Breaking the glass ceiling and bringing other women around it, the winners, divided among Corporate, Entrepreneurial and Career in Transition settings, are leaders within and outside the workplace, where they strive to provide resources and support for working women and tighten the professional gender gap.
w2wlink.com has announced its 27 award winners and three national winners of its first ever Ascendancy Awards implemented to recognize, reward and inspire women to maximize their potential within their careers. The following marks the first in a series of articles that expand upon the successes of the women who have ascended to the role of mentors within and outside of the workplace, helping to enhance the careers and lives of other women.
The three national winners are:
Ambassador Frances Cook
City: Washington D.C
Corporate Director and Consultant
The Ballard Group, LLC.
The fact that we are standing on the shoulders of pioneering businesswomen, who came before us, means we have an obligation to mentor. In fact, I've found that it is one my greatest joys in this part of my life and career(s).
Corporate “Fast Track” national winner Ambassador Frances Cook has established many firsts in her long-term career as ambassador to various global efforts. Since she began her career as a Special Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador in Paris, France, Ambassador Cook has been named the first female head of post in the Middle East for the U.S. and the first female worldwide named Ambassador to a GCC State in the Arab Gulf. When she moved to Washington D.C, Ambassador Cook was appointed to several positions in African Affairs including Director of the Office of West African Affairs and Ambassador to Burundi and Cameroon. Through overseeing programs in global demining and refugee assistance, Ambassador Cook continues to be involved in numerous peacekeeping operations. She now resides in Washington D.C working as an international business consultant with her own firm, The Ballard Group, LLC.
Neal Godfrey
City: At Large
CEO and Chairman
Children’s Financial Network
Always take the attitude of, “How hard could this possibly be?” “NO” is just a paradigm. None of us were born knowing how to do anything. Say, “YES”, and design the life you want.
Entrepreneurial Success national winner Neale Godfrey is a New York Times’ Bestselling author working to empower women with the tools they need to break the glass ceiling, secure financial freedom and overcome obstacles within a career and home. She has written more than 16 books including women-specific titles such as, “MOM, Inc.: Taking Your Work Skills Home,” and, “Making Change: A Woman’s Guide to Designing her Financial Future.” The Children’s Financial Network, a financial literacy program designed by Godfrey, is being employed by YWCAs nationwide to teach students the smart ways of earning, saving and spending She also is the former president of The First Women’s Bank and founder of The First Children’s Bank. Godfrey is a board member of UNIFEM, the United Nations Agency dedicated to ending physical and economical oppression against women.
Connie Duckworth
City: Chicago
President and Chairman of the Board
Arzu, Inc.
Never burn a bridge. Everyone comes back in life as one of the three "C's"--client, colleague or competitor.
Career in Transition national winner Connie Duckworth is the Founder, President and Chairman of the Board of Arzu, Inc., which is a not-for-profit organization that provides income to Afghan women by selling and sourcing the handmade rugs they weave. During her 20 years at Goldman, Sachs & Co., Duckworth was named the first woman sales and trading partner. She currently serves on the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council and as director of several large companies across the Midwest. Duckworth sits on numerous boards for a variety of causes including the Advisory Board of the Duke Islamic Studies Center in North Carolina and the Board of Directors of Global Heritage Fund in Palo Alto. For her, mentoring is one of the responsibilities that comes with the territory of success, and because of her “serial” mentors throughout the years, she recognizes the impact one can make. “It's fun to help others succeed. Sort of like parenting, there is both pride and vicarious gratification when a mentee does a bang up job on a project, when others spot her talent, or when she gets promoted.”
National Winner--Washington D.C.- Ambassador Frances Cook, Corporate Director and Consultant, The Ballard Group, LLC.
Boston-Natalie Corridan-Gregg, Principal Product Manager, EMC Corporation
Dallas/Fort Worth-Kim Stevenson, Vice President, U.S. Communications, Media & Entertainment, Hewlett-Packard Company
Dallas/Fort Worth- Lesley Harris, President, Travelocity Business
New York- Linda Descano, President and Chief Operating Officer, Women & Co./Citi
San Francisco- Jacqueline Akerblom, National Managing Partner of Women's Initiatives and Programs, Grant Thornton
San Francisco- Sharon McCollam, Executive Vice President-COO and CFO, Williams Sonoma Inc.
Washington D.C.- Pamela Parizek, Partner, Forensic Advisory Services, KPMG LLP
ENTREPRENEURIAL
National Winner--At Large- Neale Godfrey, CEO and Chairman, Children's Financial Network
Atlanta- Allison O’Kelly, Founder and CEO, Mom Corps
Chicago- Gail Adinamis, President and CEO, Clinical Resource Network, LLC
Dallas/Fort Worth- Nina Vaca, CEO, Pinnacle Technical Resources
Dallas/Fort Worth- Adrienne Cornelson, President and CEO, Insite Interactive
New York- Heidi Messer, Co-Founder, Linkshare Corporation
San Francisco- Amy McCombs, Corporate Director and Board Member, Digital Media Leader and Entrepreneur
San Francisco- Jory Des Jardins, Co-Founder and President, Strategic Alliance, Blogher
At Large- Christine McInerney, Partner and Commercial Litigator, Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C.
CAREER IN TRANSITION
National Winner--Chicago- Connie Duckworth, President and Chairman Board, Arzu, Inc.
Atlanta- Mary Madden, Consultant and Board of Director
Atlanta- Marjorie Singley-Hall, CEO, Ampersand Associates, Inc.
Boston- Diane Danielson, Founder and CEO, Downtown Women's Club
Dallas/Fort Worth- Lea Nesbit, Principal and Founder, Linqualcare, Inc. (acquired by 3M)
Dallas/Fort Worth- Fritzi Woods, President, PrimeSource Foodservice Equipment
Houston- Jenny Maxwell, CEO, Katy Rehabilitation Hospital
New York- Susan Stautberg, President, PartnerCom Communications
Washington D.C.- Mari Carmen, Executive Consultant and Corporate Director, Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network
At Large- Cheryl Ladd, President, Ladd Research Group
Career highlights, in-depth stories and inspirational quotes from our award winners will be on w2wlink.com all year long. Download a nomination form or application form now for the 2010 Ascendancy Awards or contact w2wlink for further information.