem innovativen Konzept des Hybrid Circle gewonnen - einem Meeting-Format, das mit hilfe moderner Video-Technologie und kreisförmiger Videoleinwände die Diskussionskultur auf ein neue Niveau gehoben hat.

Haben Sie mit Ihrer Organisation auch Großartiges geleistet? Dann melden Sie sich jetzt für unseren Newsletter an, um immer über die Fristen der German Stevie® Awards 2025 auf dem Laufenden gehalten zu werden!

Winners in the 2024 (ninth annual) Stevie® Awards for Great Employers, “the Olympics for human resources,” were announced today. The awards recognize the world’s best employers and the human resources professionals, teams, achievements, and HR-related products and suppliers who help to create and drive great places to work.    

Among the organizations with multiple Gold Stevie wins are Bank of America (9), Everise (4), pladis (4), Apexon (3), Digital Hands (3), ecosio (3), Enerjisa Uretim (3), LMI (3), Peak on Air (3), SOCAR Türkiye (3), TurkTraktor (3), Abu Dhabi Customs (2), Arkas Holding (2), Ayala Land, Inc. - Makati Development Corporation (2), Benefex (2), Capital One (2), Cathay United Bank (2), DHL Global Forwarding, Freight (2), Doğuş Holding (2), ENERJISA ENERJI (2), Entek Elektrik (2), Gamefam (2), GCash (Mynt - Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.) (2), HALKBANK (2), Octopus Energy (2), ResultsCX (2), Seer Medical (2), Tata Consultancy Services (2), Wells Fargo (2), and Wesley, LLC (2).

For a full list of winners by category, visit https://www.StevieAwards.com/HR.

Winners will be celebrated during a ceremony on Monday, September 16 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Tickets are now on sale. The presentations will be broadcast live.

More than 1,000 nominations from organizations in 35 nations and territories were evaluated in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 130 professionals worldwide, acting as judges. The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recognize achievement in many facets of the workplace. Categories include:

•     Employer of the Year Categories
•     HR Achievement Categories
•     HR Individual Categories
•     HR Team Categories
•     Solution Provider Categories
•     Solutions, Implementations, and Training Programs or Media Categories
•     Thought Leadership Categories

Stevie Award placements in the 31 Employer of the Year categories were determined by a unique blending of the ratings of professionals and the votes of the general public. More than 34,000 votes were cast this year by members of the public for their favorite employer.

The awards are presented by the Stevie Awards, which organizes nine of the world’s leading business awards shows including the prestigious International Business Awards® and American Business Awards®.

A sponsor of the 9th annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers is HiBob.

Stevie-winner The Alpha Enterprise is a leading importer of chlorine and various chemicals used for water treatment. As the sole direct importer in the Philippines, they play a crucial role in ensuring the availability of high-quality chemicals that are essential for maintaining safe and clean water supplies across the country. Their products are widely used in municipal water treatment facilities, swimming pools, and industrial applications.

In addition to importing chlorine, The Alpha Enterprise offers a wide range of chemicals for water purification and treatment processes. These include coagulants, flocculants, disinfectants, and pH adjusters, all of which are critical for effectively treating water and ensuring it meets health and safety standards. Their extensive product line caters to the diverse needs of various industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare, helping to maintain optimal water quality.

The company is committed to providing expert technical support and consultation services to its clients. Their team of experienced professionals assists customers in selecting the appropriate chemicals and devising effective water treatment strategies. By offering tailored solutions and ongoing support, The Alpha Enterprise helps its clients optimize their water treatment processes, improve efficiency, and comply with regulatory requirements.

It also engages in corporate social responsibility initiatives through its partnership with The Persons with Multiple Disabilities Foundation Corp (PWMDFC). This foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with multiple disabilities by providing comprehensive care, support, and educational opportunities.

The Persons with Multiple Disabilities Foundation Corp
PWMDFC focuses on providing comprehensive care, support, and opportunities for people with multiple disabilities. It offers various programs and services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and educational support, to enhance the quality of life and independence of its beneficiaries. The foundation also works on raising awareness about the challenges faced by individuals with multiple disabilities and advocates for their rights and inclusion in society.

The Alpha Enterprise contributes to PWMDFC by providing financial support, resources, and volunteer efforts. This partnership allows the foundation to expand its programs, reach more individuals in need, and implement new initiatives that benefit the disabled community. Alpha Enterprise employees often participate in volunteer activities, contributing their time and skills to assist with the foundation’s projects and events.

Through this collaboration, The Alpha Enterprise and PWMDFC work together to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for people with multiple disabilities. Their combined efforts help empower these individuals, providing them with the necessary tools and opportunities to lead fulfilling lives.

