Achievement Categories
Any organization - not just those that are owned or run by women - may submit nominations to categories J04, J07 and J08. Only organizations that are owned by women (at least 50%) or run by women (leader is a woman or at least 30% of executive team are women) may submit nominations to the other Achievement categories.
Nominations that won in the 2025 Stevie® Awards for Women in Business may be resubmitted for consideration in the 2026 awards. If they have been updated with recent achievements, they may be submitted to the same categories in which they won. If they have not been updated, they must be submitted to categories different from those in which they won.
Information to be submitted online for entries in these categories in the 2026 competition include
1. Written answers to the following questions, describing the nominated organization’s achievements since July 1, 2024, OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length that answers all of the same questions:
a. Briefly describe the nominated organization or individual: history and past performance (up to 1,500 characters). Required
b. Outline the organization’s or individual’s achievements since the beginning of July 2024 that you wish to bring to the judges’ attention (up to 1,900 characters words). Required
c. Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization’s past performance (up to 1,900 characters). Required
d. Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination. (up to 1,900 characters). Optional
2. Optional (but highly recommended), a collection of supporting files and web addresses that you may upload to our server to support your entry and provide more background information to the judges. These might be planning documents, press clippings, work samples, photographs, video clips, etc.
J01. Achievement in Customer Satisfaction
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s initiatives since July 1, 2024, that have demonstrably increased customer satisfaction over a prior period
J02. Achievement in Data & Analytics (New for 2026)
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more initiatives since July 1, 2024 that leveraged data analytics, business intelligence, or predictive modeling to generate insights that improved decision-making, strategy, customer understanding, or operational performance.
J03. Achievement in Digital Transformation
Successful nominations in this category will describe how your organization has strategically implemented digital technologies to transform its operations, customer experiences, or business models since July 1, 2024
J04. Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women
This category will recognize the achievements since July 1, 2024, of organizations that have taken active measures to support and develop the careers of women in their employ and to help those women climb the corporate ladder to executive positions
J05. Achievement in Diversity & Inclusion
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s initiatives since the beginning of July 2024 to make your organization more diverse and inclusive for customers, employees, partners, suppliers, and/or other stakeholders
J06. Achievement in Environment, Social, and Governance
Successful nominations in this category will describe how the nominated organization has taken steps to reduce pollution, lower CO2 output, and minimize waste, while also achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce
J07. Achievement in Equal Pay
This category will recognize the achievements since July 1, 2024, of organizations that have taken active measures to ensure that women in their employ receive equal pay for the same work performed by men
J08. Achievement in Education for Girls and Young Women
Recognizing impactful initiatives that promote education for girls and young women, especially in underserved regions or fields such as STEM, since July 1, 2024
J09. Achievement in Ethical Leadership
Successful nominations in this category will highlight how leaders at your organization have actively fostered a culture of trust, accountability, and ethical behavior, whether through specific initiatives, policies, crisis management, or day-to-day practices since July 1, 2024
J10. Achievement in Finance
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s finance-related achievements since July 1, 2024. Applicable achievement(s) may relate to start-up funding, refinancing, financial management, budgeting, etc
J11. Achievement in Financial Literacy Initiatives for Women
This category will recognize literacy initiatives run by women since July 1, 2024
J12. Achievement in Growth
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s growth-related achievements since July 1, 2024. Applicable achievement(s) may relate to corporate expansion, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, etc
J13. Achievement in Human Resources
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s initiatives since July 1, 2024, that have demonstrably improved the organization’s relationship with its employees over a prior period
J14. Achievement in Hybrid Work Culture
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s hybrid work culture achievements since July 1, 2024
J15. Achievement in International Expansion
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s initiatives since July 1, 2024, to grow its business or operations in additional nations
J16. Achievement in Mentorship Program
A successful nomination will describe a successful mentorship program created or run by women since July 1, 2024
J17. Achievement in Promoting Work-Life Balance
This category will recognize the achievements since July 1, 2024, of organizations that have taken active measures to meet the work-life balance needs and requirements of women. Examples might include flexible work arrangements, pregnancy accommodation, provision of daycare, etc
J18. Achievement in Product Innovation
Successful nominations in this category will describe or or more product-related achievements since July 1, 2024. Applicable achievement(s) may relate to innovation in product design or redesign, manufacturing processes or operations, branding, etc
J19. Achievement in Organization Recovery
This is the “business turnaround” category. Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s initiatives since July 1, 2024, that have demonstrably improved the organization’s financial or operational performance over a prior period
J20. Achievement in Sales or Revenue Generation
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s initiatives since July 1, 2024, that have demonstrably increased sales or other revenue over a prior period
J21. Achievement in Science or Technology
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s initiatives since July 1, 2024, that have initiated or promoted one or more advances in scientific or technological understanding or practice
J22. Achievement in Support for Disadvantaged or Refugee Women
Successful nominations in this category will describe impactful programs or initiatives that empower displaced, refugee, or socioeconomically marginalized women by providing access to education, livelihood, shelter, legal support, or mental well-being services since July 1, 2024
J23. Achievement in Sustainability
Successful nominations in this category will describe one or more of your organization’s initiatives since July 1, 2024, to initiate or implement eco-friendly business practices
J24. Achievement in Technology Innovation
Successful nominations in this category will describe the genesis, development, and practical implementation of new, breakthrough technologies
J25. Achievement in Women-related Corporate Social Responsibility
This category will recognize the achievements since July 1, 2024, of organizations whose corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs or activities aim to advance the well-being of women of any age outside the workplace, in any situation, anywhere in the world
J26. Achievement in Women’s Health Innovation
Successful nominations in this category will describe groundbreaking products, services, or initiatives that address women’s physical, mental, or reproductive health since July 1, 2024
J27. Achievement in Workplace Mental Health Programs for Women
Successful nominations in this category will describe successful workplace mental health programs since July 1, 2024