If you’ve found yourself panicking about forgetting to do something before the week’s end, you likely forgot to make your nomination!
Have you met a woman advisor lately who impacted your day, week, or month? Maybe someone you know is making strides in the industry whom you want others to know about? If you answered yes to either or both questions, consider nominating them – or even yourself – for an award!
This isn't just any award. InvestmentNews is proud to announce the second annual Women to Watch Awards, being held on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at Tribeca 360 New York. But hurry! Nominations close July 12.
The most promising individuals, chosen through an objective selection process and verified by an expert panel of independent judges, will be highlighted and honored at the Women to Watch Awards gala in the five-star style they deserve.
Last year’s Women to Watch winner Kay Lynn Mayhue, president at Merit Financial, who won in the Female Trailblazer of the Year category, said it’s important to nominate women who have risen to new levels and who are doing things differently than other advisors.
“Nominate those who are leading well and impacting lives,” she added. “We grow from learning about others, and I think that we grow in community, whether that be a formal community inside the same company or just your network of trusted folks.
“These awards are just one additional confirmation that they're doing the right things. It’s just a fabulous way to put a bow on what they're doing,” she said.
Colleen Bell, president of innovation and experience at Cambridge Investment Research and last year’s winner of the Women to Watch Awards’ Allyship Champion of the Year award, said nominating women advisors is the industry’s responsibility.
“We have a responsibility to elevate women, so that they can be recognized for their own initiatives and what they have accomplished, because we tend not to do it for ourselves. Sometimes it takes somebody else to write something about you to give a little lift.”
She added receiving her nomination already made her feel like a winner.
“They shared [the nomination] with me and I told them, ‘I already feel like a winner with everything that you've written about me.’ That just made my day and probably my week, and obviously winning the award made my year.”
Mayhue said there's a lot of “type-A people” who are going to be nominated and there are not enough awards for those women who are worthy.
“When you're a type-A results driven person, it can be really hard to pause, and just reflect on the success that you've had. If you're nominated or if you win, take the time to pause and just look back at the success that you've had, and live in that for a little bit before you start thinking about the next thing you want to do and the next accomplishment,” Mayhue said.
The awards are a way for female advisors to connect and “catch up.”
“The highlights really are to hear all the stories of all the nominees and what they have accomplished,” Bell said. “When you add up all the impact, we clearly are making a difference in the industry.”
Despite several women tackling different initiatives, it’s hard to see the progress in the numbers, Bell said, “but you certainly see the progress and the impact that all the nominees have had. To me, that was probably the best thing is just hearing everyone's stories and what they've been able to positively influence, adding additional women to the industry.”
Last year’s other Women to Watch winners were: Christine Cappabianca, Portfolio Manager of the Year; Thrivent, Employer of Choice; Brittney Olinger, Rising Star Advisor of the Year; and Raymond James & Associates, Excellence in Gender Diversity & Inclusion.
Do you know who you want to nominate? Be sure to do it quickly. The nomination period closes on Friday, July 12. Click here to nominate your candidate for a Women to Watch Award.
InvestmentNews would like to thank this year’s award sponsors: Commonwealth and The American College of Financial Services.
For the full list of categories, criteria for the 2024 Women to Watch Awards, and to nominate, visit womentowatch.investmentnews.com.
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