Congratulations to Beacon Icon Award Winners

 On March 11th at the Normandy Farms Three Silos Ballroom, Beacon members gathered to honor three award winners with the Beacon ICON Award for their impact on women in leadership. The winners were Natasha Andrews, Director of Programs and Community Engagement at Girls Inc.; Alyssa Budraitis, Founder and Owner, Beautiful Linens; and Kristina Kohl, Managing Principal of HRComputes. Each honoree had the opportunity to share her own journey and story on facilitating women in leadership. All of the stories were authentic and impactful.
 As one of the award recipients, the event was very moving. I had the opportunity to share my perspectives with the audience. The following is an excerpt from my speech:

 I’m wearing my suffragette sash this evening in honor of all of the women who came before us-our mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmother who blazed the path for us. While women have come a long way in terms of rights and opportunities,  we need to continue to push the needle forward to level the playing field and to provide opportunities for women at the most senior levels.

 As women take on senior roles,  we need to pick up the mantle of leadership which includes strategy and vision but also talent development and management. Opening the door for others, sponsoring, mentoring, and providing growth opportunities moves the needle forward.

 As women leaders, we have the opportunity to make the world a better place focusing on a triple bottom line strategy of planet, people, and profit. We have the opportunity to make our organizations places of belonging so that all employees can thrive and contribute by bringing their full selves to work. We have the opportunity to guide our people to a successful and impactful future.

 When I began in the business world, I was often the only women in the room. The only role models that I had were men. Today, I’m honored to serve as a role model for future generations. I share my network, time, and experience with many other women in order to improve their own journey toward their personal and professional goals.

We can't wait to see who will be selected next year for this honor. While this was the inaugural event, The Beacon ICON awards have already become a major Philadelphia business community event.