The Tamesis
On a recent evening, entrepreneurs, artists and visionaries gathered at the Perelman Center for the Performing Arts in lower Manhattan to celebrate the extraordinary women working to create generational change. It’s also a change of scenery—Vital Voices Global Partnership is moving its annual awards ceremony from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to PAC NYC for the first time, now in its 24th year.
Attendees included the organization’s co-founder and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Huma Abedin, Diane von Furstenberg, Sophia Bush, Ashlyn Harris, Michelle Rodriguez, Nicole Ali Parker, Julia Fox, Stacey Bendette and Abby Phillip.
Guests gathered upstairs with glasses of chilled champagne in hand and were welcomed by Alyse Nelson, President and CEO of Vital Voices Global Partners. “Tonight, we celebrate not only the incredible female leaders in whom we have invested, but also women of immense power and influence. These women are not only trailblazers and icons, but are respected for what they have done with the power at their disposal.”
The Vital Voices global partnership champions leaders who are committed to making a positive impact for gender equality locally and internationally. Founded in 1997, the organization is known as Venture Catalyst because they invest in women pursuing the goals of strong leadership, unity and lasting change. As he exited the stage, Nelson urged: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you’re too young to change the world or that your ideas are impossible.”
Tycoon and marketing executive Bozoma St. John is also an advocate for empowering young women. Dressed in a shimmering gold floor-length gown, the proud “girl mom” and host of the night strutted onto the stage to continue the show.
That night, Diane von Furstenberg also paid tribute to the late Susan Wojcicki. Her old friend and former CEO of YouTube. Susan’s mother, Esther Wojcicki, proudly presented the Susan Wojcicki Technology Impact Award to Block Party’s Tracy Chou and Seyi Akiwowo for their progress in maintaining cybersecurity.
This year’s Icon Award winner, former professional racing driver Susie Wolff, discusses being a woman in the sport, ongoing misunderstandings about gender and management initiatives such as Dare to Be Different and the F1 Academy. “I think people still think it’s a male-dominated environment and I want to give back to the sport that has given me so much,” Wolff told Fashion. “I want to inspire the next generation of young women to prove they have a place in this sport.”
The evening concluded with women’s rights activist Shirin Musa and environmental advocate Farwiza Farhan receiving the Global Leadership Award, and NBCUniversal executive Donna Langley receiving the Trailblazer Award. When asked about valuable lessons she has found helpful throughout her career, Langley told Fashion: “I learned early on what it means to recognize and understand your value, and when you project your value, others will recognize it. That value can be applied at any level in your career.” At the end of the program, Rodham Clinton gave his final thanks to the honorees, and each presenter, honoree and board member returned to the stage.
Guests then enjoyed dessert on the suede lounge sofa downstairs to celebrate the $250,000 raised that night to further Vital Voices’ global equity mission.