The Alpha Enterprise and team members won a Gold Stevie, two Silver Stevie Awards, and a Bronze Stevie Award for Social Change Maker of the Year in Disability, Female Innovator of the Year, Female Executive of the Year, and Organization of the Year, respectively, in the 2023 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2024 awards program?

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is a telecommunications and digital services provider based in the Philippines. The company specializes in delivering high-speed fiber internet connectivity and digital solutions to residential, business, and enterprise customers across the country.

Converge ICT is known for its fiber-optic network infrastructure, which enables reliable and fast internet connections and supports data-intensive activities such as streaming, gaming, and business operations. In addition to internet services, Converge ICT offers a range of digital solutions, including managed IT services, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and enterprise connectivity solutions.

Converge ICT President, Co- Founder, Chief Resources Officer and Chief Risk Officer Maria Grace Y. Uy won a Gold Stevie Award for Woman of the Year in Technology in the 2023 Stevie^® Awards for Women in Business.

Woman of the Year in Tech
Maria Grace Uy has always been curious about the frontier of possibilities that a connected Philippines might bring, but for years, she says, Filipinos have been settling for poor internet services, depriving them of the chance to explore the opportunities in a thriving digital economy.

Grace is the President and Co-Founder of Converge ICT Solutions Inc, and she was among the influential figures behind the business that dismantled the telecom duopoly in the Philippines to give way for the delivery of high-speed connectivity that Filipinos deserve. Also taking charge as Chief Risk Officer and Chief Resources Officer, Grace oversees the financial landscape of Converge to ensure that adequate strategic planning is implemented.

Grace has ushered in a series of triumphs in her pursuit to power a digitally connected Philippines. She spearheaded the company's nationwide expansion through significant inter-island connections in Visayas and Mindanao, from major cities to the most remote communities.

Currently, Converge boasts the most extensive fiber-to-the-home network in the Philippines and one of the country's most advanced and extensive cable systems, having 7.9 million ports nationwide and a remarkable 680,000 km fiber backbone.

Hitting 2M Residential Subscribers
As Converge went full throttle in reaching the unserved and underserved, it introduced its prepaid connectivity solution called Surf2Sawa, which caters to lower-income households. Surf2Sawa is a fiber connectivity solution that offers high-speed, flexible, and reliable connectivity on a prepaid basis, where subscribers can top-up for as low as P50 for a whole day connectivity, to P700 for a whole-month connection, depending on their needs and budget.

A few months after that, Converge also unveiled its most affordable postpaid plan yet called BIDA Fiber, aiming to capture the mass market who needs a reliable and more budget-friendly internet connection but prefers a monthly subscription over a prepaid service.

Unlike the regular postpaid solutions, BIDA Fiber offers a more affordable option for budget-conscious customers. It enables subscribers to maximize their connectivity experience through the capabilities of a pure-fiber connection for a price that they can very much afford.

With the introduction of these solutions to the market, Converge recently hit two million residential subscribers, a testament to its commitment to leaving no one behind in serving the unserved and underserved.

Amplifying the Voices of Women in Technology
Aside from co-piloting the business with her husband Dennis, Grace has also been advocating for women’s empowerment in the organization, encouraging them to claim their seats at the table and let their voices be heard.

In line with this, she led the launch of the company’s women mentorship program titled, "Grace Under Pressure: MentorSHE," where potential women leaders from managerial positions are guided and primed by senior women leaders in the company. Last March 2024, the program saw its first cohort complete the 12-week mentorship course designed to enhance their leadership abilities. Moving forward, the company intends to sustain the initiative, supporting the advancement of women leaders within the organization.

Despite being a relatively new player in an industry dominated by two telco giants, Grace’s co-leadership at Converge has helped to transform the digital experience of Filipinos through world-class connectivity services.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc.'s Maria Grace Y. Uy won a Gold Stevie Award for Woman of the Year in Technology in the 2023 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2024 awards program?

The 7th annual Women|Future Conference was held virtually on July 23, bringing together ambitious, forward-thinking women from across industries and career stages to connect and discuss key issues impacting their industries, careers, and lives.

A professional development, learning, and networking event launched in 2018 to complement the highly successful Stevie® Awards for Women in Business program, the Women|Future Conference brings together a community of women small business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals interested in starting a business.

Attendees tuned in from cities across the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia, and Europe. This year the agenda featured sessions that focus on small business and entrepreneurship.

If you missed the live conference, you can still watch all the session replays for just $5, available until the end of 2024 through Zoom Events. Register for access here.

