Grand Stevie® Winners Announced in 22nd International Business Awards®

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Tue, Aug 19, 2025 @ 09:00 AM

The Stevie® Awards, organizers of the world’s premier business awards programs, have announced the winners of six Grand (“best in show”) Stevie Award trophies in The 2025 (22nd Annual) International Business Awards®, the world’s leading business awards competition.

Nominees in the 2025 International Business Awards were not able to apply for Grand Stevie Awards directly. Winners of “most honored” Grand Stevies were determined by a points system based on the total number of awards won in the IBAs, with a Gold Stevie win counting for three points, a Silver Stevie win for two points, and a Bronze Stevie win for 1.5 points.

IBA25 Winners (9)

This year’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners in The International Business Awards were announced on 13 August. Those Stevie winners and the winners of the Grand Stevies announced today will be recognized during an awards gala in Lisbon, Portugal on 10 October.

Winners of the 2025 Grand Stevie Awards are:

Organization of the Year

Cathay Financial, including Cathay United Bank and Cathay Securities Corporation, wins this year’s honor with 56 award points, earned on the basis of nine Gold, four Silver, and 14 Bronze Stevie wins. Cathay Financial is a major financial holding company offering a range of financial products and services through its subsidiaries, including insurance, banking, and investment services. Cathay Financial is known for its strong presence in Taiwan and its expanding reach in the Asia Pacific region. This is the first-ever Grand Stevie win for Taiwan.

Most Honored Marketing Agency

Lounge Group, Budapest, Hungary, wins this top honor for the second year in a row, on the basis of seven Gold, two Silver, and one Bronze Stevie wins (26.5 points) for campaigns on behalf of a number of clients.

Most Honored Public Relations Agency

ZIMAT, Mexico City, Mexico, wins with five Gold, two Silver, and four Bronze Stevie wins (25 points) for communications campaigns and publications on behalf of a range of their clients. This marks Mexico’s first Grand Stevie Award win.

Most Honored Awards Agency

Annette Densham, Award Writing Specialist, based in Bali, Indonesia, is the first winner of this new Grand Stevie Award, on the basis of 16 Gold, 10 Silver, and 17 Bronze Stevie wins (93.5 points) for nominations prepared and submitted on behalf of a wide range of small businesses in Australia. Densham won a top-five Grand Stevie in last year’s Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Highest-rated Nomination of the Year

The Gold Stevie-winning nomination of Ivan Shvaichenko, CEO of cloud-gaming platform Boosteroid, is this year’s winner with an average score of 9.42 out of a possible 10. Gold Stevie winner for Best Entrepreneur - Computer Services, the Ukraine native is now based in Austin, Texas USA.

Highest-rated New Product or Service Nomination of the Year

This year’s honor goes to ExtendMax Vietnam Company Limited, Hanoi, for the nomination entitled “Pioneering End-to-End IOR/EOR Services in Vietnam’s Compliance Market,” which won the Gold Stevie for Best New Business-to-Business Service. This is the first Grand Stevie Award win for Vietnam.

Maggie Miller, President of the Stevie Awards, stated, “The six Grand Stevie Award winners embody the remarkable diversity and excellence of the entries we received in the 2025 IBAs. In an era of constant change, leading organizations continue to adapt and excel. Our judges were deeply impressed by the creativity, ingenuity, and expertise these winners have demonstrated in advancing their organizations over the past two years. We look forward with great anticipation to celebrating these distinguished recipients at the upcoming gala in Lisbon.”

The International Business Awards feature a wide variety of categories to recognize achievement in every facet of work life, including management awards, new product awards, marketing awards, PR awards, customer service awards, website awards, and more.

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements in the 2025 IBAs were determined by the average scores of more than 250 professionals worldwide in the three-month judging process. Winners were selected from more than 3,800 nominations submitted by organizations in 78 nations and territories.

The nomination process for the 2026 IBAs will open in February. For more information about The International Business Awards, including a complete list of all Stevie Award winners in the 2025 competition, visit www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

Topics: International business awards

Stevie® Awards Announce Winners in The 22nd Annual International Business Awards® from Across the Globe

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Wed, Aug 13, 2025 @ 09:00 AM

High-achieving organizations and executives around the world have been recognized as Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie® Award winners in The 22nd Annual International Business Awards®, the world's only international, all-encompassing business awards program.

Winners were selected from more than 3,800 nominations submitted by organizations in 78 nations and territories.

IBA25 Winners (1)

A complete list of all 2025 Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners by category is available at www.StevieAwards.com/IBA.

