Congresswoman Grace Meng
Representative New York’s 6th Congressional District located in Queens, New York
The WEDO Pioneer Awards celebrate and honor inspiring women who have made significant contributions in various fields within STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics). These individuals are recognized for their outstanding achievements and groundbreaking work on Women’s Entrepreneurship Day at the prestigious United Nations.
The WEDO Pioneer Award is a prestigious recognition bestowed upon individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication in advancing women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment. These extraordinary individuals have shattered barriers, paved the way for others, and made a lasting impact in the entrepreneurial world. Their exemplary achievements inspire and motivate aspiring women entrepreneurs to dream big, overcome obstacles, and create positive change in their communities and beyond.
Through their visionary leadership, groundbreaking innovations, and unwavering commitment, WEDO Pioneer Award recipients inspire others to believe in their potential and pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations. Their stories serve as powerful catalysts for change, motivating individuals to challenge the status quo and create a more inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Founder/Director Beckley Foundation & Psychedelics Pioneer
Founder Beverly Johnson Enterprises/ Iconic SuperModel
Founder/CEO The ActOne Group of Companies
Influencer, NFT/Crypto Enthusiast (100 Million Followers)
Chair Filecoin Foundation & General Council/Head of Policy Protocol Labs
Co-Founder/ Social Impact Officer Automation Anywhere
Artist / Philanthropist / President Board of Trustees Guggenheim Foundation
Working together to empower young girls and women, fostering their creativity, confidence, and leadership skills
WEDO partners with the Lalela Project to create transformative change through educational arts programs for at-risk youth in South Africa, Northern Uganda, and the Bronx, NY.
Our previous WEDO Pioneer Award winners are outstanding women in business who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication in breaking barriers and creating positive change in the entrepreneurial landscape.
Representative New York’s 6th Congressional District located in Queens, New York
Founder/CEO PopCom
Founder, Investor & Fashion Model Pioneer
Chair,Swarovski Foundation – Founder Atelier Swarovski
CEO/Founder Monami Entertainment
International Disability Rights Advocate The Heumann Perspective
Businesswoman, Philanthropist, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate
Editor In Chief Yahoo Finance/Verizon Media
General Partner Fuel Capital & Founder TaskRabbit, Board Trustee Sweet Briar College, Advisor Zently & Advisor Monica + Andy
Grammy Award-Winning Musical Artist
International Fashion Designer, Founder/CEO Normalife, Founder
Global Entertainer 25+ Million Followers
Philanthropist, Broadway Producer, Founder Baker Scholars, Board Member Hunter College Foundation
Founder/Visionary Same Sky, Chair Harvard Kennedy School Women’s Leadership Board & Founder LeFrak Productions.
Founder Golden Seeds, an early-stage investment firm for women-led companies & Former CEO Crimson Hexagonies
CEO/Co-Founder Producers Market
Founder OTX Global Technology Consulting Firm, CEO/Founder The Female Quotient
CEO Staglin Family Vineyard & Co-founder One Mind who has raised and donated over $1 BILLION for mental health causes
Co-Founder & Creative Director GLAMGLOW
President/Co-Founder Memnosyne Foundation & The John Philip Thompson Foundation
Founder Tate’s Bake Shop Sold to OREO giant Mondelez International for a yummy $500 million
Author & Chair Princess Märtha Louise’s Fund to benefit disabled children
CO-CEO Bridgewater Associates, The world’s largest hedge fund with $160 billion in assets – Ka – Ching
Internationally Renowned Fashion Designer & Entrepreneur
Founder and CEO of Lalela Project, Co-Creator of themoreweshare.com, Director of the Board of Kerzner International Holdings Limited
Film Actress, Entrepreneur, Best-Selling Author & Philanthropist
President and Co-Founder Michael Stars, and Board Member Women Thrive Alliance
President, Managing Partner, and Co-Founder of Avenue Capital Group & Global Chair of the Board of 100 Women in Finance
Singer, Songwriter, 6-time Grammy Nominee, Broadway Musical Writer/ Composer
Chairwomen UN Women For Peace Association
First Woman Television Producer, Peabody Award Winner
Luxury Jewelry Designer & Founder Judith Ripka
Co-Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Real Estate brokerage firm Douglas Elliman Real Estate LLC.
Founder, Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP®
Emmy-winning television host and producer, entrepreneur, bestselling author and humanitarian
Yoga master and award-winning author
Emmy-winning television chef and author
CEO and Director of HSN, INC. and a member of the company’s Board of Directors
Founder of the USA Network and SyFy channel, and the first woman to serve as network president in television history
CEO and Co-Founder of Birchbox, a monthly beauty subscription box
American jewelry designer and the founder of Joan Hornig Jewelry
New York style icon, interior designer and businesswoman
Director on the board of Cargill Inc., Director on the Cargill Foundation, Waycrosse, Inc. , Boards of Opportunity International, American Federation of Arts, Global Minnesota, MOCA, The Economic Club of Minnesota, and The Walker Art Museum
Co-founder Collective[i] and LinkShare
Creator of bareMinerals, former CEO of Bare Escentuals, Board Member of Every Mother Counts, Stella & Dot, and SPANX
Grammy Nominee, British Singer, Songwriter, and Animal Welfare Campaigner
President of External Relations at Clarkson University
First woman to hold a coaching position in the NFL With previous background in women’s football leagues as a linebacker for 14 years
President Loreen Arbus Foundation, The Goldenson- Arbus Foundation, & Loreen Arbus Productions, Inc.
