2024 Outstanding Women in Business

The Outstanding Women in Business awards have long been one of WBJ’s hardest honors to win. Typically, more than 50 women are nominated for the award, and yet only 10-20% of those nominees are selected as winners. Many, many worthy professionals don’t make the cut, and each year brings another round of truly excellent nominees.

To win the award, the women have to be truly outstanding.

Now in its 16th year, the Outstanding Women in Business awards has evolved over time. It started a bit as a lifetime achievement award for women, at a time when the majority of those types of honors went to men. As that shifted, Outstanding Women in Business focused more on women doing great things at any point in their careers. This year, the criteria shifted slightly to be more comprehensive, examining each nominee on her professional achievements, community impact, ability to break the glass ceiling, and mentorship to other professionals, particularly women.

– Brad Kane, editor