More than 250 professionals around the world serving as Stevie Award judges on nine specialized juries reviewed and rated nominations to determine the winners.

The top winners of Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards are HALKBANK and pladis, both of Türkiye, with 21 wins each.

Winners of three or more Gold Stevie Awards include pladis (11), HALKBANK (10), Cathay Financial Holding Co. Ltd. (9), CarrefourSA (7), Lounge Group (7), PJ Lhuillier Inc. (7), Mang Inasal Philippines (6), Megaworld Lifestyle Malls (6), Tata Consultancy Services (6), Abu Dhabi Customs (5), ATREVIA CORPORACIÓN S.L (5), ExtendMax Vietnam Company Limited (5), Manila Electric Company (5), Pan American Energy (5), ZIMAT (5), Addvox (4), Enerjisa Enerji (4), HeyMo® The Experience Design Company (4), IBM (4), Miral Destinations (4), Partner.Co (4), Viettel (4), İş Sanat (3), A.S. WATSON (3), Bank of the Philippine Islands (3), Community Development Authority (3), DDB Group Philippines (3), Dr. Phone Fix (3), Dubai Digital Authority (3), General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (3), Kendra Scott (3), Lenovo (3), Netcracker Technology (3), Türk Telekom (3), The City of Sydney (3), and WNS (3).

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 Lisbon, Portugal at the Corinthia Hotel on 10 October, 2025. Tickets are on sale now.

Nominations for the 2026 edition of the IBAs will be accepted starting in February.

Topics: International business awards

How One Mother Turned Her Breastfeeding Struggles Into a Game-Changing Product

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Tue, Aug 12, 2025 @ 03:43 PM

Simple_Breastfeeding_SocialsAngela Dion, founder of Simple Breastfeeding, has been recognized with two Stevie Awards in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business for her development of the Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow — an innovative breastfeeding support device designed to assist mothers, particularly those with larger breasts, in nursing more comfortably and effectively.

Dion’s idea for the product emerged from her own struggles as a new mother. Like many women, she experienced neck, shoulder, and back pain from holding her breast in place while nursing, as well as difficulty helping her baby latch. The makeshift solution often used (a rolled-up towel) failed to provide adequate support, creating additional frustration and discomfort. Over time, this strain required weekly physiotherapy and significantly impacted her breastfeeding experience.

Motivated by these challenges, Dion embarked on a four-year journey to create a more effective, ergonomic support device. Drawing on feedback from healthcare professionals, extensive testing, and input from mothers, she developed the Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow. The product is made from medical-grade materials that are hygienic, durable, and easy to clean. Its design supports proper positioning of the breast to improve latching, reduce pain, and enhance bonding between mother and baby.Simple_Breastfeeding_Logo

The product officially launched at the Melbourne Parent & Baby Expo in July 2024, where it sold 50 units and drew praise from both mothers and midwives. Since then, demand has grown through online and retail channels, with healthcare professionals endorsing the product for its ability to address common breastfeeding problems. Physiotherapists specializing in women’s health have described it as a “game changer” for preventing and alleviating breastfeeding-related musculoskeletal pain.

The Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow is designed with versatility in mind. It accommodates mothers of different body types, provides stability for the breast to free up the mother’s hands, and helps improve milk flow, which reduces the risk of mastitis. For mothers who may feel overwhelmed by the physical demands of breastfeeding, the pillow offers a practical solution that improves comfort and allows them to focus more fully on their baby.

The potential market for the product is significant. While breastfeeding initiation rates in Australia are high, many mothers stop breastfeeding within a few months due to physical pain, difficulty latching, or frustration. The Blissful Bond Boobie Pillow addresses these barriers directly, providing an option for mothers who otherwise may have given up breastfeeding prematurely.

Simple Breastfeeding is currently expanding its reach with additional expos planned nationwide, a developing influencer campaign, and discussions underway with national retail and online chains. The company is also exploring opportunities to introduce the product into hospital maternity wards to support mothers immediately after birth.

Winning two Stevie Awards has been a game-changer for Angela and her business. The recognition has attracted the attention of international buyers and helped secure placements in pharmacies and baby shops online, with talks progressing for distribution in markets like the Philippines and the United States. Beyond offering credibility, the awards have given Angela a strong platform to expand globally, paving the way for new partnerships, distributors, and resellers around the world.

Simple Breastfeeding Founder Angela Dion won Bronze Stevie Awards for Achievement in Product Innovation and for Best New Product or Service of the Year - Consumer Products in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2025 program? 

