For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. | March 1, 2021
2021 OWIT AWARD WINNERS
The Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) is pleased to announce the recipients of its annual awards. The awards recognize outstanding contributions to the organization and showcase how the winners leverage their passion and dedication to advance women in international trade and business.
Awards will be presented via Zoom in the Month of May.
2021 Woman of the Year
The Honorable Andrea Jung
Grameen America, President and Chief Executive Officer
Andrea Jung serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Grameen America, the largest and fastest-growing microfinance organization in the United States. The former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Avon Products, Inc., and longtime champion of women’s issues. Ms. Jung was appointed by Grameen’s Founder and Chairman and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus to the position in April 2014.
Founded in 2008, Grameen America is dedicated to addressing financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs, creating economic mobility by providing loan capital, financial education and community support. The organization has invested nearly $2 billion in small businesses owned by women of color across the country.
Ms. Jung, the longest-serving female chief executive in the Fortune 500, is respected as a trailblazer for women. She served as CEO of Avon from 1999 through April 2012, and as Chairman from 2001 through December 2012. As Avon’s first woman CEO and Chairman, Ms. Jung was also the first woman to serve as Chairman of the Cosmetic, Toiletry & Fragrance Association, and as Chairman of the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations.
Ms. Jung is a graduate of Princeton University. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Apple Inc., Unilever, Rockefeller Capital Management, and Wayfair Inc.
Throughout her professional tenure, Ms. Jung ranked consistently among the top leaders on lists including Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women in Business,” Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women in the World,” and the Financial Times’ “Top Women in World Business.”
Member of the Year: Katie (Catherine) Orr
Katie worked the past five years as VP General-Counsel and elevated the governance rules and created an agile framework to grow and adapt OWIT International and its chapters for future needs. Katie is tremendously knowledgeable and considerate about how to create modifications to the regulations that allow the board to respond to developments. A key challenge over the last year was leading OWIT through the website launch over the past year with her fearless leadership. Key challenges she navigated successfully over the last year were ensuring that all legal compliances were met, assuring that the bylaws for all current and prospective chapters were in order, and guaranteeing the successful addition of World Trade Centers as members.. She presents her motivation or hesitation thoughtfully to fellow members and while rigid in her ethical principles, works with non-legal minded members to flexibly problem-solve. She is certainly a role model for being a subject matter expert, with a great amount of patience, who is passionate about the advancement of women in international trade.
Chapter of the Year: Lake Geneva, Switzerland
OWIT Lake Geneva partnered with ITC to offer training and mentorship and several the women reported the experience shifted how they do business and was very impactful. Partnering with SheTrades they conducted a sensitization webinar, which helped women business owners understand the resources and opportunities available on the SheTrades Platform and how they can take advantage of the same to grow their business. These activities increased OWIT’s visibility, furthering our mission of fostering international trade and advancement of women in business.
For Inquiries please contact: secretary@owit.org