Finalists were announced today in the 19th annual Stevie® Awards for Women in Business, the world’s top honors for women entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organizations they run. 

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business Awards® and International Business Awards®, among other business awards programs. The Stevies are widely considered to be the world’s premier honors for achievement in the workplace.

This year’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award placements from among the Finalists will be revealed during an awards banquet at Caesar’s Palace Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on Friday, November 11. More than 500 women and their guests from around the world are expected to attend the presentations, which will be broadcast via Livestream.

More than 1,500 nominations were submitted this year by organizations and individuals for consideration in more than 100 categories including Executive of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Startup of the Year, Women Helping Women, and Women-Run Workplace of the Year. Nominations were submitted by organizations in 27 nations including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Kuwait, Mexico, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.

Among the many extraordinary organizations and women who have been recognized as Finalists, the following stand out as those with four or more Finalist nominations:

Advancing Women in Tech (Seattle, WA USA); Autism Mates (Sydney, Australia); Brandless (Lindon, UT USA); Caroline Kennedy Group (Melbourne, Australia); Consolidated Edison Company of NY, Inc. (New York, NY USA); C-Strategies (Chicago, IL USA); Everise (Plantation, FL USA); Hatch Inc. (Palo Alto, CA USA); Global Press Institute (Washington DC, USA); Harman International (Stamford, CT USA); Inspiring Vacations (Melbourne, Australia); IBM (Armonk, NY USA); Megaphone (Melbourne, Australia); Tavuun Welfare Association (Lahore, Pakistan); Sweet Peanuts (Queensland, Australia); The Tambellini Group, LLC (Irvington, VA USA); and Vanguard (Malvern, PA USA).

Finalists were determined by the average scores of more than 200 professionals around the world, organized in seven juries. Their scores will also determine the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie placements from among the Finalists, to be announced on November 11.

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business event will be complemented by the fifth edition of the Women|Future Conference, to be held virtually on November 8-10. The conference is for women professionals looking to gain unique perspectives from industry leaders, build resilience, network, and prepare for change. The conference addresses the most pressing business issues of tomorrow, from trends in social media marketing and workplace DEI to the next generation of technology, overcoming adversity, and the future of work. Conference registration is just $99 ($39 for students) and is available at http://www.WomenFutureConference.com.

The Women|Future Conference is an annual learning and networking event for women professionals hosted by the Stevie® Awards. The 2022 conference will take place virtually from November 8-10, 2022.

Do you or someone you know run a women-owned business founded in November 2019 or later? All eligible individuals are invited to enter the third annual Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition. This is an opportunity for female founders to advertise their business, improve their communication and presentation skills, network with like-minded attendees, and compete for a cash prize. 

Interested applicants may enter by submitting an application by the October 3 entry deadline. There is no fee to enter. The competition will take place during the 2022 Women|Future Conference on Wednesday, November 9.

If you are a female founder navigating the startup phase of your business, looking for funding, or simply seeking exposure presenting in front of hundreds of women professionals around the world, consider entering the competition. 

Pitch competition finalists will have opportunities to:

• Learn how to craft the perfect pitch to investors and concisely and eloquently present their business model
• Receive one-on-one mentoring about how to present their best pitch prior to the competition
• Network with judges and fellow pitch competition competitors
• Receive written and real-time feedback from judges and attendees
• Attend the 2022 Women|Future Conference 

Attendees who watch the competition will learn how to pitch their own business, gain insight into the organizational structure of other women-owned businesses, vote for their favorite pitch, and connect with competitors and judges.

Pitch Competition Format

The initial pitch applications will be reviewed by the Women|Future Conference leadership team. Five finalists will be selected in mid-October and invited to participate in the virtual competition during the conference on November 9. The competition will be judged by a live panel of successful and established women entrepreneurs, business owners, and investors. 

The format of the competition is similar to ABC's 'Shark Tank' reality TV show where finalists present a timed virtual pitch about their product/service, business model, and target market before the judges and conference attendees. There will be one winner who will receive a monetary prize. The amount of prize money will be announced in October.

Sponsor the Pitch Competiton

We love working with organizations that are aligned with our mission of supporting women in business. The Pitch Competition is funded entirely through the generosity of our sponsors. Sponsorship offers visibility among a demographic of women business owners, executives, and professionals. 

For more information on available sponsorship packages, please email Ruslana@stevieawards.com or visit the conference Sponsorship and Advertising Page to request information.

What to Expect at the 2022 Women|Future Conference

Hundreds of driven women business leaders, entrepreneurs, and executives from around the world will virtually attend the fifth annual Women|Future Conference from November 8-10, 2022. The mission of the conference is to help women share insights about changes that will impact their businesses, their industries, their careers, and their lives. Attendees gain practical takeaways through panels and workshops in seven tracks that are useful for every industry:

1. Entrepreneurship
2. Future of Work
3. Leadership
4. Marketing
5. Personal Development
6. Technology
7. Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
   

The conference agenda features over 20 sessions hosted by diverse speakers from small businesses and global organizations such as Accenture, Cisco, Goldman Sachs, Hilton, IBM, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Nestle, SAP, T-Mobile, Wolters Kluwer, and others.

The sessions cover everything from how to gain traction through public relations, overcome the imposter syndrome, and think like an investor. Below is a partial list of sessions:

• Building Your Community of Mentors​​​​​​​​
• Cultivating an Inclusive Workplace: How Diversity Creates Opportunity​​​​​​​​
• FearLESS: Facing Adversity ​​​​​​​​
• Find Your Voice: Insider Secrets from Seasoned Speakers
• Legal Tips For Your Trade 
• Generational Work Styles: Understanding the Old and the New​​​​​​​​
• Silencing Self Doubt: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome​​​​​​​​
• Strategic Storytelling: Advertising and PR Tactics for Your Business​​​​​​​​
• The Next Generation of Tech​​​​​​​​
• The Ever-changing World of Social Media
• The Evolution of Connection: In-person vs Virtual Networking
• The Snowball Effect: How Women-Led Businesses Create an Impact
• Think Like an Investor: How to Get the Funding You Deserve​​​​​​​​
• Turning Passion into Profit
• …and more

Registration

Registration for the 2022 Women|Future Conference is open. Take advantage of these savings and reserve your virtual seat:

• Bring the whole team to #WomenFuture22! Groups of three (3) or more who register together get 10% savings with our group discount
  
• Student tickets are $39 with proof of a valid student ID

More About the Women|Future Conference

The Women|Future Conference is a professional and personal development, learning, and networking conference hosted by The Stevie® Awards. The conference encourages connections, professional and personal development, and mental health and wellness through motivational keynotes, educational sessions, and networking. From business professionals to inspiring entrepreneurs to executives, there are sessions for women in all stages of life that open your mind and inspire action.