Request the Entry Kit

Topics: stevie awards for women in business

Grand Winners Announced in 2025 Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Wed, Aug 06, 2025 @ 09:00 AM

Amazon, including Amazon Web Services, and Lexi AI (Boston, MA) have won the Grand (“best of show”) Stevie® Award trophies in the second Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. 

The Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence is an international business awards competition 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 listed at www.StevieAwards.com/Tech.  

SATE Grand

This is the second year in a row that Amazon, including Amazon Web Services, has won the Grand Stevie for Organization of the Year in the competition, with 49 award points earned through three Gold, eight Silver, and 16 Bronze Stevie 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 Lexi AI, a Boston-based healthcare startup that helps people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) navigate the healthcare system.

Founded in 2025, Lexi has gained traction with top institutions including Mass General Brigham, Mayo Clinic, and Lowell Community Health Center. The company has secured $100K in non-dilutive funding and won numerous other awards, including the HBS New Venture Competition Grand Prize, the iF Gold Design Award, and first place at the Longevity Venture Summit. In the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence, the firm won a Gold Stevie for Best New Healthcare Technology Product, with an average score 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 tenth 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 1,500 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 160 professionals worldwide, acting as judges. Some of the other organizations with winning nominations announced last week include Apple, Bank of America, Capital One, Cisco Systems, Dell, Doordash, Ford Motor Company, Google, IBM, Intuit, JPMorgan Chase, Meta, Microsoft Corporation, Salesforce, and Snowflake, 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 International Business Awards® and The American Business Awards®.

Topics: technology awards, information technology awards, tech awards, technology innovations, tech award, Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence

Katrina Wurm: Helping Mothers Navigate Parenthood Through Coaching and Advocacy

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Tue, Aug 05, 2025 @ 04:45 PM

Stevie winner Katrina Wurm, founder of Stress Free Super Mum, is a coach, author, and advocate who supports women in managing the challenges of motherhood, particularly when raising children with disabilities or neurodivergence. Drawing on her personal and professional experience, Wurm has developed programs and resources to help mothers improve their confidence, advocate for their children, and maintain a balanced home life.

2025 Winner Spotlight - Twitter Post-5-Aug-05-2025-08-33-54-4983-PM

Her own journey as a mother shaped her mission. After experiencing the loss of multiple pregnancies and giving birth to a son with significant medical needs and neurodiversity, Wurm applied her background in psychology, business, and human resources to create practical systems that helped her manage her family’s complex needs. This experience motivated her to assist other mothers facing similar struggles.

At the request of her son’s school principal, she began coaching mothers of neurodiverse children in 2017. During the pandemic, she formalized her approach by launching Stress Free Super Mum, a program designed to help mothers working from home balance their responsibilities while caring for their families.

Wurm’s programs, workshops, and speaking engagements now reach mothers from diverse backgrounds, not just those raising children with disabilities. Her services emphasize organization, delegation, and advocacy—skills she teaches to help women improve their well-being and reduce stress. She also coaches women to set boundaries, teach their children age-appropriate responsibilities, and avoid overextending themselves.

Her business has grown steadily, with coaching clients increasing by at least 15% annually and sales of her book Wear Your Warrior rising by 25%. She has expanded her reach into rural and remote communities in Australia and regularly speaks at libraries, workshops, and corporate events.

Wurm also works within the corporate sector, particularly with Australia’s national airline Qantas, where she trains staff on disability inclusion and has advocated for the adoption of initiatives such as the Sunflower Lanyard program for hidden disabilities. In 2024 she joined Qantas’s Diversity and Inclusion Board, contributing to policies that support staff and customers with diverse needs.

Through her coaching, writing, and advocacy, Wurm addresses issues such as burnout, depleted mother syndrome, and the lack of support available for parents of children with special needs. Her work provides practical tools for mothers navigating the often-overwhelming demands of parenting and helps families achieve healthier, more balanced lives.

Katrina Wurm won three Gold and two Silver Stevie Awards in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business for Female Thought Leader of the Year – Consumer Services, Mentor of Coach of the Year - Consumer; Women Helping Women - Social Change; Social Change Maker of the Year - Disability; and Best Female Entrepreneur - Consumer Services, respectively.

Interested in submitting your own Stevie Awards for Women in Business nominations?

Request the Entry Kit

 

Topics: stevie awards for women in business

Grand Winners Announced in 2025 Stevie® Awards for Great Employers

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Thu, Jul 31, 2025 @ 09:00 AM

Benifex and Pan American Energy named top winners of the year

Benifex (Southampton, UK) and Pan American Energy (Buenos Aires, Argentina) have won the Grand (“best of show”) Stevie® Award trophies in the tenth annual Stevie Awards for Great Employers.

