Women of the Year & Women to Watch Awards

The WICT Network is currently accepting nominations for the 2026 Women of the Year and Women to Watch Awards. The prestigious awards will be presented at The WICT Network Signature Awards Luncheon, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at Cipriani 42nd St NYC. The event promises to be an unforgettable celebration of exemplary women transforming the media, entertainment and technology industries. 

The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 20, 2026. Please see below for more information.

About the Awards

The Woman of the Year Award is bestowed on individuals who have made significant contributions to their company and the overall industry. They are proven leaders and assets who show great resolve to help others along their path. The WICT Network will select three honorees – one in media, one in entertainment and one in technology.

Attributes: 

  • Strong and articulate communicator who can rally others into action; 
  • Serves as a catalyst to advance the industry and its people; 
  • Inspires others through words and deeds; 
  • Listens to and connects with her peers; 
  • Leads fearlessly with a sense of purpose and vision. 

This award is presented at The WICT Network Signature Awards Luncheon.

Note: Current members of The WICT Network Global Board are ineligible for this award.

Click here to submit a nomination.

The Woman to Watch Award honors individuals who show tremendous success and promise through their professional accomplishments. They demonstrate exemplary leadership skills in their company and a strong dedication to the industry. The WICT Network will select three honorees – one in media, one in entertainment and one in technology.

Attributes: 

  • Contributes significantly to transform her organization; 
  • Serves as a catalyst to help advance others at her organization; 
  • Serves as a role model and mentor to colleagues and others; 
  • Listens to and connects with her peers; 
  • Leads authentically with a commitment to her values. 

This award is presented at The WICT Network Signature Awards Luncheon. 

Note: Current members of The WICT Network Global Board are ineligible for this award.

Click here to submit a nomination.

The WICT Network works to help develop and advance women in the media, entertainment and technology industry. One of the ways we do this is by shining a spotlight on some of the industry’s most influential women. The Women of the Year and Women to Watch are The WICT Network’s highest individual honors. The honorees are recognized annually at The WICT Network Signature Awards Luncheon.

  • We encourage you to use your influence to nominate women deserving of this recognition. And here are some tips to ensure the Review Panel gets to know your candidate(s).
  • Review the award eligibility criteria to ensure your candidate meets the criteria. For your reference, you can view a list of past winners here.
  • Be specific and provide concrete examples as they relate to the questions on the nomination form. Remember, the review committee does not know the nominee as well as you, so use examples to illustrate why your candidate(s) is a stand-out.
  • Proofread your nomination for spelling and grammar errors, and to ensure you have addressed all parts of each question completely.
  • Letters of recommendation are highly encouraged. We ask that you limit letters to one page and send no more than three per nominee.
  • Note the deadline and submit your nomination on time.
  • If applicable, be sure to note the nominee’s involvement in The WICT Network, both locally and globally, and include if they are a current member of The WICT Network.

Click here to view past recipients of the Women of the Year and Women to Watch awards. 

*Note: an awards presentation was not held in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

 


2025 Women of the Year

Woman of the Year
Media

Jennifer Yohe
SVP and Chief Procurement Officer
Optimum

Woman of the Year  Entertainment

Elizabeth Wright
EVP and CFO, Direct to Consumer Segment
Paramount Global

Woman of the YearTechnology

Susan Tanamli
CTO & EVP, Head of Global Technology and Media Operations A+E Global Media

2025 Women to Watch

Woman to Watch
Media

Alison Hellman
SVP & General Manager
Spectrum News

Woman to Watch
Entertainment

Lauren Morrissey
SVP, Platform Distribution Sales The Walt Disney Company

Woman to Watch
Technology

Rachel Solomon
SVP, Technical Operations and Engineering
Comcast NBCUniversal

Questions?

If you have any questions about our awards or the nomination process, please contact Cindy Key.

Click here to view a list of past honorees.