👍 Get Social With the Women|Future Conference 

Instagram 
LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook

Questions?

Conference Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities
Ruslana Milikhiker, Senior Manager, Events
Ruslana@stevieawards.com

Conference Marketing and PR 
Nina Moore, Director of Marketing & Communications
Nina@stevieawards.com

 

Haben Sie die Neuigkeiten schon gehört? Das Programm der Women|Future Conference 2022 ist online! Wir haben ein inspirierendes Programm mit über 70 weiblichen CEOs, Gründerinnen, Kleinunternehmerinnen, Coaches und Führungskräften zusammengestellt. Die 5. jährliche Women|Future Conference wird vom 8. bis 10. November 2022 virtuell abgehalten.

Die Women|Future Conference feiert Frauen in der Wirtschaft, in der beruflichen und persönlichen Entwicklung und im Fortschritt. Das Programm diesen Jahres umfasst mehr als 20 Sitzungen, die in sieben Bereiche fallen: Diversität, Gleichstellung & Inklusion, Unternehmergeist, Zukunft der Arbeit, Führung, Marketing, persönliche Entwicklung und Technologie.

Die Sitzungen sind für ehrgeizige, karriereorientierte Fachfrauen gedacht, die lernen und sich darüber austauschen möchten, was in ihren Unternehmen funktioniert, die Herausforderungen, mit denen sie gemeinsam konfrontiert sind, bewältigen und sinnvolle Kontakte knüpfen möchten.

Die Referentinnen kommen sowohl aus kleinen Unternehmen als auch aus Fortune-500-Organisationen, darunter Accenture, Goldman Sachs, Hilton, IBM, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Nestle, T-Mobile. Wir laden Sie dazu ein, die Rednerliste und die Tagesordnung zu studieren, um sich einen Überblick über die stattfindenden Sitzungen zu verschaffen, einschließlich der Vor-Konferenz-Sitzungen am 7. November.

Den Auftakt der Konferenz bildet am Montag, den 7. November um 11 Uhr Eastern Standard Time die erste von drei Vor-Konferenz-Sitzungen "Find Your Voice: Insider Secrets from Seasoned Speakers" (Finden Sie Ihre Stimme: Insider-Geheimnisse von erfahrenen Rednerinnen), gefolgt von einem Technologie-Panel um 12 Uhr "The Ever-changing World of Social Media" (Die sich ständig verändernde Welt der sozialen Medien).  Am 8. November hören die Teilnehmer die Eröffnungssitzung "Building Your Community of Mentors" (Aufbau einer Mentoren-Gemeinschaft), in der Ressourcen für den Aufbau eines Mentoring-Fahrplans vorgestellt werden - sowohl für Mentoren als auch für Mentees.  Die zweite Sitzung des ersten Tages ist die mit Spannung erwartete Eröffnungs-Keynote über die Zukunft der Arbeit für Frauen (Sprecherin wird in Kürze bekanntgegeben), gefolgt von einer Mischung aus Panels und Workshops in jedem unserer sieben Sitzungstracks. Zwischen den einzelnen Sitzungen sind jeweils 30- und 5-Minuten-Blöcke für Networking vorgesehen, und am 9. November gibt es eine 15-minütige geführte Yoga-Mediationspause. Studieren Sie das vollständige Programm.

Was sie auf der Women|Future Conference 2022 erwartet

Die Teilnehmerinnen können erwarten, dass sie wertvolle Einblicke in Herausforderungen und Veränderungen erhalten, die sich auf ihre Branche, ihre Karriere und ihr persönliches Leben auswirken.

Die Sitzungen befassen sich mit Themen wie Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, Überwindung des Impostersyndroms und Denken wie ein Investor. Untenstehend finden Sie einen Teil der diesjährigen Sitzungen.

• Building Your Community of Mentors​​​​​​​​ (Aufbau einer Gemeinschaft von Mentoren)
• Cultivating an Inclusive Workplace: How Diversity Creates Opportunity​​​​​​​​ (Kultivierung eines integrativen Arbeitsplatzes: Wie Vielfalt Chancen schafft)
• FearLESS: Facing Adversity ​​​​​​​​(Furchtlos: Widrigkeiten bewältigen)
• Generational Work Styles: Understanding the Old and the New​​​​​​​​ (Arbeitsstile der Generationen: Das Alte und das Neue verstehen)
• ‘Shark Tank’ style pitch competition for newly founded woman-owned businesses​​​​​​​​ (Pitch-Wettbewerb im Stil von "Shark Tank" für neu gegründete Unternehmen geführt von Frauen)
• Silencing Self Doubt: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome​​​​​​​​ (Selbstzweifel zum Schweigen bringen: Das Impostersyndrom überwinden)
• Strategic Storytelling: Advertising and PR Tactics for Your Business​​​​​​​​ (Strategisches Geschichtenerzählen: Werbung und PR-Taktiken für Ihr Unternehmen)
• The Balancing Act: Self-Care and a Sustainable Work Life (Der Balanceakt: Selbstfürsorge und ein nachhaltiges Arbeitsleben)
• The Next Generation of Tech​​​​​​​​ (Die nächste Generation der Technologie)
• The Ever-changing World of Social Media (Die sich ständig verändernde Welt der sozialen Medien)
• The Evolution of Connection: In-person vs Virtual Networking (Die Evolution der Beziehungen: Persönliches gegen virtuelles Networking)
• The Snowball Effect: How Women-Led Businesses Create an Impact (Der Schneeballeffekt: Wie von Frauen geführte Unternehmen eine Wirkung erzielen)
• Think Like an Investor: How to Get the Funding You Deserve​​​​​​​​ (Denken Sie wie ein Investor: Wie Sie die Förderung erhalten, die Sie verdienen)
• Turning Passion into Profit (Leidenschaft in Profit verwandeln)
• ...and many more

Anmeldung

Die Anmeldung für die Women|Future Conference 2022 ist derzeit offen. Nutzen sie dieses Angebot und reservieren Sie ihren virtuellen Platz!

