WCD Visionary Awards

WCD’s Visionary Awards recognize the transformational strengths that make companies leaders among their peers—a commitment to strong corporate governance, diversity, inclusion, and a healthy financial track record.

RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE

Visionary Awards Criteria

We recognize achievements in the following categories:

Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Visionary Award for ESG Leadership
Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership

The awards are given annually to companies that consistently demonstrate a commitment to workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion, best-in-class governance, and consistently strong long-term financial performance.

To be considered for a Visionary Award, each award recipient must also:

Have at least 30% female representation on their board and 20% or more female executives on their leadership team.
Have at least the equivalent of $200 million (in USD) annual revenues and be in business operation for more than five years.
Demonstrate a commitment to mentoring and promoting women to leadership positions and on its board of directors.
For Honorees, the expectation is that the Company CEO will be available to accept the Award. If they are unavailable then a female board member may accept the award on behalf of the CEO.

Local operations alone are not sufficient to comply with the criteria guidelines. The Visionary Awards Selection Committee will evaluate a nominee’s parent company (if relevant) along with its operations and subsidiaries in various markets to determine whether it meets Visionary Awards requirements.

Visionary Awards Nomination Criteria

Visionary Awards for Leadership and Governance of a Public and a Private Company

The company is a recognized industry leader and/or innovator that has consistently generated strong long-term financial performance while successfully balancing the needs of all its stakeholders: shareholders, employees, customers and the communities in which its business operates.
The company’s corporate culture has addressed gender inequality, particularly by facilitating women’s empowerment in the C-suite , board room and throughout its management ranks as well as in its charitable giving, community involvement, and outside recognition of employee benefits.
The company proactively manages its impact on the environment with measurable success.

Visionary Award for ESG Leadership

Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership

The nominee must be a current female CEO or female board chair who demonstrates leadership through innovation, board and management team diversity and the successful pursuit of long-term strategic growth.
The CEO has developed programs to mentor and promote female employees in leadership team positions with measurable success.
The CEO and her company play a meaningful role in contributing to their community.

How do I submit a nomination?

When is the deadline to submit a nomination?

FAQs

Additional Information on the Visionary Awards

Why should I submit a WCD Visionary Awards nomination?

What is the Visionary Awards Selection Committee's selection methodology?

The Visionary Awards Selection Committee carefully reviews and discusses a variety of quantitative and qualitative information and benchmarks provided by third-party sources including company websites, SEC and/or other regulatory documents, public third-party financial databases, research analyst reports, and press clippings. In addition, nominees are assigned to individual committee members who conduct deeper due diligence research and objectively present their findings. Information obtained by committee members includes access to their network and other knowledgeable sources used to evaluate candidates and select awardees.

Can I nominate myself or my own company for a WCD Visionary Award?

How many WCD Visionary Awards nominations can I submit?

Can a WCD Visionary Awards nomination be made by multiple people?

When was the deadline for the 2025 WCD Visionary Awards nominations?

What happens if the nominee does not meet the criteria?

What happens if the nominee meets the criteria, but is not selected?

When are the WCD Visionary Awards honorees notified?

When does the WCD Visionary Awards Dinner take place?

Will the honorees be invited to attend the WCD Visionary Award Dinner?

Who attends the WCD Visionary Awards Dinner?

WCD Visionary Awards Steering Committee

Lucy Pamboukdjian, Co-chair

Brazil Chapter

Jennifer Sondergaard, Co-chair

Quebec Chapter

Undraa Agvaanluvsan

Mongolia Chapter

Romi Haan

South Korea Chapter

Christie Hefner

Chicago Chapter

Deb Kelly

Greater Colorado Chapter

Izumi Kobayashi

Japan Chapter

Anastassia Lauterbach

Germany Chapter

Cristina Finocchi Mahne

Italy Chapter

Iyabo Masha

Nigeria Chapter

Eva Sage Gavin

Bay Area Chapter

Mary Beth Vitale (Board Liaison)

Greater Colorado Chapter

throughout the years

WCD Visionary Awards Recipients

Each year, we present the award to companies or individuals who exhibit an exceptional corporate commitment to diversity, inclusion, and women’s leadership in the C-suite and boardroom. We are pleased to announce this year's award winners!

2024

September 30, Orlando

Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Moncler - Luxury Fashion Retailer

WCD Visionary Award for ESG Leadership
Amalgamated Bank - Financial Institution

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Sabin Group - Health Care Providers

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Wendy Kei - Board Chair of both Ontario Power Generation, Inc. and NFI Group, Inc.