Co-Founder of Jimmy Choo and Creative Director & Founder of Tamara Mellon
Chief Corporate Responsibility and Purpose Officer with Price water house Coopers LLP (PwC US), and also serves as the President of the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Co-Founder of Cisco Systems and Founder of Urban Decay
Founder & CEO of The Mama Sarah Obama Foundation
Founder & CEO of Patriarch Partners
Representative New York’s 6th Congressional District located in Queens, New York
Founder/CEO PopCom
Founder, Investor & Fashion Model Pioneer
Chair,Swarovski Foundation – Founder Atelier Swarovski
CEO/Founder Monami Entertainment
International Disability Rights Advocate The Heumann Perspective
Businesswoman, Philanthropist, Anti-Human Trafficking Advocate
Editor In Chief Yahoo Finance/Verizon Media
General Partner Fuel Capital & Founder TaskRabbit, Board Trustee Sweet Briar College, Advisor Zently & Advisor Monica + Andy
Grammy Award-Winning Musical Artist
International Fashion Designer, Founder/CEO Normalife, Founder
Global Entertainer 25+ Million Followers
Philanthropist, Broadway Producer, Founder Baker Scholars, Board Member Hunter College Foundation
Founder/Visionary Same Sky, Chair Harvard Kennedy School Women’s Leadership Board & Founder LeFrak Productions.
Founder Golden Seeds, an early-stage investment firm for women-led companies & Former CEO Crimson Hexagonies
CEO/Co-Founder Producers Market
Founder OTX Global Technology Consulting Firm, CEO/Founder The Female Quotient
CEO Staglin Family Vineyard & Co-founder One Mind who has raised and donated over $1 BILLION for mental health causes
Co-Founder & Creative Director GLAMGLOW
President/Co-Founder Memnosyne Foundation & The John Philip Thompson Foundation
Founder Tate’s Bake Shop Sold to OREO giant Mondelez International for a yummy $500 million
Author & Chair Princess Märtha Louise’s Fund to benefit disabled children
CO-CEO Bridgewater Associates, The world’s largest hedge fund with $160 billion in assets – Ka – Ching
Internationally Renowned Fashion Designer & Entrepreneur
Founder and CEO of Lalela Project, Co-Creator of themoreweshare.com, Director of the Board of Kerzner International Holdings Limited
Film Actress, Entrepreneur, Best-Selling Author & Philanthropist
President and Co-Founder Michael Stars, and Board Member Women Thrive Alliance
President, Managing Partner, and Co-Founder of Avenue Capital Group & Global Chair of the Board of 100 Women in Finance
Singer, Songwriter, 6-time Grammy Nominee, Broadway Musical Writer/ Composer
Chairwomen UN Women For Peace Association
First Woman Television Producer, Peabody Award Winner
Luxury Jewelry Designer & Founder Judith Ripka
Co-Founder, President & Chief Executive Officer of Real Estate brokerage firm Douglas Elliman Real Estate LLC.
Founder, Angie’s BOOMCHICKAPOP®
Emmy-winning television host and producer, entrepreneur, bestselling author and humanitarian
Yoga master and award-winning author
Emmy-winning television chef and author
CEO and Director of HSN, INC. and a member of the company’s Board of Directors
Founder of the USA Network and SyFy channel, and the first woman to serve as network president in television history
CEO and Co-Founder of Birchbox, a monthly beauty subscription box
American jewelry designer and the founder of Joan Hornig Jewelry
New York style icon, interior designer and businesswoman
Director on the board of Cargill Inc., Director on the Cargill Foundation, Waycrosse, Inc. , Boards of Opportunity International, American Federation of Arts, Global Minnesota, MOCA, The Economic Club of Minnesota, and The Walker Art Museum
Co-founder Collective[i] and LinkShare
Creator of bareMinerals, former CEO of Bare Escentuals, Board Member of Every Mother Counts, Stella & Dot, and SPANX
Grammy Nominee, British Singer, Songwriter, and Animal Welfare Campaigner
President of External Relations at Clarkson University
First woman to hold a coaching position in the NFL With previous background in women’s football leagues as a linebacker for 14 years
President Loreen Arbus Foundation, The Goldenson- Arbus Foundation, & Loreen Arbus Productions, Inc.
Co-Founder of Jimmy Choo and Creative Director & Founder of Tamara Mellon
Chief Corporate Responsibility and Purpose Officer with Price water house Coopers LLP (PwC US), and also serves as the President of the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Co-Founder of Cisco Systems and Founder of Urban Decay
Founder & CEO of The Mama Sarah Obama Foundation
Founder & CEO of Patriarch Partners
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is every day! Celebrate, empower, and support women in business.