• Bringen Sie das ganze Team zur #WomenFuture22. Gruppen von drei (3) oder mehr Personen, die sich gemeinsam anmelden, erhalten 10 % Ermäßigung mit unserem Gruppenrabatt.  
• Studententickets, mit Nachweis eines gültigen Studentenausweises, kosten $39.
  
  

Mehr über die 2022 Women|Future Conference 2022

Die Women|Future Conference ist eine Konferenz zur beruflichen und persönlichen Entwicklung, zum Lernen und zum Knüpfen von Kontakten, die von den Stevie® Awards, den weltweit führenden Wirtschaftspreisen, veranstaltet wird. Jahr für Jahr nehmen engagierte Frauen aus aller Welt an der Konferenz teil, um sich inspirieren zu lassen, ihre Widerstandsfähigkeit zu stärken und sich über Veränderungen auszutauschen, die ihre Branche, ihre Karriere und ihr Leben beeinflussen.

Die 5. jährliche Women|Future Conference ist eine dreitägige virtuelle Veranstaltung vom 8. bis 10. November für Frauen in der Wirtschaft und Unternehmerinnen. Die Konferenz fördert Kontakte, die berufliche und persönliche Entwicklung sowie die geistige Gesundheit und das Wohlbefinden durch motivierende Keynotes, Bildungsveranstaltungen und Networking. Von aufstrebenden Geschäftsfrauen über inspirierende Unternehmerinnen bis hin zu Führungskräften gibt es Vorträge für Frauen in allen Lebensphasen, die den Blick öffnen und zum Handeln anregen.

👍 Die sozialen Links der Women|Future Conference 

Instagram 
LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook

Fragen?

Konferenzanmeldung und Sponsoringmöglichkeiten
Ruslana Milikhiker, Senior Manager, Events
Ruslana@stevieawards.com

Konferenz-Marketing und PR
Nina Moore, Director of Marketing & Communications
Nina@stevieawards.com

 

Did you hear the news? The 2022 Women|Future Conference agenda is live! We've got an inspiring lineup of 70+ women CEOs, founders, small business owners, entrepreneurs, coaches, and executives. The 5th annual Women|Future Conference will be held virtually from November 8-10, 2022.

The Women|Future Conference celebrates women in business, professional and personal development, and progress. This year's agenda contains 20+ sessions that fall within seven tracks: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Future of Work, Leadership, Marketing, Personal Development, and Technology.

The sessions are designed for ambitious, career-driven professionals to learn and share what’s working in their organizations, troubleshoot the challenges they collectively face, and make meaningful connections.

Conference speakers are from small businesses as well as Fortune 500 organizations including Accenture, Goldman Sachs, Hilton, IBM, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Nestle, T-Mobile, and others. We invite you to explore the speaker lineup and browse the agenda to see the sessions occurring each day, including pre-conference sessions on November 7.

Kicking off the conference on Monday, November 7 at 11:00 am EST is our first of three pre-conference sessions, "Find Your Voice: Insider Secrets from Seasoned Speakers," followed by a technology panel at 12:00 pm, "The Ever-changing World of Social Media."  On November 8, attendees will hear the opening leadership session, "Building Your Community of Mentors," which will provide resources on how to build your mentorship roadmap- whether as a mentor or mentee.  The second session of day one is the anticipated opening keynote about the future of work for women (speaker coming soon!) followed by a mix of panels and workshops in each of our seven session tracks. There are designated 30-minute and 5-minute blocks between sessions each day for networking, as well as a 15-minute guided yoga mediation break on November 9. Explore the full agenda.

What to Expect at the 2022 Women|Future Conference

Attendees can expect to gain valuable insights about challenges and changes that impact their industry, their career, and their personal lives.

The sessions cover everything from how to gain traction through public relations, overcome the imposter syndrome, and think like an investor. Below is a partial list of some of this year's sessions. 

• Building Your Community of Mentors​​​​​​​​
• Cultivating an Inclusive Workplace: How Diversity Creates Opportunity​​​​​​​​
• FearLESS: Facing Adversity ​​​​​​​​
• Generational Work Styles: Understanding the Old and the New​​​​​​​​
• ‘Shark Tank’ style pitch competition for newly founded woman-owned businesses​​​​​​​​
• Silencing Self Doubt: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome​​​​​​​​
• Strategic Storytelling: Advertising and PR Tactics for Your Business​​​​​​​​
• The Balancing Act: Self-Care and a Sustainable Work Life
• The Next Generation of Tech​​​​​​​​
• The Ever-changing World of Social Media
• The Evolution of Connection: In-person vs Virtual Networking
• The Snowball Effect: How Women-Led Businesses Create an Impact
• Think Like an Investor: How to Get the Funding You Deserve​​​​​​​​
• Turning Passion into Profit
• ...and many more

Registration

Registration for the 2022 Women|Future Conference is currently open. Take advantage of these savings and reserve your virtual seat!

• Bring the whole team to #WomenFuture22. Groups of three (3) or more who register together get 10% savings with our group discount. 
• Student tickets are $39, with proof of a valid student ID.

