The International Women Board of Directors (IWBD) – which is an initiative of On Board Women dedicated to bolstering women leaders in the boardroom and championing gender equality and female leadership on a global scale – has officially launched the IWBD Courage Awards 2026.
The IWBD Courage Awards is designed to encourage purpose-driven women leaders on their potential to ignite change, make a new move and accelerate their leadership board journeys.
The awards build on the theme of the upcoming IWBD Women in the Boardroom Annual Summit 2026, which is courage. In its official guidance for the awards, the IWBD stated that it chose the theme of courage because it is perceived as the spark that turns wisdom into momentum, and turns collective dialogue into tangible results in the boardroom.
“IWBD is built on passion and strong values. When the foundation is so authentic and purpose-driven, it shines through in everything the platform does,” said Sevgi Gur, Chief Marketing Officer, Property Finder.
Dina Amin, Chief Marketing Officer – Middle East, Africa, Russia and Turkey, Google Cloud, added, “I’ve truly enjoyed being a part of IWBD. The ability to connect with a diverse group of leaders in a flexible format makes our meetings incredibly insightful.”
Categories for the IWBD Courage Awards 2026
The IWBD Courage Awards – which are free to enter this year – is inviting women leaders who shape decisions, culture and leadership futures – as well as the organisations who stand behind them the opportunity to submit applications across the following categories:
- Care Award: Recognises initiatives that place people, wellbeing, and belonging at the centre of leadership culture. This category looks for courageous actions that protect, support, and uplift women across career stages. Projects should show how care has strengthened trust, retention, and leadership readiness.
- Growth Award: Celebrates programs that actively expand women’s leadership potential and future board pipelines. This award seeks courageous investments in development, sponsorship, and advancement pathways. Submissions should demonstrate measurable growth in women’s progression and influence.
- Power Award: Honours initiatives that enable women to step into real decision-making authority. This category looks for courage in opening access to leadership tables, power figures, and strategic roles. Projects should show how women are trusted to shape business direction and outcomes.
- Women in Tech Award: Recognises bold efforts that position women at the forefront of technology, data, and digital leadership. This category celebrates courage in removing barriers and accelerating women into key roles through the power of tech and innovation. Submissions should show impact on visibility, advancement, and representation in leadership.
- Leadership Award: Honours leadership programmes that build confidence, presence, and boardroom readiness. This category seeks courageous approaches that prepare women for senior and board-level influence. Projects should demonstrate how women are supported to step forward and lead with power.
- Purpose Award: Recognises initiatives driven by purpose that improve lives, communities, and future generations. This category looks for courage in aligning leadership actions with values and long-term responsibility. Submissions should show meaningful social or environmental impact led by women leaders.
- Courage Award: Honours a leadership story where courage changed a path, opened doors, or redefined what leadership looks like. Submissions should share a powerful moment, decision, or movement that created lasting impact for women in leadership. It can be a campaign or a leader.
- Positive Leader Award: Celebrates leaders who uplift, encourage, and build belief in others. This category recognises courage in choosing kindness, clarity, and integrity in leadership. Submissions should show how positive leadership culture has strengthened teams and future women leaders.
- Inspire Award: Honours initiatives that spark belief, confidence, and ambition in women. This category looks for courage in visibility, storytelling, and role modelling. Submissions should demonstrate how women inspire others to step into leadership through leading by example.
- Impact Award: Recognises initiatives that deliver measurable and lasting change. This category looks for courageous leadership that turns intention into tangible outcomes. Submissions should clearly show results, influence, and leadership progress.
The deadline for the complimentary applications are set at: 13 February 2026. The questions and materials required as part of the entry include a brief story, campaign visuals and videos, and a submission to a specific category with a clear case being made for why the submission is fit for that category.
“The IWBD Courage Awards honour women who dared first — and the organisations that stood behind them. They are designed to spotlight purpose-driven leadership, bold choices, resilience, authenticity, and the courage to step into new territory — especially in moments where the outcome wasn’t guaranteed,” said Ebru Tuygun, Chief Executive Officer, GVGL.
“What sets IWBD apart is its unwavering focus on action and measurable impact. It doesn’t just talk about change, it drives it,” added Terry Kane, Regional Managing Director – Middle East and Africa, The Trade Desk.
The winners will be recognised at a formal awards ceremony on 11 March 2026 at Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah.