Key Takeaways and Quotations
The conference kicked off with Keynote Speaker Heather Hoytink, President, South Division PepsiCo Beverages North America. In this role, Heather leads a beverage portfolio that has grown to nearly $5.5B since she started in 2022. As the company’s first woman named division president, she is responsible for end-to-end P&L ownership and manages all cross-functional activity inclusive of commercial, go-to-market, manufacturing, operations, and marketing. Heather was honored with a Gold Stevie Award for Female Executive of the Year in the 2023 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business.

In her session titled "Igniting Your Influence," Heather was joined by ForbesWomen Contributor, Vickie Chachere, to engage in an intimate fireside chat delving into the profound impact of influence and relationships on one’s path to career success. 

Heather shared how her relationships have shaped her career, how she feels about being a woman in an executive role, and the concept of "returnship." She commented: "Be grounded in what sacrifices and trade-offs you're willing to make in your career and stay true to your principles. If you have great joy somewhere, stay the course. The grass isn't always greener somewhere else. Worry more about the collection of qualifications that will best help you get your dream job down the line."

She emphasized how mentors completely transformed her career: "They took a vested interest in me and helped me navigate corporate America," teaching her how to persuade and influence, how to design a career map, and sharing their professional insights. To help other women reach success, Heather created a returnship program at PepsiCo in partnership with "Path Forward." These are 16-week paid learning opportunities for women who had to take a break from work, whether due to family needs, health issues, etc. Returnships serve to help women assimilate back into corporate America with the support, mentors, and resources to be successful. At the end of the experience, if both parties are interested, "returners" may be offered a permanent position.

In her closing remarks, Heather encouraged the audience: "It's a great time to be a woman—we need to harness this moment and do great things."

The next session was a panel discussion, "Unlocking Awards Success: The Power of Stevie Awards in Building Credibility and Business Growth," which examined how organizations can utilize Stevie Awards to enhance their credibility, leverage their achievements to drive business growth, and effectively integrate award recognition into their overall strategic approach.

Nicole Schmitz, Founder & CEO of a leadership coaching consultancy, started her business during the COVID pandemic. She shared how winning an International Business Award helped her business grow rapidly. She encouraged others not to wait to nominate their business if they have found success—even if their business is newer: "My business went from zero to 100 after I won that first International Business Award. The more awards you enter, the more credibility, confidence, and experience you gain!"

She explained how "the backstage interview and the awards ceremony add another layer of leverage that provide value as well," while sharing that her red carpet interview from The 2023 International Business Awards ceremony in Rome, Italy, racked up over 20k views online!

CEO of Branch & Bramble Emily Lyman commented: "Applying for an award is a testament to your confidence in your company or your campaign to even submit. You can build out your campaigns with the Stevie Awards in mind: How can I craft a campaign that is award worthy? What is cutting edge and innovative and will help us win?"

Managing Partner and Founder of Purpol Marketing and 36-time Stevie Award winner Denise O'Leary, MBE, said that she collects press mentions, screenshots, and other articles that will support her Stevie Award nominations throughout the year. She recommends that all prospective entrants make a practice of this, so that it's easier to find and craft the story of your business accomplishments when it's time to collect evidence and make a case for any award submission.

In the third session of the conference, "Building a Trusted Brand: Authenticity in a Time of Public Scrutiny and Hot News Cycles" panelists hosted by Trust Relations CEO & Founder April White shared advice for brand leaders to decide when to take a public stance on issues in the press and how to prepare for and manage crisis situations.

Panelists included Rachel Griffin, Co-Founder of PlayWise Partners; Ronjini Joshua, Owner & President of The Silver Telegram; Catharine Montgomery, Founder & CEO of Better Together; and Marissa Nance, CEO & Founder of Native Tongue Communications.

All panelists agreed how important honesty and consistency are in developing trust with an audience. Catherine noted that it is just as essential to know your audience: "If leaders and companies don't know their audience, they can't connect authentically." Understanding your audience will help you create messaging that will truly resonate.

Ronjini added that consistency of messaging across channels should involve clear communication between internal teams so that all departments of an organization can be on the same page regarding messaging and tactics.

These strategies contribute to building authentic connections and trust with your audience and customers. In addition, if an organization makes a misstep in messaging or has compromised its reputation in another way, having that foundation of trust will help to repair and heal brand loyalty. Panelists highly recommend that leaders have a ready-to-go crisis management plan in place (before it's ever needed) that is up-to-date and consistently reviewed.

Marissa offered four practical tips for organizations who find themselves in a crisis situation: 1) make sure you clearly understand what the issue is—don't react to a misunderstanding or something that doesn't even exist; 2) determine if the issue is based in fact or fiction; 3) address it with sincerity in a way people feel seen and heard; and 4) take a step back during the situation and reflect on if what you're doing is actually working—if not, optimize and relaunch where and when needed.