More About the 2022 Women|Future Conference

The Women|Future Conference is a professional and personal development, learning, and networking conference hosted by The Stevie® Awards, the world’s premier business awards. Driven women worldwide attend the conference year after year to be inspired, build resilience, and share insights into changes that impact their industries, their careers, and their lives.

The 5th annual Women|Future Conference is a three-day virtual event happening November 8-10 for women in business and entrepreneurs. The conference encourages connections, professional and personal development, and mental health and wellness through motivational keynotes, educational sessions, and networking. From aspiring business professionals to inspiring entrepreneurs to executives, there are sessions for women in all stages of life that open your mind and inspire action.

👍 Get Social With the Women|Future Conference 

Instagram 
LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook

Questions?

Conference Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities
Ruslana Milikhiker, Senior Manager, Events
Ruslana@stevieawards.com

Conference Marketing and PR 
Nina Moore, Director of Marketing & Communications
Nina@stevieawards.com

 

If your goals include being more proactive, expanding your personal and professional network, achieving better business outcomes, and being prepared for unexpected changes ahead, you don't want to miss the 2022 Women|Future Conference! 

---

The last day to get your Women|Future Conference ticket for $69 USD, the lowest early-bird rate, is Tuesday, May 31. Register here.

---

• Kelley Higney founded Bug Bite Thing when her family suffered from constant mosquito bites in South Florida
• The company was pitched on ABC’s show Shark Tank, and has since seen exponential success

About Bug Bite Thing 

Bug Bite Thing is dedicated to offering people a chemical-free and eco-friendly solution that alleviates the discomfort, stinging, itching, and swelling caused by bug bites and bee/wasp stings. The reusable suction tool removes insect saliva/venom from under the skin and is reusable, chemical-free, and safe to use on children of all ages, as well as adults. It is Amazon’s #1 selling product for insect bite relief.

Bug Bite Thing’s History

Kelley Higney is the founder and CEO of Bug Bite Thing. Kelley grew up in San Diego, California, and worked with her mother, Ellen McAlister, on the family’s international export and distribution business for 15 years before starting Bug Bite Thing. Kelley and her family relocated to South Florida and were unprepared for how mosquitos would impact their quality of life. The family was suffering from constant mosquito bites, and after many failed attempts using creams and trying home remedies, Kelley discovered a little-known tool that uses suction to help remove insect
saliva/venom from under the skin. Kelley was amazed to
find that the product worked well and offered instant relief. 

In 2017, Kelley Higney was selling Bug Bite Thing at local farmers’ markets and bake sales. Then one day, there was a conversation about Bug Bite Thing in a local South Florida Mom Group on social media. The local news picked up on that conversation and contacted Kelley for an interview, resulting in thousands of units of inventory being sold out in just one week. 

In 2019, Kelley Higney and her mother, Ellen, appeared on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank and pitched the Sharks to invest in their company. They had all the Sharks biting with offers and accepted inventor and entrepreneur Lori Greiner’s “Golden Ticket” as an expression of her strong interest in the company. Since appearing on Shark Tank, the company’s sales increased overnight. 

Today, Bug Bite Thing is sold by major retail chains including Walmart, FSA Store, Home Depot, REI, Bed Bath & Beyond, True Value Hardware, The Grommet, BattlBox, and other independent retailers. 

Bug Bite Thing won the Gold Stevie Award for Management Categories - Woman of the Year - Consumer Products and a Bronze Stevie Award for Achievement Categories - Achievement in Growth in The 2021 American Business Awards®.

Interested in entering The 2022 American Business Awards? Request the entry kit. 

Vom 1. bis 5. November kehrte die 4. jährliche Women|Future-Conference auf die virtuelle Bühne zurück und zog mehr als 400 weibliche Fachleute aus der ganzen Welt zu einem unvergleichlichen Erlebnis an! Wir erlebten eine informationsreiche Woche voller starker Inhalte, Networking und ermutigender Geschichten von branchenführenden Frauen in der Wirtschaft.

Die Teilnehmenden gewannen wichtige Erkenntnisse für ihr berufliches und privates Leben in Vorträgen zu Themen wie Unternehmertum, persönliche Finanzen, Vielfalt am Arbeitsplatz, psychische Gesundheit, Überwindung des Impostersyndroms, Strategien zur Lead-Generierung, Social Media Marketing und mehr. In diesem Blog finden Sie eine Zusammenfassung der Konferenzaktivitäten und Highlights.

Was die Teilnehmerinnen sagen

Bei der Women|Future Conference 2021 interagierten über 140 Rednerinnen aus verschiedenen Branchen und Denkrichtungen. Zu den Rednerinnen gehörten Gründerinnen, CEOs, Kleinunternehmerinnen und Führungskräfte von Fortune-500-Unternehmen wie Amazon Web Services (AWS), Frito-Lay, IBM, Infosys, John Hancock, Meta, Pinterest, Ralph Lauren und SAP.

Hier sind die Erfahrungsberichte einiger unserer Teilnehmerinnen:

"Ich bin so dankbar und aufgeregt, dass ich diese Konferenz gefunden habe!...Ich habe im Laufe meiner Non-Profit-Karriere schon viele Konferenzen besucht. Diese ist eine der besten! Diese Damen kennen sich aus, und der virtuelle Aspekt macht die Konferenz auf unterhaltsame Art und Weise sehr persönlich. Sie gaben sehr konzentrierte, detaillierte Einblicke in ihr spezifisches Thema und beantworteten auch Fragen!"

- Ruby Gary, registrierte Krankenschwester, Bayless School District

Die Women|Future Conference hat meine Erwartungen völlig übertroffen. Es war die beste virtuelle Konferenz, an der ich je teilgenommen habe. Ich war begeistert von der Vielfalt der Themen und Rednerinnen - ich werde auf jeden Fall an der nächsten Konferenz teilnehmen! 

