Vital Voices Honored Change-Making Women at the Global Leadership Awards

On a recent evening, entrepreneurs, artists, and visionaries alike rallied at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan to celebrate extraordinary women dedicated to creating generational change. It made for a change of scenery too—as Vital Voices Global Partnership rerouted its annual awards ceremony, now in its 24th year, from the usual ceremonial grounds at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. to PAC NYC for the very first time.

In attendance were a fierce assemblage of advocates, including the organization’s co-founder and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Huma Abedin ,Diane von Furstenberg, Sophia Bush, Ashlyn Harris, Michelle Rodriguez, Nicole Ari Parker, Julia Fox, Stacey Bendet, and Abby Phillip.

Clasping chilled Champagne flutes, guests gathered upstairs, where they were welcomed by Vital Voices Global Partnership President and CEO, Alyse Nelson. “Tonight we’re not only celebrating extraordinary women leaders we invest in, we are also celebrating women of tremendous power and influence. Women who are not just trailblazers and icons, but women who are being honored because of what they do with the power they wield.”

Vital Voices Global Partnership champions leaders that are dedicated to making a positive impact towards gender equality locally and internationally. The organization, launched in 1997, identifies as “venture catalysts,” because they invest in women with pursuits of strong leadership, and goals of unity and long-lasting change. Upon exiting the stage Nelson urged: “Don’t let anyone tell you you’re too young to change the world or that your ideas are impossible.”

Mogul and marketing executive Bozoma Saint John is someone who’s also a champion when it comes to empowering young women. Sheathed in a shimmering gold floor-length gown, the proud “girl mom” and host of the evening sashayed to the stage podium to continue the program.

The evening also saw Diane von Furstenberg pay tribute to the late Susan Wojcicki; her longtime friend and the former CEO of YouTube. Susan’s mother, Esther Wojcicki, proudly presented Tracy Chou and Seyi Akiwowo of Block Party with the Susan Wojcicki Tech for Impact Award, recognizing the strides they have made with upholding online safety.

This year’s Icon Award recipient, former professional race car driver Susie Wolff, discussed being a woman in the sport, the constant misconceptions around gender, and stewardship initiatives such as Dare to Be Different and the F1 Academy. “I think people still presume that’s such a male dominated environment, and I wanted to give something back to the sport that had given me so much,” Wolff told Vogue. “I wanted to inspire the next generation of young women to show that there was a place for them in the sport.”

The night saw women’s rights activist Shirin Musa and environmental advocate Farwiza Farhan presented with The Global Leadership Award, and the ceremony wrapped with NBCUniversal executive Donna Langley receiving The Trailblazer Award. When asked about a valuable lesson she found helpful to channel throughout her career, Langley told Vogue: “I learned early on what recognizing and understanding your value was, and when you project your value, other people will recognize it too. That value can be applied to any level of a career.” To close the program, Rodham Clinton delivered a final acknowledgement of the honorees, as she was joined back on stage by each presenter, recipient, and board member.

Afterwards, guests cozied up on the suede lounge sofas back downstairs with sweet treats—as they celebrated the $250,000 figure raised on the night to further Vital Voices’ mission of global equity.