NYWICI and Bloomberg Media Celebrate the Return of the Matrix Awards to NYC with In-Person Private Ceremony at the Iconic Lighthouse at Pier Sixty
Virtual Event to Premiere October 18
NEW YORK, NY — New York Women in Communications (NYWICI), the premier organization for female communications professionals, today announced the honorees for its 2021 Matrix Awards. This year marks the 51st year of the Matrix Awards, which will celebrate the winners on ”Matrix Monday,” September 27 at a private ceremony at the Lighthouse at Pier Sixty in New York City. On October 18, 2021 the Matrix Awards virtual program invites the public to celebrate the honorees.
The 2021 NYWICI Matrix Honorees include:
Yamiche Alcindor, Host of WASHINGTON WEEK, PBS
Awkwafina, Actor
Maggie Haberman, Washington correspondent for The New York Times
Judith Harrison, Executive Vice President, Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Weber Shandwick
Hoda Kotb, Co-anchor, NBC News’ TODAY and co-host, TODAY with Hoda & Jenna
Dawn Ostroff, Chief Content & Advertising Business Officer, Spotify
Amanda Richman, North America CEO, Mindshare
Marisa Thalberg, Executive Vice President, Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Lowe’s
In addition to showcasing the Matrix honorees, NYWICI’s 2021 college scholarship recipients will also be honored at the event. To date, NYWICI has awarded more than $1.7 million in scholarships to support young women and their academic and professional pursuits.
“The 2021 Matrix Awards provide an opportunity to celebrate incredible women who have demonstrated adaptability, innovation and growth during uncertain times, while further driving NYWICI’s mission of uplifting and supporting women across all sectors of the communications industry,” said Ashley Miles, President of NYWICI and Founder & CEO of Franklyn West. “The women we’re honoring this year were chosen due to their ability to successfully lead organizations in the face of adversity, covering the bold stories that matter, and making a significant impact to their organizations and the industry at large.”
The 2021 Matrix Awards will be hosted by Bloomberg Media. Makeout is the 2021 Production Partner.
“The 2021 Matrix Awards Honorees share Bloomberg Media’s spirit of restless innovation and bold-thinking as the past year called for exceptional leadership,” said Anne Kawalerski, Chief Marketing Officer of Bloomberg Media. “We’re honored to host the Matrix Awards again to recognize these inspiring women in the communications industry.”
Since 1971, the Matrix Awards have been held annually as the signature event of NYWICI to celebrate and recognize outstanding women leaders who exemplify excellence, the courage to break boundaries and steadfast commitment to champion the next generation of trailblazers, creatives and communicators. These remarkable women will join a roster of distinguished past Matrix Award recipients such as Gloria Steinem, Toni Morrison, Meryl Streep, Anna Wintour, Nora Ephron, Halle Berry, Geena Davis and Padma Lakshmi, to name a few.
This year, the Matrix Awards will unveil a white paper that will be developed from the NYWICI #WOMENHEARD campaign, a powerful research-driven platform and call-to-action initiative that is addressing the dramatic departure of women from the workforce at an alarming rate due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The #WOMENHEARD initiative is also creating opportunities for women to reclaim their professional and personal roles and encouraging sustainable growth over a lifetime. Through a series of digital symposium events featuring leaders and visionaries in the communications industry as well as the organization’s annual Student Bootcamp, NYWICI’s mission is to empower women in the communications field at every career stage to reach their full potential and navigate the ever-changing landscape of communications. NYWICI promotes professional growth and inspires members to achieve and share success by actively encouraging leadership and professional development, as well as networking opportunities that connect women who connect the world.
2021 marks a return to live events for many, and by embracing a hybrid live/virtual event model, NYWICI hopes to further connect, inform and empower our community of women in the communications industry. With that in mind, NYWICI is monitoring guidance from the CDC, as well as local and state authorities and will take every precaution to protect the health of attendees for the in-person event in September.
In the spirit of inclusiveness, NYWICI is opening access to this year’s virtual Matrix Awards event on October 18 for anyone who would like to attend but asking attendees to donate to the organization when they register. Donations from the Matrix Awards go to support NYWICI operations as well as a full range of scholarships and educational programs for women.
To learn more, register, donate or explore sponsorship opportunities, please visit NYWICI.org.
About New York Women in Communications
New York Women in Communications is dedicated to promoting the highest standards throughout the industry and to providing education and leadership for the next generation. Founded in 1929, the not-for-profit association has more than 2,500 members — from senior executives to students and entrepreneurs to young professionals — representing a variety of communications disciplines. NYWICI’s mission is to support women at all levels of their communications careers, to help define the future of communications and stay ahead of the industry’s ever-changing landscape. The organization’s membership encompasses senior executives and other experienced communicators from a wide range of enterprises, as well as young professionals and students. NYWICI empowers women across communications disciplines to reach their full potential by promoting their professional growth, inspiring them to achieve and share their successes and helping them navigate the evolving and converging world of communications.