- Virginia Marcolin, CEO/Founder, Aroma Textiles Lab

Ich habe zum zweiten Mal an der Women|Future Conference teilgenommen. Die Rednerinnen, die an dieser Konferenz teilgenommen haben, legen wirklich Wert auf Vielfalt, Gleichberechtigung und Integration. Sie erkennen an, dass unterschiedliche Menschen unterschiedliche Bedürfnisse haben. Wenn wir uns dafür einsetzen, den Menschen das zu geben, was sie brauchen, um erfolgreich zu sein, dann gewinnen alle. Die Konferenz konzentrierte sich auf verschiedene Branchen wie Technologie, Marketing, E-Commerce, Finanzen und psychische Gesundheit. Es war eine große Chance, mit starken Frauen in Kontakt zu kommen, die ihre eigenen Geschichten erzählten und wie sie Hindernisse überwunden haben, um dorthin zu gelangen, wo sie jetzt sind. Es war eine großartige Erfahrung und immer noch die mit Abstand beste Konferenz, an der ich teilgenommen habe.

- Shirin M. Alhroob, University of North Carolina

Die WomenIFuture-Conference bot Zugang zu einer Fülle von Rednerinnen, Autorinnen und Führungskräften, die ihre Tipps und Techniken zum Aufbau von Selbstvertrauen und zur Förderung der Zusammenarbeit weitergaben, um das Leben und die Karriere zu gestalten, die Sie sich wünschen und die Sie verdienen. Fabelhaft.

- Nicole Smith, NJ Chapter Leader, Room to Read

Wenn Sie auf der Suche nach einer Konferenz sind, die sich auf die Unterstützung von Frauen in der Wirtschaft konzentriert, ist die Women|Future Conference genau das Richtige für Sie. Vollgepackt mit Sitzungen, die alles von der persönlichen bis hin zur beruflichen Entwicklung abdecken, werden Sie ein herausragendes Erlebnis haben.

- Debra Jason, Speaker/Copywriter, The Write Direction

Die Eröffnungsrede

Sandy Carter, Vice President of Public Sector Partners and Programs bei Amazon Web Services (AWS) und Gewinnerin des Stevie Awards, eröffnete die Women|Future Conference 2021 am 1. November mit ihrer Eröffnungs-Keynote "Embracing Diversity & Empowering the Next Generation". Sandy gab Einblicke in ihre weitreichende Karriere, indem sie ihre rauen und realen Geschichten als Pionierin in der Technologiebranche erzählte. Jede Geschichte, die sie erzählte, drehte sich um einen ihrer sieben Hacks für Vielfalt und Inklusion in der Belegschaft, damit die Teilnehmer aus ihren Erfahrungen lernen konnten. 

Einer von Sandys sieben Hacks, "wie ein offenes API zu handeln", wurde durch eine Anekdote veranschaulicht, in der sie bei der Landung in Indien mitten in der Nacht mit einem unerwarteten, aber transformativen Treffen mit 150 Personen in ihrem Hotel konfrontiert war. Nach einem 21-stündigen Flug betrat sie die Bühne und hielt eine improvisierte Präsentation. 

Bei der Erläuterung eines weiteren Diversity-Hacks, der "Umarmung des Scheiterns", sprach Sandy über einen Fehler, den sie zu Beginn ihrer Karriere bei AWS machte. Sie wurde von ihrem Chef ermutigt, diesen Fehler in einer öffentlichen Sitzung mit anderen zu teilen, obwohl es ihr sehr widerstrebte, ihren Fehler in einem Raum voller Mitarbeiter anzusprechen.

"Eines der einschneidendsten Dinge in meiner Karriere war wohl, zuzugeben, dass ich einen großen Fehler gemacht habe, zu erklären, warum ich ihn gemacht habe, selbst die volle Verantwortung zu übernehmen und was ich getan habe, um ihn zu beheben", sagte sie. 

Sandy erklärte den Teilnehmerinnen, dass Amazonianer "schnell scheitern und sich vorwärts bewegen" und dass einige der "fantastischsten Misserfolge von Amazon zu bahnbrechenden neuen Möglichkeiten führten". Sie ermutigte die Teilnehmerinnen, die Lektion, die sie aus ihren Fehlern gelernt hat, anzunehmen und ihre eigenen Fehler zu akzeptieren:

"Trauen Sie sich, Ihre Misserfolge öffentlich mitzuteilen, denn das hat wirklich einen Einfluss darauf, was andere lernen und wie andere vorankommen. Wenn Sie Ihre Misserfolge nicht akzeptieren können, können Sie in der Regel nicht so schnell vorankommen oder das tun, was Sie auf dem Markt tun müssen."

Sandy Carter schreibt einen Großteil ihres Erfolges dem Umstand zu, dass sie sich mit den richtigen Leuten umgibt, die sie als ihr "eigenes Gremium von Unterstützern" bezeichnet, und dass sie sich um ihr Team kümmert. "Einer meiner Lieblingssprüche, den mir einer meiner Mentoren mit auf den Weg gegeben hat, lautet: "Greife immer nach hinten und ziehe jemanden nach vorne, denn wenn du das tust, kannst du dir vorstellen, was du in der Welt bewirken kannst", sagte sie während der Sitzung.

Die besten Sessions der Woche

Pitch-Wettbewerb für von Frauen geführte Unternehmen

Der zweite jährliche Pitch-Wettbewerb für von Frauen geführte Unternehmen auf der Women|Future Conference bot acht von Frauen geführten Unternehmen eine Plattform für den Wettbewerb um die Chance auf eine Finanzierung.  Bei diesem Live-Wettbewerb im "Shark Tank" Stil  am 4. November verfolgten eine Jury und die Teilnehmenden, wie jede Finalistin live einen vierminütigen Pitch präsentierte. Die Finalistinnen des Pitch-Wettbewerbs beantworteten die Fragen der Jury zu ihrem Geschäftsmodell, ihrem Zielmarkt und ihrer Geschäftsstrategie. Sehen Sie sich hier die Finalistinnen an und lesen Sie mehr über den Wettbewerb.