SAGE Grand (1)

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 create and drive great places to work. The competition’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie winners in the various categories were announced two weeks ago and are available at www.StevieAwards.com/HR.

Benifex has won the Grand Stevie for Organization of the Year, on the strength of 30.5 award points earned by six Gold, four Silver, and three Bronze Stevie wins. Benifex submitted winning nominations on behalf of themselves and clients, including Acorn, Bupa, Convex, Flutter Entertainment, NATS, Refresco, and Whyte & Mackay. 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 Pan American Energy of Buenos Aires, Argentina, for their submission titled “Elevating Training with VR.” Earning an impressive average score of 9.6 points out of 10 from the judges, it stands as the highest-scoring nomination in the 2025 competition. The entry also received the Gold Stevie Award for Best Use of Virtual Worlds for Learning. This achievement marks the first-ever Grand Stevie Award win by an Argentina-based organization.

Winners will be celebrated during a joint awards ceremony with the second 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 115 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 International Business Awards® and The American Business Awards®.

 

Topics: great employers

Winners in Second Annual Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence Announced

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Mon, Jul 28, 2025 @ 04:14 PM

Winners to Be Celebrated at a Ceremony in New York on September 16

Winners in the 2025 (second annual) Stevie® Awards for Technology Excellence 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.

SATE Winners

Among the organizations with multiple Stevie Award wins are Amazon / Amazon Web Services (27), Meta (19), Cisco (14), IBM (12), Microsoft (9), Walmart (8), JPMorganChase (7), Salesforce (7), Cognizant (6), Google (6), Gov2Biz Inc (6), Oracle (6), Alliant (5), Apple (5), BostonGene (5), Encora (5), and Epique Realty (5).

For a full list of winners by category, visit www.StevieAwards.com/Tech.

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

More than 1,500 nominations from organizations in 36 nations and territories were evaluated in this year’s competition. Winners were determined by the average scores of more than 160 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®.

Topics: Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence

Winners in 2025 Stevie® Awards for Great Employers Announced

Posted by Maggie Gallagher on Thu, Jul 17, 2025 @ 08:45 AM

Winners in the 2025 (10th annual) Stevie® Awards for Great Employers 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.

SAGE Winners horizontal   

Among the organizations with five or more Stevie wins are Bank of America, USA (14), DP DHL, worldwide (14), Globe Telecom, Philippines (14), Tata Consultancy Services, worldwide (13), Cathay United Bank, Taiwan (12), Apexon, worldwide (11), IBM, worldwide (11), Enerjisa Enerji, Türkiye (10), MGM China, Macao, China (10), PEGASUS AIRLINES, Türkiye (10), pladis, Türkiye (9), Allianz SE, Germany (8), Zenutna Holdings Corporation, Philippines (8), DIMES, Türkiye (7), Ooredoo, worldwide (7), PLDT and Smart, Philippines (6), American Health Marketplace, USA (5), Benifex, United Kingdom (5), Eren Enerji, Türkiye (5), Everise, USA (5), Gcash, Philippines (5), HAVELSAN A.Ş., Türkiye (5), Limak Cement, Türkiye (5), Saman Bank, Iran (5), and Türkiye Kalkınma ve Yatırım Bankası, Türkiye (5).

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

Two Grand (“best of show”) trophy winners in the competition will be announced during the week of July 28.

Winners will be celebrated during a ceremony on Tuesday, 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 115 professionals worldwide,acting as judges. The Stevie Awards for Great Employers recognize achievement in many facets of the workplace.

Category groups 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 judging professionals and more than 130,000 votes of the general public.

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

Topics: great employers

Empowerment Through Education and Action: Dr. Sonia Selwin’s Impact Across Communities

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Fri, Jul 11, 2025 @ 11:53 AM

Stevie-winner Dr. Sonia Selwin brings a holistic approach to empowerment, working across India, the U.S., and Bahrain to support marginalized women, immigrant communities, and aspiring entrepreneurs. Her impact is rooted not just in vision, but in action—whether that’s supporting a single woman struggling with language barriers and mental health, or developing scalable education and business programs that reach hundreds.

Sonia SelwinA Dual Role: Academic Leader and Community Organizer
Dr. Selwin’s academic background spans 16 years as a lecturer, professor, and program manager in business education. With a PhD in Management and current postdoctoral research in Leadership at Andrews University, she brings scholarly rigor to her work. But she doesn’t stop at theory.