2023

June 8, New York City

Susan Stautberg WCD Membership Leadership Award
Henrietta Fore, Former Executive Director, UNICEF, Former Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID); Former Director, General Mills; Former Director, ExxonMobil and Chairman and CEO of Holsman International

WCD ESG Leadership Award
Aquafil - Accepted by Giulio Bonazzi, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Aquafil

WCD Leadership and Governance of a Public Company Award
LIXIL - Accepted by Jin Song Montesano, Director, Representative Executive Officer, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Communications, External Affairs, and Impact Strategy, and Chief People Officer, LIXIL Corporation

WCD Leadership and Governance of a Private Company Award
Midmark Corporation - Accepted by Anne Klamar, Chair of the Board, Midmark Corporation

WCD Strategic Leadership Award
Luiza Helena Trajano, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Magazine Luiza

2022

September 12, New York City

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Accepted by Debra Cafaro, Chairman and CEO of Ventas

WCD Visionary Award for ESG
Natura & Co - Accepted by Board Member Carla Schmitzberger, Natura & Co

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
CDW Corporation - Accepted by Christine Leahy, CEO of CDW

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Dompé farmaceutici - Accepted by Nathalie Dompé, CEO of Dompé farmaceutici

2021

JUNE 9, VIRTUAL

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Merck & Co., Inc. - Kenneth C. Frazier, CEO of Merck & Co., Inc.

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI Co-op) - Accepted by Eric Artz, CEO of REI Co-op

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
illycaffè S.p.A - Accepted by Massimiliano Pogliani, CEO of illycaffè S.p.A

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Accepted by Susan Salka, CEO of AMN Healthcare

The Susan S. Stautberg WCD Member Leadership Award
Susan Remmer Ryzewic

2020

September 9, virtual

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Shiseido – Presented to Masahiko Uotani, President & CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Elkay – Ric Phillips, President & CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
Starbucks – Presented to Clara Shih, Director

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Ana Paula Pessoa, Director, Suzano Pulp and Paper, Credit Suisse, News Corporation, Vinci Group, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Stanford Global Advisory Council, Salesforce Brasil, Instituto Atlantico de Gobierno, Stanford Alumni Brasil Association (SUBA), and Fundação Roberto Marinho

2019

MAY 20, SANTA CLARA, CA

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Singapore Telecommunications Limited – Presented to Chua Sock Koong, Group CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Hallmark Cards, Inc. – Presented to David Hall, President

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
BMO Financial Group (BMO) – Presented to Darryl White, CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Eileen McDonnell, Chairman and CEO, Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company

2018

MAY 9, NEW YORK CITY

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Canadian National Railway – Presented to Ede Holiday, Director, and Laura Stein, Director

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Dot Foods, Inc. – Presented to John Tracy, Executive Chairman

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
NextEra Energy – Presented to Jim Robo, CEO & Chairman

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Susan Stautberg, Chair emeritus, and former Chairman and CEO WomenCorporateDirectors Foundation (WCD); co-author of Women on Board

Special Award: WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership in Advancing Women Public and Private Company Directors
Maggie Hanson-Muse, Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs, ASEAN; WCD Advisory Board Member and former Honorary Chapter Chair in Peru, Columbia, and India

2017

MAY 10, NEW YORK CITY

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Alaska Air Group – Presented to Brad Tilden, CEO & Chairman

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
The Duchossois Group – Presented to Craig Duchossois, CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
Ecolab – Presented to Doug Baker, CEO and Chairman

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Isabelle Marcoux, Chairman, Transcontinental Inc.

2016

May 4, New York City

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Ulta Beauty – Presented to Mary Dillon, CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Publix Supermarkets – Presented to Jane Finley, Ph.D., Director

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
Santander Group – Presented to Shriti Vadera, Chairman, Santander UK plc

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Maggie Wilderotter, Executive Chairman, Frontier Communications Corporation

Special Award: WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership of a Woman Corporate Director
Izumi Kobayashi - Director, Member of the Board, ANA Holdings, Inc.

2015

May 6, New York City

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Sempra – Presented to Lynn Schenk, Director

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
L’Oréal – Presented to Frederic Roze, CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
Biogen – Presented to George Scangos, CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Co-Chair and former CEO of Carlson Companies

2014

May 14, New York City

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
RBC – Presented to Gord Nixon, Chairman & CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Sodexo Group – Presented to Michel Landel, CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
Abbott Labs – Presented to Miles D. White, CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Beth Mooney, Chairman and CEO of KeyCorp

2013

May 1, New York City

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Unilever – Presented to Paul Polman, CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
SC Johnson – Presented to Governor Christine Todd Whitman, Director

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
IBM – Presented to Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, Director

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Marjorie Morris Scardino, former CEO and Director of Pearson PLC

2012

May 1, New York City

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Publicis Groupe – Presented to Maurice Levy, Chairman & CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Private Company
Desjardins Group – Presented to Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board, President & CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
Intel – Presented to Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, Director

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Ellen Kullman, Chair of the Board and CEO of DuPont

2011

MAY 17, NEW YORK CITY

WCD Visionary Award for Leadership and Governance of a Public Company
Procter & Gamble – Presented to Bob McDonald, Chairman, President & CEO

WCD Visionary Award for Innovation in Shared Value
The Coca-Cola Company – Presented to Maria Elena Lagomasino, Director

WCD Visionary Award for Strategic Leadership
Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods, Inc.