Gewinnende des Pitch-Wettbewerbs war LAMIK Beauty, ein technologiegestütztes Unternehmen für saubere Farbkosmetik, das sich auf Frauen mit unterschiedlichem Hintergrund konzentriert. Die Gründerin Kim Roxie gewann einen Geldpreis in Höhe von 5.000 Dollar und eine Zertifizierung im Wert von 4.200 Dollar von Certify My Company.

Der zweite Platz des Pitch-Wettbewerbs ging an Kul Mocks Craft Mocktails, eine Marke für alkoholfreie, handgemachte Cocktails. Die Gründerin von Kul Mocks, Danielle Goss, gewann 2.500 Dollar für ihr Unternehmen.

Den dritten Platz belegte Fetchadate, eine Dating-App für alleinstehende Tierfreunde. Die Gründerin Sheryl Mathys erhielt 1.000 Dollar zur Unterstützung ihres Unternehmens.

From November 1-5, the 4th annual Women|Future Conference returned to the virtual stage and attracted more than 400 women professionals from around the world for an experience like no other! We had an information-packed week full of powerful content, networking, and empowering stories from industry-leading women in business.

Attendees gained powerful insights to help them in their professional and personal lives through sessions ranging from entrepreneurship to personal finance, workplace diversity, mental health, overcoming the imposter syndrome, lead generation strategies, social media marketing, and more. Read this blog for a recap of conference activities and highlights.

What Attendees are Saying

The 2021 Women|Future Conference was made up of over 140 transformative speakers from multiple industries and fields of thought. Speakers ranged from female founders, CEOs, small business owners, and executives of Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Frito-Lay, IBM, Infosys, John Hancock, Meta, Pinterest, Ralph Lauren, and SAP.

Here's what some of our attendees are saying about their experience:

I am so grateful and excited to have found this conference!...I've been to a lot of conferences over the years in my non-profit career. This is one of the best! These ladies know their stuff and the virtual aspect really makes it very personal in a fun way. They gave very focused, detailed insight on their specific topic and answered questions too!

- Ruby Gary, Registered Nurse, Bayless School District

The Women|Future Conference completely exceeded my expectations. It was the best virtual conference I have ever participated in. I loved the diversity of topics and speakers - I will definitely attend the next one! 

-Virginia Marcolin, CEO/Founder, Aroma Textiles Lab

This is my second time attending the Women|Future Conference. The speakers who attended this conference truly care about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Recognizing that different people have different needs. If we are committed to giving people what they need to succeed, everyone then wins. The conference concentrate on different industries from technology, marketing, e-commerce, financing, and mental health. it was a big chance to connect with powerful women, tell their own stories, and how they have overcome obstacles to get to where they are now. It was a great experience and still by far the best conference I have attended.

- Shirin M. Alhroob, University of North Carolina

The WomenIFuture Conference offered access to a wealth of speakers, authors, and executives who shared their tips and techniques to build confidence and foster collaboration to create the life & career you desire and deserve. Fabulous.

- Nicole Smith, NJ Chapter Leader, Room to Read

If you're looking for a conference that focuses on supporting women in business, the Women|Future Conference is for you. Jam-packed with sessions that cover everything from personal to professional development, you'll have an outstanding experience.

- Debra Jason, Speaker/Copywriter, The Write Direction

The Opening Keynote

Sandy Carter, the Vice President of Public Sector Partners and Programs at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Stevie Award winner, kicked off the 2021 Women|Future Conference on November 1 with her opening keynote address, " Embracing Diversity & Empowering the Next Generation." Sandy provided insight into her expansive career through sharing her raw and real-life stories as a pioneering woman in tech. Each story she told was centered around one of her seven hacks for diversity and inclusion in the workforce for attendees to draw upon the lessons she learned from her experiences. 

One of Sandy's seven hacks, "acting like an open API," was illustrated through a story she shared about a time she was faced with an unexpected, yet transformative 150-person meet and greet at her hotel upon landing in India in the middle of the night! She took the stage and gave an impromptu presentation after a 21-hour flight. 

While explaining another diversity hack, "embracing failure," Sandy talked about a mistake she made early on in her career with AWS. She was encouraged by her boss to share this mistake with others in a public meeting, despite being very reluctant to focus on her mistake in a room full of employees.

"Probably one of the most impactful things in my career was admitting that I had made a big mistake, explaining why I had made it, taking full responsibility myself, and what I have done to fix it," she said. 

Sandy told attendees that Amazonians "fail fast and move forward" and that some of Amazon's "most fantastic failures gave birth to groundbreaking new opportunities." She encouraged attendees to take the lesson she learned from her mistake and embrace their own failures;

"Take that bold move to share your failures publicly because it really does have an impact on what others learn and how others move forward. If you can’t embrace your failures, typically you can’t move forward as fast or drive what you need to in the marketplace."

Sandy Carter credits much of her success to surrounding herself with the right people who she refers to as her "own board of supporters" and taking care of her team. "One of my favorite things that one of my mentors told me is to always reach back and pull someone forward, because if you do that, imagine the impact you'll see in the world," she recited during the session.

Best Sessions from the Week

Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition

The second annual Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition at the Women|Future Conference provided a platform for eight women-owned businesses to compete for a chance to win funding.  During this live, 'Shark Tank'-style competition on November 4, a panel of judges and attendees watched each finalist present a live four-minute pitch. The Pitch Competition finalists answered questions from the judges about their business model, target market, and operations strategy. View the finalists and read more about the competition here.  

The winner of the Pitch Competition was LAMIK Beauty, a tech-enabled clean color cosmetics company focusing on women of all diverse backgrounds. Founder Kim Roxie won a $5,000 cash prize and a $4,200 value certification from Certify My Company.

The second place winner of the Pitch Competition was Kul Mocks Craft Mocktails, a non-alcoholic hand-crafted cocktail brand. The Founder of Kul Mocks, Danielle Goss, won $2,500 for her business.

In third place was Fetchadate, a dating app for single pet lovers. Founder Sheryl Mathys received $1,000 to support her business.

