NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A surprising mix of ten global and local companies are the best places for women to work and ten leaders from the financial industry to the U.S. Army are advancing women forward on a broad scale, according to a global competition conducted by the nonprofit Business Council for Peace (#Bpeace).

The Bpeace Women Forward Awards recognize the trailblazing organizations and inspiring individuals who are leading change and providing mentorship, capital and support for women to thrive in the workplace and in society.

On June 4, 2020, Bpeace will recognize the Gold, Silver and Bronze Women Forward winners with a virtual award celebration. Following a global call for nominations, a blue-ribbon panel of CEO-level judges selected from among 51 finalists representing a range of industries and geographies.

Bpeace CEO, Toni Maloney noted, “We conduct the annual Women Forward competition to shine a light on these champions and set them up as role models on a global stage. The businesswomen that Bpeace advises in crisis-affected countries are hungry to learn how to crack the gender code. This year’s winners generously shared what they do that give women a quantum leap.”

The 2020 Women Forward winners are:

Outstanding Workplace

GOLD:

YellowWebMonkey Web Design offers West Point and other military veteran moms a career in web design in a completely remote environment.

Alexis Priddy, YWM founder, commented, “We offer the opportunity to learn a completely new skill in a supportive environment, giving women confidence and a sense of purpose, without the guilt of being a working mom.”

SILVER: Cabi Clothing Company

Next Generation Workplace

GOLD:

Girls Voices Initiative educates and empowers girl-leaders in Nigeria to use their voices to amplify issues in society.

Carolyn Seaman, GVI founder, commented “Our workplace is the model for the empowerment we want to bring to Nigerian women and young girls.”

SILVER: AlaU on-line University

Business Cultural Transformation

GOLD:

Refinitiv When Refinitiv, one of the world’s leading providers of insights and technology to the financial markets, was spun off fromThomson Reuters 18 months ago, senior leadership seized the opportunity to focus on diversity and inclusion. The data company looked closely at the impact of corporate and individual decision-making, and introduced a behavioral change inclusion strategy that makes Refinitiv an even more inclusive place to work, in which anyone can thrive.

Audrey Campbell, Refinitiv Head of D&I, noted “The aim of the strategy is not to fix people who are under-represented in senior leadership, but to focus on how we fix the impact of the decisions we make.”

Financial Catalyst

GOLD:

Pipeline Equity Inc. transformed the narrative about the corporate benefits of gender equity into quantifiable financial results with their PipelineTM software platform.

Katica Roy, Pipeline founder, commented, “Our goal was to change the narrative around gender equity to not be just about women, to not be a zero-sum game, but to be about improving equity and economic opportunity for everyone.”

SILVER: Global Fund for Widows

Industry Leadership

GOLD:

The Coaching Fellowship is building the capacity of the next generation of social impact women leaders through executive coaching.

Jane Finette, TCFS founder, commented, “If I can help the young women leaders that are already doing great things, do more, then the ripple effects become endless.”

SILVER: Adweek

BRONZE: Women in Trucking Association, Inc.

LIFETIME IMPACT

GOLD:

Catherine Banat, RBC Global Asset Management, has made networking, mentoring and promoting women at RBC and across the financial services industry her life’s work.

Banat commented, “Mentoring is useful and should not be gender or race-biased, but sponsorship is the real way to address the issue that women still get stuck at what The New York Times coined ‘the first rung.’"

SILVER: Marissa Wesely, Women Win Global Advisory Council

BRONZE: Dr. Astrid Scholz, Sphaera/Zebras Unite

MENTOR OF DISTINCTION

GOLD:

Candice E. Frost, US Army works to ensure women are afforded the same opportunities as men in the military. She either broke the glass ceiling or helped facilitate the shattering for others to ensure that women can lead in the military, in all roles, without fear of harassment or assault.

Frost commented on her military career, “I fell in love with soldiering and committed my life to it. I used my leadership positions to help influence and make permanent changes in how women serve in the military.”

SILVER:

Dr. Angela Reddix, Envision Lead Grow

Amanda Grant, Calibre One

Dr. Jen Welter, Grridiron Girls

BRONZE:

Nina Link, Merryck & Co

Maricella Herrera Avila, Ellevate Network

Florence Njai-Sesay, Media Matters for Women Sierra Leone

About the nonprofit Bpeace

Bpeace is an award-winning nonprofit that provides impactful business advice to companies in conflict-affected communities, where women are underemployed and where we believe more jobs can cut the oxygen to violence.