Recognizes five (5) high-performing female professionals who have demonstrated professional excellence, and who are on the path to becoming future leaders. They are strong advocates for gender diversity and inclusion in their workplace and have undertaken efforts to improve gender diversity and inclusion by educating their peers, engaging men as allies, and/or actively supporting the advancement of other women.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION - Nominees are judged based on:

1. Performance: How has the nominee excelled in her career to date? Has her performance surpassed expectations for her role?
2. Leadership: Has the nominee demonstrated strong and moral leadership and people skills? Does she display a commitment to transparency, accountability and measurability? Does she motivate and inspire others?  Does she set a strong example to other women?
3. Impact: How has the nominee contributed to improving gender diversity in her team, department or firm? How has she helped to advance other women and encourage men to be allies? Has she contributed to creating a culture of diversity, inclusion, transparency and accountability?
4. Ambition: Does the nominee have clear, strong career ambitions to rise into leadership? 

Note: WCM Board Members are not eligible for this award.

Awarded to up to two people, groups, departments or firms that have taken bold steps to improve diversity and inclusion through a new and innovative approach. Regardless of whether the initiative yielded the desired results, these recipients have attempted to approach diversity & inclusion from an innovative angle, with a comprehensive and thoughtful strategy that is results-driven and with measurability and accountability as key components.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION - Nominees are judged based on:

1. Leadership & Initiative: How has the nominee/body taken a significant leadership role in improving gender diversity within their group, department or firm and role-modeled outstanding leadership to others? How has the nominee/body led by example, set the tone around gender diversity and inclusion to their peers?
2. Innovation: How has the nominee/body taken a new approach to gender diversity and found new ways to innovate and affect change?
3. Intention and Outcome: How did the nominee/body develop a thought-out strategy with clear goals, tactics and measurable outcomes? How did the approach display transparency, accountability and measurability?

Note: WCM Board Members are not eligible for this award.

Awarded up to two volunteers who have surpassed the typical expectations of a WCM volunteer. The volunteer has demonstrated impressive leadership, initiative and a strong work ethic, and sets an exceptional example to other volunteers. Their commitment to improving gender diversity and inclusion and to championing WCM’s mission is evident, and they have contributed significantly to increasing WCM’s reach and impact, building strong relationships, delivering relevant programming, and generally furthering our mission to accelerate the progress of diversity and inclusion in capital markets.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION - Nominees are judged based on:

1. Leadership & Initiative: How has the nominee taken on a leadership role with a WCM Steering Committee, surpassed the typical expectations of a volunteer, and led by example?
2. Impact: How has the volunteer made a significant impact in their time with WCM? How have their efforts resulted in increasing the reach and impact of WCM projects and initiatives? How have they contributed to advancing WCM’s mission? (have their efforts increased membership, WCM’s profile,
   important strategic relationships, impactful programming, etc)

Note: WCM Board Members are not eligible for this award. No reference letter is required for this award.