2027 Understanding the Women in Business Leadership Award

The 2027 Women in Business Leadership Award is now available.

The Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award celebrates excellence and recognizes outstanding achievements by women between 18-35 years of age who are driving innovation and creating an impact in the business world. This prestigious award honors exceptional leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, ethical conduct and significant contributions while addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate justice.

The program operates at the Zonta club, district and international levels. Zonta International offers 10 international awards of US$5,000 each and a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International for the next financial year.

Timetable:

• Clubs determine their own timelines for receipt of applications.
• Club recipient is selected and application is sent to governor by 30 November 2026 or date set by Chair.
• The district applicant selected and application received by Zonta International Headquarters by 2 January 2027.
• The official announcement of international recipients 28 February 2027

Who is Eligible? Women, aged 18-35 at the time of application, who demonstrate evidence of the following, are eligible to apply.  (The 2028 award will be offered without an age qualification based on the 2026 Convention vote.)

❑ Exceptional leadership in a business-related field of study or industry.
❑ Entrepreneurial spirit.
❑ Ethical conduct.
❑ Significant contributions to addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate justice.

Previous Zonta Women in Business Leadership Awardees are not eligible to apply to renew the Award for a second year. Club members and individuals with direct membership with Zonta International and employees of Zonta International and Zonta Foundation for Women are not eligible to apply for the awards.

Z club and Golden Z club members are eligible to apply. Recipients of a Zonta fellowship or award who have received a complimentary one-year supporting membership from Zonta International are eligible to apply during their complimentary membership year, provided that they are not applying for the same fellowship or scholarship they previously received from Zonta International.

Committee or jury members or any member involved in the selection process should follow the Zonta International Conflict of Interest Policy in the selection of awardees.

All information and supporting documents for the 2025 “Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award” can be found at zonta.org under Our Programs/Education.