If resources allow, there may be instances when you need to ask for help. "Don’t spend hours trying to be an expert when you can outsource to someone who is an expert," said Rachel. Even though social and cultural pressure sometimes makes women feel they should manage alone, part of being a leader is honestly evaluating your strengths and determining when to ask for assistance and support.

In the next session, "Breaking Barriers, Building Empires and Elevating Women: Driving Change in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Business" speakers shared their personal journeys and experiences through the world of leadership and entrepreneurship.

It all begins with self-confidence, noted business strategist Kerry-Ann Powell, Founder of Trafalgar Strategies LLC: "It is important for you to always go back to how you see yourself....Do the work within....That internal belief about who you are and your vision is what enables you to step into yourself in a more positive way." 

Bosky Mukerjee, Founder of PMDojo, echoed Kerry-Ann's sentiments and added that you need to decide on your non-negotiable priorities that support your core values. She related her own experiences of hitting rock bottom in her mental and physical health while serving as President of a tech company. She said it was months of inner work reflecting on what she really cared about and what she wanted the next few years to look like: "You only grow when you are in the deep end of the pool," she said. Despite the intense pressure to shatter the glass ceiling, sometimes you have to walk away from roles or activities that are not serving your vision-- even if they might be million-dollar offers.

The panelists examined the role “hustle culture” has played in motivating and driving change, however, Angelique Hamilton, CEO & Chief Coaching Officer at HRCG, noted that there should be boundaries and parameters that you determine for yourself. Business Growth Strategist and Consultant Danielle Levy of The Boardroom League agreed, noting that this involves being in alignment with who you are to create your own journey of what work-life balance and professional development look like in practice.

Bosky highlighted the value of “finding your tribe”—the people who understand and support you—or if you can’t find a tribe you fit into, create your own and invite others with like priorities and goals. This also gives women leaders an opportunity to make space for other women in challenging sectors, she noted.

When it comes to battling against stereotypes and snap judgments in the workplace, panelists remarked that there are times for productive corrections and times to let it go. You can’t teach everyone good manners, said Bosky, relating how she used to get quite angry at the stereotyping that occurred in her workplace: “It’s all about picking your fights….be at peace in the things you can control.” 

In the final session of the conference, speakers explored "Leveraging AI Technology and Navigating the Social Media Landscape" panelists discussed the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for businesses, featuring insights from industry leaders including an AI tech startup Founder, a Product Leader, an AI Strategist, and the SVP of Growth for Fortune 500 client brands.

AMP Solutions CEO Lisa Thee emphasized the importance of automation in reducing the mental load for leaders and employees and establishing a brand presence. She highlighted how AI and social media can help startups and businesses create engaging content, turning complex information into digestible sound bites. "AI is like hiring an amazing assistant that allows you to focus more on your super special powers," Lisa commented, which allows professionals to do less of the minor organizing and planning tasks that get in the way of executing their vision.

Kristen Dolan, SVP of Growth at Influential, discussed the integration of AI into social platforms, including tools like ChatGPT, and how companies are leveraging AI to enhance productivity. She cited examples like Meta AI, TikTok Symphony, and Snapchat’s MY AI, which provide small and medium-sized businesses with powerful, accessible tools for content creation and trend detection.

Deboshree Dutta, Founder & CEO of Criya, elaborated on AI’s impact on marketing, explaining how AI can create multi-mode content, streamline drip campaigns, and boost sales productivity by providing executive summaries and outlines.

The panel conversation also touched on the evolution of creator content. Kristen underscored the enduring need for genuine human connections, while Deboshree spoke about the burgeoning creator and influencer economy. She noted that content creation involves not just creativity but also business acumen, and AI can assist with the demanding business aspects. The panelists agreed that AI tools can help creators maintain authenticity and scale their efforts, suggesting that businesses and individuals experiment with AI to understand its capabilities.

Stay Connected: Replay Sessions and Nominate for Women in Business Stevies
If you didn’t get a chance to register for the live event, you can watch all the session replays for just $5, available until the end of 2024 through Zoom Events. Whether you attended the conference or are catching up now, these sessions are a treasure trove of knowledge.

Individuals and organizations can also still submit nominations for the 2024 (21st annual) Stevie® Awards for Women in Business. Entries will be accepted through August 21. Request the Entry Kit Now.

Finalists will be announced in September, and the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie-winner placements of the Finalists revealed during a gala awards dinner in New York City on Friday, November 8.

Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates about next year's conference.

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2024 SPONSORS AND PARTNERS​

Gold Sponsor:
The Boardroom League

Silver Sponsors: 
nFOLD
Dominique Young Law, P.C. 

Bronze Sponsors:
Enterprising Women Magazine
Divine Wealth Solutions
Lead Twist
PMDojo