We're just days away until the official kick-off of the 2021 Women|Future Conference (November 1-5, virtual). Take full advantage of all that the conference has to offer – including 40+ sessions, interactive live workshops, speed networking, and mentorship matching. Not registered yet? There’s still time! Online registration is available through November 1. 

The 4th annual Women|Future Conference begins on November 1 at 11:00 am ET with the opening keynote, "Embracing Diversity & Empowering the Next Generation"​ by Sandy Carter, Vice President of Public Sector Partners & Programs at Amazon Web Services (AWS). The Women|Future Conference is designed for career-driven women looking to be inspired, build resilience, and prepare for changes ahead. The five-day agenda is packed with 40+ sessions hosted by women CEOs, Founders, Executives, Entrepreneurs, and Small Business Owners from global organizations such as Facebook, IBM, Infosys, Pinterest, Ralph Lauren, SAP, Talkspace, and others.

Attendees will gain practical, actionable takeaways to implement in their professional and personal lives. Session topics include financial wellness, lead generation, entrepreneurship success, how to blend storytelling and strategy to grow your business, imposter syndrome, work-life balance, mentorship, workplace diversity, speaking engagements as a business growth strategy, and more.

One of the best things about the virtual conference platform is the networking; attendees make lasting connections as business partners, mentors, and friends long after the conference is over. See for yourself what past attendees had to say about their experience! View Testimonials from Past Attendees.

Following Sandy Carter's keynote on November 1 are two breakout sessions, "The Truth Bombs on Work-Life Balance to Avoid Burnout for Busy Women" and "Networking Tips & Tricks: Learn How to Become Memorable and Build Authentic Relationships" at 11:45 am ET. Other sessions on day one are "Leading Authentically in Male-Dominated Industries” and "The Smart Woman's Guide to Financial Success." Throughout the week, there will be one hour and 15-minute blocks in between sessions designated for networking, mentorship, yoga, meditation, or style consultations to break up the days.

“The first conference took place four years ago to complement The Stevie® Awards for Women in Business program. Now it has evolved to serve women on a larger scale. Our conference tagline Cultivate Your Tomorrow was added in 2020. We chose this phrase because the Women|Future Conference encourages women to not only embrace their tomorrow, but to tackle career, personal, and life goals. The conference goes beyond the changing business landscape and focuses on current issues we all face as working women juggling a busy schedule and doing it all.”

Nina Moore, the Marketing Manager of the Women|Future Conference, commented on the decision to make this year’s conference virtual;

“We successfully pivoted from in-person to virtual for the first time in 2020. Encouraged by glowing testimonials from past attendees and the flexibility of virtual, we are doing the same in 2021. Virtual events are accessible, affordable, and deliver just as much value and networking opportunities to people around the world, especially those unable to travel. This forward-thinking conference does just that and more!”

Below is a partial list of 2021 Women|Future Conference panels, sessions, and workshops:

• Creating a Rockstar LinkedIn® Profile
• Giving Voice To Women's Voices: How Podcasting Can Benefit Female Entrepreneurs
• Entrepreneurship – Success Stories Fireside Chat
• How to Embrace Women Super Powers in the World of Tech
• Leadership Tips from 2021 Stevie Awards for Women in Business Winners​
• Networking Tips & Tricks: Learn How to Become Memorable and Build Authentic Relationships
• Personal Development Training: Abundance 360 - Creating Your Best Life Ever
• Protecting Your Business and Intellectual Assets
• The Future of Work - Preparing for the Changing Business Landscape
• The Power of Purpose: Organizations that Give Back
• Top Five Lead Generation Strategies for 2022
• Why Diverse Teams Drive Better Outcomes
• Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition Finalists Presentations

On November 4, eight women-owned businesses founded in November 2018 or later will pitch their product/service before a panel of judges for a chance to win funding during the 2021 Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition.

The Pitch Competition is sponsored by RFG Advisory, an innovator in the wealth management industry. The President of RFG Advisory, Shannon Spotswood, is one of four judges who will evaluate each pitch. Shannon is an Entrepreneur, Business Owner, and 25-year industry veteran in financial services with an outstanding reputation built on leadership roles in investment banking, hedge fund management, and business development.

Only 2.3% of venture funding went to female-led businesses in 2020 according to Harvard Business Review. RFG Advisory is on a mission to change that, supporting one female-led business at a time!

Asia-Pacific Segment of the Women|Future Conference

This is the first year the Women|Future Conference is hosting sessions exclusively by female leaders in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing together the APAC women’s community with the Stevie Awards international audience.

These sessions focus on the advancements of female executives from the Asia-Pacific region who are championing the power of leadership and management in traditionally male-dominated industries such as financial technology, banking, insurance, and e-commerce. The Asia-Pacific conference agenda aims to further broaden and develop the fintech industry in Asia with the help of these female leaders.

Asia-Pacific Digital Infrastructure Sessions Include:

• • Building the New Digital Infrastructure
  • The Future is Female: Building the New Generation of Financially Literate Women
  • Leadership Tips from Stevie Awards for Women in Business Winners
  • Women in E-commerce and Mobility: Creating the Asian E-commerce and Mobility Highway
  • Women Leading Legacy Industries: Edutech, Proptech, and Insurtech
  • Women in Fintech: Reshaping the Industry and Bridging the Gap
    
    

Registration for the Women|Future Conference is open. Attendees save 10% when groups of three or more individuals register together. Students may register for the Women|Future Conference at a discounted rate of $49 (with proof of a valid current student ID). Sessions are recorded and available for replay through 2022 for your convenience.

 

👍 Get Social With the Women|Future Conference 

Instagram 

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Questions about the Conference?

Conference Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities

Ruslana Milikhiker, Conference & Event Manager

Ruslana@stevieawards.com

 

Conference Marketing and PR 

Nina Moore, Marketing Manager

Nina@stevieawards.com

 

Eight women-owned businesses founded in November 2018 or later have been selected to compete in the 2021 Women|Future Conference Business Pitch Competition for a chance to win funding! 💸 For the second year in a row, the Women|Future Conference is hosting this 'Shark Tank' style pitch competition for female business owners and entrepreneurs.

