Women's Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is a day on which the work of women entrepreneurs is observed and discussed, held every day of each year. The inaugural event was held in New York City at the United Nations, with additional events being held simultaneously in several other countries. 144 nations overall recognized the first WED in 2014, which included the presentation of the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Awards. The organization behind WED also has an ambassadorship and fellowship program.
History
Women's Entrepreneurship Day was founded and implemented by Pet Pioneer, Animal Fair Media Founder and Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient Wendy Diamond, after volunteering with the Adelante Foundation who provides microcredit to low income women while in Honduras. Upon her return to the US she decided she wanted to develop something to help this and similar philanthropic causes. The first day was held on November 19, 2014, and was observed in 144 countries that year. It was described by Fortune Magazine as “a global movement to celebrate and support female founders and shed light on some of their challenges.” Forbes Magazine wrote that the intention was also “to mobilize a global network of female business owners, entrepreneurs, and change-makers who support and empower this community of women entrepreneurs and their businesses.” November 19 was proclaimed an “official day” by both New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and is celebrated annually at the United Nations and around the globe. The U.S. House of Representatives also annually recognizes the WEDO movement November 19 as “A Day in Honor of Women Entrepreneurs” under the leadership of Congresswoman Grace Meng.
Inaugural event at the United Nations
Women's Entrepreneurship Day event convenes at the United Nations in New York City including a conference, speakers, and the inaugural Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Awards. An Education Philanthropy Pioneer Award was given to Barack Obama’s grandmother Sarah Obama, for her work in bringing gender equality to education in that country. Obama was presented the award by actress Quvenzhané Wallis. Loreen Arbus received an award for her philanthropic work, as did to Lynn Tilton.
Other attendees of the United Nations inaugural launch included actress Rose Byrne; Miss Universe Gabriela Isler; Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon; and First Ladies Gertrude Maseko of Malawi and Penehupifo Pohamba of Namibia. Delegations were sent from many different nations attended the event as well. A second WED is planned at the United Nations in 2015: the United Nations Foundation is a founding partner of the events.
List of Pioneer Award winners
2014
Loreen Arbus (Philanthropy) – President of Loreen Arbus Productions
Lynn Tilton (Business) – Founder and CEO of Patriarch Partners
Mama Sarah Obama (Education) – Founder and CEO of The Mama Sarah Obama Foundation Sandy Lerner (Technology) – Co-founder of Cisco Systems and Founder of Urban Decay Shannon Schuyler (Social Responsibility) – Chief Corporate Responsibility and Purpose Officer of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP (PwC US), and President of the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. Tamara Mellon (Fashion) – Co-founder of Jimmy Choo and Creative Director & Founder of the Tamara Mellon brand
2015
Dr. Jen Welter (Sports) – First woman to hold a coaching position in the NFL and linebacker for women's American football for 14 years Heidi Messer (Technology) – chairwoman and co-founder of Collective[i] and Founder of LinkShare Kelly O. Chezum (Education) – President of External Relations at Clarkson University Leona Lewis (Music) – British singer-songwriter and Animal Welfare campaigner Leslie Blodgett (Beauty) – Creator of bareMinerals, former CEO of Bare Escentuals, Board Member for Every Mother Counts, Stella & Dot, and SPANX Martha "Muffy" MacMillan (Philanthropy) – Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient, Director on the board of Cargill, Inc., Director of the Cargill Foundation, Waycrosse, Inc., Boards of the American Federation of Arts, Global Minnesota, The Economic Club of Minnesota, and Walker Art Center, Chair of Opportunity International's agricultural-finance campaign