Her nonprofit work—especially through HopeSide Ministries and as founder of the People Empowerment Alliance for Creativity and Education (PEACE)—takes that expertise directly to the communities that need it most. She mentors immigrant women in employability skills, guides entrepreneurs in launching small businesses, and leads weekly Bible study and support sessions focused on healing and empowerment.

At HopeSide, she’s helped dozens of women start businesses, complete degrees, and navigate personal hardships. Her leadership spans from organizing church retreats and fundraising events to developing grant proposals and securing financial support for community programs.

Focus on Women’s Empowerment and Entrepreneurship
Through PEACE, Dr. Selwin is actively supporting more than 350 women in India—many of them first-time entrepreneurs—with training, funding, and mentorship. She led the effort to award seed funds to women facing growth constraints in businesses like tailoring, jewelry-making, and jute product manufacturing. Her focus is not just on financial aid, but sustainable business growth through marketing, digital skills, and community collaboration.

In one case, she helped an immigrant woman in the U.S. launch a sewing business by offering English language instruction, digital literacy, and equipment—all while juggling childcare and integration challenges. In another, she guided a woman from depression and isolation to confidence and purpose through mentoring and prayer. Her ability to meet people where they are, while also building broader systems for advancement, defines her leadership style.

A Global Voice for Practical Solutions
In 2023, Dr. Selwin was recognized at the British Parliament with the Award for Excellence in Global Education, Business, and Advancement, standing out among applicants from across India. Her work blends academic innovation with hands-on implementation; she’s equally at home writing research papers as she is leading food coordination for a community retreat or coaching a young nonprofit founder on mission statements and grant writing.

She is also passionate about forming partnerships between universities and grassroots entrepreneurs. Her work with students and rural women in India has inspired a mutual exchange of knowledge, connecting theory with lived experience, and inspiring a new generation of leaders.

Dr. Sonia Selwin’s work demonstrates that educational leadership can extend far beyond the classroom. It’s about mentorship, practical support, community development, and meeting real needs with compassion and structure.

Dr. Selwin won a Bronze Stevie® Award for Woman of the Year in the Government or Non-Profit sector in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business. 

Interested in entering the 2025 program? 

Request the Entry Kit

Topics: stevie awards for women in business

Innovating Literacy for Teens Who’ve Been Left Behind

Posted by Amanda Del Signore on Tue, Jul 08, 2025 @ 12:50 PM

Too often, older struggling readers are left with few resources that meet their unique needs—books that are either too simple for their age or too complex for their reading level. Storyshares is tackling that challenge head-on.

Storyshares logo
Founded by former educator Louise Baigelman, Storyshares is a nonprofit literacy organization focused on adolescents who have slipped through the cracks of reading instruction. Baigelman, who began her career in classrooms through Teach For America, saw firsthand how a lack of engaging, accessible reading materials held students back. Her solution: build a new kind of library.

That library now includes more than 500 original, age-appropriate titles written at a wide range of reading levels. These books have reached readers in 180 countries and have been read for over 1 million hours, helping teens and adults build confidence and fluency. Educators report that more than 90% of students using Storyshares titles show improved reading attitudes and behaviors.

Over the past year, Storyshares has continued to break new ground. In response to feedback from educators and families, Baigelman’s team created “Remix Decodables”—the first-ever decodable chapter books for teens. These books, released between late 2023 and early 2024, offer structured support for older readers who are still mastering foundational literacy skills, providing content that respects both their age and their learning needs. Each eight-book set in the series is tailored for students beyond third grade and comes with companion guides for educators to support instruction.

This bold innovation aligns with the growing movement around the Science of Reading and fills a long-overlooked gap in literacy education. It also complements Storyshares’ growing library by offering even more tools for teachers working with readers who have historically lacked effective resources.

Beyond publishing, Storyshares is scaling its impact through strategic collaborations. In 2024, the organization partnered with the 95 Percent Group to co-create 95 Readables™, a collection of decodable chapter books designed for students in grades 2–8. This partnership extends the reach of high-quality, structured literacy tools and highlights Baigelman’s commitment to evidence-based solutions. At the same time, the organization continues to fuel its library through its annual Story of the Year writing contest, which has become a cornerstone for sourcing diverse and engaging content.

Louise Baigelman’s leadership reflects a rare combination of educational insight, entrepreneurial vision, and measurable impact. Through Storyshares, she is redefining what’s possible for struggling readers around the world—empowering students, supporting teachers, and shaping the future of literacy.

Storyshares Founder and CEO Louise Baigelman won a Bronze Stevie® Award for Best Female Entrepreneur – Business Products –10 or Less Employees in the 2024 Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Interested in entering the 2025 program? 

Request the Entry Kit

 

Topics: stevie awards for women in business