EVERY WOMAN HAS A STORY! On September 26, 2015, the inaugural Woman of Inspiration™ Awards recognized one woman. Meet Diane Harms (page 34), a family lawyer and everyday hero. She inspired our founder to create the Women of Inspiration™ Awards. Every woman has a story. Those stores tell “why” they do what they do, the challenges they have overcome and the people they support.
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Monica Kretschmer, CEO of the Universal Womens Network™, writes: “In 2007, I became a single mother overnight. I left a 15-month marriage with a seven-month-old baby. That was the beginning of the Seven Year Journey toward my divorce. It left a long paper trail as a result of 4800 hours of litigation, 22 days of trial and 56+ court appearances navigating the complexities of the legal system. There was one woman who believed in me. There was one woman who gave me strength on the darkest days. Her belief in me strengthened my belief in me. The circle of energy between us was reciprocal. Having had her by my side, I learned that all you need is one person to believe in you to move mountains.” The Women of Inspiration™ Awards program has grown organically from 200 guests honouring one woman with one award to celebrating women and a handful of SupportHERs, the majority of whom are men from diverse backgrounds, with nominations originating from across the globe. These awards have attracted the attention and support of government officials, various associations, industry A-Listers and companies committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This year marked the seventh annual awards! Since 2015, Women of Inspiration™ has raised the profiles of over 1000+ women locally, nationally and globally. Woman of Inspiration™ lead, inspire and motivate others to be more and do more! They are role models who take the road less travelled, pave the road for others to follow in their footsteps and allow their voices to invite change. Women of Inspiration™ inspire others to DREAM BIG! As we emerge from the pandemic and more than a year of uncertainty, women continue to lead, inspire and motivate within the workplace, within their families and within their communities as they contribute to the recovery of the economy globally. Elevating female role models is critical to the advancement of women personally and professionally. Yes, every woman does have a story. Her story does not define her. It empowers her! Her story is a gift to future generations and it deserves to be told. One way to participate in the recognition of the accomplishments of women is to nominate a woman who inspires you! Congratulations to the 2021 Women of Inspiration™ Award recipients (20) and TOP 150 finalists. Looking back on the past seven years, meet the WOIALumni (page 90).
Raise the Bar! Every woman has a story. Your story does not define you; it empowers you!
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