We rise by lifting others. The Women Empowerment Awards, held last September and presented by Rogers Communications in collaboration with Mantella Corporation, was created to recognize and celebrate the diverse achievements of women in Canadian business, leadership, mentorship, global impact, diversity, equality and inclusivity, and lifetime achievements. It is designed to empower women as key change makers in our community and support female entrepreneurs with their business and to help them advance in their careers.
The first of its kind in Canada, when asked about her vision behind this initiative, the President and Co-founder Klaudia Zinaty, states “women deserve this movement and platform to share their stories and experiences, to have their voices heard and to empower and inspire other women”. This year, the committee received more than 600 nominations in 10 categories, including the Mantella Corporation BIPOC Entrepreneur Award, with an exclusive $10,000 grant.
In its inaugural year, the Women Empowerment Awards was formally recognized and applauded in a letter from the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth for Canada, for providing a forum to elevate women and creating a space where women's contributions are acknowledged and celebrated.
Among the outstanding recipients for this year’s awards, special recognition for lifetime achievement was given to Jeanne Beker for her iconic career, contributions to women empowerment, fashion and Canadian journalism. The evening also featured a captivating performance by Nicolina Bozzo, the 19-year-old Canadian singer-songwriter from Toronto who became the first Canadian to make it to the top five on Season 20 of American Idol in 2022. It was an unforgettable and inspiring evening of women empowering women, celebrating a room filled with outstanding individuals and their respective industries and careers.