The 2021 Women|Future Conference Business Pitch Competition will be hosted live on Thursday, November 4 at 4:30 pm EST during the virtual conference. A total of 94 women-owned businesses entered the competition, and eight finalists were selected by the Women|Future Conference leadership team to present their pitches, face questioning, and get their businesses evaluated by a panel of judges.

The pitch competition finalists are:

Pitch Competition Format and Judging Criteria

The format of the pitch competition will be similar to ABC's critically-acclaimed entrepreneurial-themed TV show, Shark Tank. Each finalist will present a live, four-minute virtual pitch about their product/service, business model, and target market. A panel of four judges will evaluate each pitch using a five-point scoring rubric provided by the Women|Future Conference. The judging rubric takes into account criteria such as leadership capabilities, innovativeness, competitive advantage, maturity of the technology or product, business model, prospects, growth, response to the live questions, and preparedness for the competition. 

The judges of the 2021 Women|Future Conference Pitch Competition are:

1. 1. Apoorva Chintala, CEO, Co-Founder, Clocr* 
   2. Heather Cox, President, Certify My Company
   3. Helen Greiner, CEO, Tertill
   4. Shannon Spotswood, President, RFG Advisory
      
      *2020 Women|Future Conference Business Pitch Competition winner
      
      

The 2nd annual Women|Future Conference Pitch Competition will be hosted by Quinn Conyers, a Speaking Strategist for Entrepreneurs, Emcee, and Pitch Competition Host. Quinn has over 16 years of virtual and in-person speaking, event hosting, and training experience. Quinn is the author of two books, and made it to the second round of Shark Tank auditions four times! She's been featured on the Entrepreneurs Elevator Pitch TV show as well Essence, Black Enterprise, Vision and Purpose, and Empowering Women to Speak Out Magazines.

Funding for the Pitch Competition Winners

At the close of the competition, there will be three winners, each of which will receive funding (amounts listed below) to grow their business. The first-place winner will also receive a bonus prize of a free certification ($4200 value) from Certify My Company. The Pitch Competition is funded through the generosity of our sponsor, RFG Advisory.

• First place Prize: $5,000
• Second place Prize: $2,500
• Third place Prize: $1,000

If you are interested in joining us as a sponsor, judge, or participant in the 2022 Pitch Competition, sign up for event updates to get notified when entries open for next year.

What Else to Expect at the 2021 Women|Future Conference

Hundreds of ambitious women in business will gather virtually at the fourth annual Women|Future Conference November 1-5, 2021. The Women|Future Conference is a professional and personal development, learning, networking, and mentorship conference hosted by The Stevie® Awards for women around the globe.

With over 40 sessions, interactive workshops, and a motivational keynote by Sandy Carter, Vice President of Public Sector Partners and Programs at Amazon Web Services (AWS), this is an event for career-driven women looking to be inspired, build resilience, and prepare for changes ahead. The five-day agenda features female CEOs, Founders, Executives, Entrepreneurs, and Small Business Owners around the world.

The Conference Agenda

Session topics range from mental health to financial wellness, landing speaking engagements as a business growth strategy, lead generation, imposter syndrome, entrepreneurship, technology, and workplace diversity. The 140+ Speakers at this year's conference are a diverse mix of women from global organizations such as Facebook, HCL, IBM, Infosys Limited, John Hancock, Pinterest, Quartz, Ralph Lauren, Salesforce, SAP North America, Talkspace, and others. Below is a partial list of 2021 Women|Future Conference panels, sessions, and workshops:

• Entrepreneurship – Success Stories Fireside Chat
• Financial Planning -The Smart Women's Guide to Financial Success
• How to Embrace Women Super Powers in the World of Tech
• Leadership Tips from 2021 Stevie Awards for Women in Business Winners​
• Networking Tips & Tricks: Learn How to Become Memorable and Build Authentic Relationships
• Personal Development Training: Abundance 360 - Creating Your Best Life Ever
• Protecting Your Business and Intellectual Assets
• The Future of Work - Preparing for the Changing Business Landscape
• The Truth Bombs on Work-Life Balance to Avoid Burnout for Busy Women
• Top Five Lead Generation Strategies for 2022
• Why Diverse Teams Drive Better Outcomes
• Women-Owned Business Pitch Competition Finalists Presentations

Asia-Pacific Segment of the Women|Future Conference

This is the first year the conference is hosting sessions exclusively by female leaders in the Asia-Pacific region, bringing together the APAC women’s community with the Stevie Awards international audience. These sessions focus on the advancements of female executives from the Asia-Pacific region who are championing the power of leadership and management in traditionally male-dominated industries such as financial technology, banking, insurance, and e-commerce. The Asia-Pacific conference agenda aims to further broaden and develop the fintech industry in Asia with the help of these female leaders.

APAC Digital Infrastructure Sessions Include:

• • Building the New Digital Infrastructure
  • The Future is Female: Building the New Generation of Financially Literate Women
  • Leadership Tips from Stevie Awards for Women in Business Winners
  • Women in E-commerce and Mobility: Creating the Asian E-commerce and Mobility Highway
  • Women Leading Legacy Industries: Edutech, Proptech, and Insurtech
  • Women in Fintech: Reshaping the Industry and Bridging the Gap

Registration for the Women|Future Conference is open. Attendees save 10% when groups of three or more individuals register together. Students may register for the Women|Future Conference at a discounted rate of $49 (with proof of a valid current student ID).

Sessions are recorded and available for replay through 2022 for your convenience.

 

👍 Get Social With the Women|Future Conference 

Instagram 

LinkedIn

Twitter

Facebook

Questions about the Conference?

Conference Registration and Sponsorship Opportunities

Ruslana Milikhiker, Conference & Event Manager

Ruslana@stevieawards.com

 

Conference Marketing and PR 

Nina Moore, Marketing Manager

Nina@stevieawards.com