Modern superheroes. Why do we need more women's awards for women entrepreneurs?
The first award ceremony of the Ukrainian Business Award Entrepreneur of the Year, organized by Forbes Ukraine, took place on February 10 in Kyiv. Nominees were selected based on the results of a two-stage selection by a panel of seven judges. They assessed the scale, quality, innovation, and other key parameters for modern business.
The winner and the best entrepreneur of Ukraine in 2021 is Oleksandr Konotop (founder and CEO of Ajax Systems); he also won in the Strategic Thinking category. Another 4 nominations were won by other entrepreneurs. Tomasz Fiala (Dragon Capital) received the award for Impeccable Reputation, Oleh Horokhovskyi (monobank) became the first in the Readers' Sympathies rating, and Viacheslav Klimov and Volodymyr Popereshniuk (Nova Poshta) received the award for New Horizons.
And in the Women's Leadership category, special for me and many other women, Kateryna Kostereva (Terrasoft) won a well-deserved victory. As a woman from the business community, I'm especially pleased to realize that women entrepreneurs are actively supported in Ukraine today. And this award is direct proof of that.
Such support is extremely important. And it's not just my opinion, because most of my audience is women. Girls, women, even grandmas listen to me, write to me, share their problems and experiences. And the fear of starting something new, starting a business, is one of the most popular. And the professional community's recognition and support for the realization of women in business, who grow through this and similar awards, show successful examples, and inspire to try new things!
More and more women today find the strength to learn a variety of professions, reach career heights and at the same time, surprisingly, have time to be creative, manage a household and family.
But this is just one of the reasons why such measures are necessary. We need awards and celebrations for women entrepreneurs because it is…
1. Opportunity for national entrepreneurs to express themselves to new audiences and potential investors
Today, Ukrainian business operates in difficult conditions. Problems are pressing from all sides: the unstable economic situation, the conflict in the country's east, the pandemic, and regular lockdowns. In these circumstances, either very desperate or very strong people can build a business. Similar awards, supported by famous partners and sponsors, allow women to express themselves, gain access to a new customer base, demonstrate attractiveness for investment.
2. Promotion of business culture
It is important to celebrate the merits of successful Ukrainian business people and set them as an example for the whole country to stimulate start-up entrepreneurs, those who are just forming the idea of their startup and are afraid to try. Development is possible only when there is no fear of trying something new and opening new doors. And it is always easier to move forward when you have an example of those who have already successfully passed this path.
3. Creating successful national "role models"
Ukrainian children know about Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos. All of them are amazing people and we are inspired by their achievements. But it's so difficult to follow the example of people in different countries and economic realities. When we tell about the successful cases of our entrepreneurs, celebrating their merits, we give our children those stories that they can imitate, the example of which will help people develop their ideas and achieve success.
Ukrainian entrepreneurs are real superheroes. They move towards the goal despite serious obstacles, build new ones, inspire and become an example for the new generation. It's great that today there are such awards as Entrepreneur of the Year, which promote entrepreneurship, create healthy competition and demonstrate cool role models. Moreover, the selection criteria guarantee to get into the TOP only companies with a pronounced social component in the business.
After all, all successful companies are obliged to set a positive example: to develop their social mission and take an active part in charitable projects, and even better, to initiate and promote them. So that together we can make our country better.
