Over 400 winners, sponsors, judges and guests attended the fifth Rising Star Awards and enjoyed a sparkling reception, a three-course meal and fine wine. Guests also had the opportunity to network with an array of inspiring attendees including 14-year-old, Royal Marines cadet, Bea Jackson; Dr Shola Mos-Shognamimu, Lawyer, Founder of Women in Leadership Publication; Political & Women’s rights activist; Paul Sesay, CEO & Founder, The Inclusive Companies and The National Diversity Awards; and Helene Reardon-Bond OBE, Former Director of the Government Equalities Office and international gender pay gap expert, amongst many others.
Now in their fifth year, the awards are the first to focus on the UK’s female talent pipeline below management level. Through these awards, we celebrate 100 individual female contributors that represent the leaders and role models of tomorrow. WeAreTheCity hope that by raising the profile of our shortlist and winners, we will encourage organisations to consider how they strengthen the development of their female pipeline for the future.
The awards were entered by over 1,250 individuals and were judged by a panel of 54 independent judges. Over 35,000 public votes of support were received for the 200 shortlisted nominees across 115 countries.
