The NAWBO® Annual Awards Program honors the accomplishments and contributions of exemplary women who have led the way in the women’s business community and are building a legacy for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
NAWBO NATIONAL AWARDS PROGRAM
Excellence. Legacy. Advocacy.
THE WOMAN BUSINESS OWNER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Excellence
Women business owners are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. economy, and yet, we continue to face unique challenges in starting, scaling and growing our businesses—from accessing capital to winning contracts with government and large corporations to juggling caregiving responsibilities. Those who rise above these challenges to shine brightly are truly inspirational.
The Woman Business Owner of the Year Award recognizes a NAWBO entrepreneur who excels at strategy, operations, finances, problem solving, innovating, overcoming adversity and giving back to her community. This honor is not based on the size of her business, but rather on her overall business and community excellence.
To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be a NAWBO Premier member who is not currently a member of the National Board of Directors. Paid staff or contractors (i.e. W2, full time and part time, or 1099) employed by a chapter are not eligible for nomination. The Woman Business Owner of the Year award is open to any woman business owner that owns at least 50% of her business and actively runs the day-to-day operations. Only one woman business owner per company may be nominated per year. The award winner MUST be available to participate on a panel discussion during the 2023 Women’s Business Conference on October 17, 2023 in Austin, TX.
Process
Nominations of a NAWBO Premier member can be made by members and non-members. Members can self-nominate. All submissions are collected through the survey monkey link. Nominees can submit a maximum of four (4) supporting documents such as letters of recommendation, articles and customer reviews to [email protected].
When making your nomination, please be prepared to answer the following:
1) Briefly describe the nominee’s business and its history.
2) Please describe the company’s growth and how nominee affected/participated in that growth. (Please indicate growth by % or $)
3) Please describe how the nominee participates in the day-to-day operations of the business.
4) What community organizations has the nominee supported and/or participated in?
5) Why did the nominee become an entrepreneur?
The Awards Committee will score the nominees and submit score cards to one person on the NAWBO staff for totaling. The top 10 names will be submitted to Bank of America for judging. Three finalists will be selected from combining the committee scores and Bank of America scores. If there is a tie or close decision, the members of the committee will submit a confidential vote for the winner. The winner will NOT be disclosed until the award is presented during the National Women’s Business Conference (WBC) during the Annual Awards Gala.
Three Finalists Receive
- Profiles in September NAWBO ONE e-publication
- Customized local press release announcing selection as a nominee
- Complimentary WBC registration
- Seat on a WBC panel discussion hosted by Bank of America
- National exposure on NAWBO social media and communication channels
- Recognition as a finalist during the Awards Gala and a headshot and bio in the WBC program book
Winner Receives
- Honored on stage at the Awards Gala
- Announced as WBO of the Year in NAWBO communications and social media
- Customized local press release announcing award selection
DEADLINE TO NOMINATE: FRIDAY, MAY 12
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE
THE SUSAN HAGER AWARD
Legacy
Susan Hager was one of NAWBO’s founding mothers and visionary leaders and our first national president. She was a fearless champion of women’s economic empowerment and a steady voice leading this organization beyond what it was—to what it could be. In fact, Susan once said (and we continue to celebrate her words today): “Get a seat at the table or build your own table and make sure to include other women at that table.”
The Susan Hager Award recognizes a “champion” NAWBO member who, like Susan, has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to propelling women’s economic empowerment and NAWBO’s mission locally and nationally. By giving her time, talent and resources, she has helped to further the legacy of women’s entrepreneurship now and for generations to come.
To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be a NAWBO Premier member who is not currently a member of the National Board of Directors. Paid staff or contractors (i.e. W2, full time and part time, or 1099) employed by a chapter are not eligible for nomination. The Susan Hager Award is open to any woman business owner who has past or current service on a committee or board at the chapter level. Nominees must have a demonstrated ongoing commitment to the vitality and growth of their chapter, consistently giving their time and resources to the betterment of NAWBO and the women it serves as well as NAWBO’s image and role in the community, state and nationwide. The award winner MUST be available to accept this award in-person at the 2023 Women’s Business Conference on October 17, 2023 in Austin, TX.
DEADLINE TO NOMINATE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 31
Nominations are opening soon; stay tuned!
THE GILLIAN RUDD AWARD
Advocacy
Gillian Rudd was NAWBO’s national president who, together with other early NAWBO advocates, led the charge to educate and influence elected officials about the undeniable impact women-owned businesses played in the U.S. economy. Their efforts led to the authoring of landmark legislation—The Women’s Business Ownership Act, or HR5050—and shaped our #NAWBOVOICE that’s so widely respected today.
The Gillian Rudd Award honors a NAWBO woman business owner who, like Gillian, has made a significant contribution to the status and visibility of women-owned firms. She advocates for the advancement of the woman business owner community in a bipartisan spirit. She is also a voice of collaboration in effectively presenting or moving forward legislation, regulatory reforms or new initiatives.
To be eligible for this award, the nominee must be a NAWBO Premier or Basic member who is not currently a member of the National Board of Directors. Paid staff or contractors (i.e. W2, full time and part time, or 1099) employed by a chapter are not eligible for nomination. The Gillian Rudd Award is open to any woman business owner who advocates for and positively impacts the women business owner community by working to affect policy and legislation at local, regional and/or national levels in the bipartisan spirit of NAWBO. Nominees must provide evidence of their advocacy work and the positive impacts on the women business owner community. The award winner MUST be available to accept this award in-person at the 2023 Women’s Business Conference on October 17, 2023 in Austin, TX.
DEADLINE TO NOMINATE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 31
Nominations are opening soon; stay tuned!