Payment giant, Mastercard has announced the commencement of the third edition of its Women SME Leaders Awards, to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of women-owned and led businesses across Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
According to the company, nominations are now open for the awards, inviting entries from women-owned and operated SMEs with a turnover of less than $13.6m and a workforce of six to 50 employees.
A statement released by the firm announced that all female executives or business owners who have their headquarters or offices in EEMEA or offer their services to those markets can submit their nominations by May 20, 2024.
The winners will be announced on June 6, 2024, during an in-person event in Dubai.
The Executive Vice President of Market Development, EEMEA for Mastercard, Amnah Ajmal, said, “Women-owned and led businesses are vital contributors to the global economy, fostering economic growth and stability.
“By empowering women entrepreneurs and business leaders, we unlock the boundless potential they have and drive inclusive prosperity. The Mastercard Women SME Leaders Awards aim to recognise and celebrate their remarkable contributions.”
According to Mastercard, the awards will feature 15 categories ranging from creative leadership to social impact and a lifetime achievement award.
It noted that shortlisted candidates would be evaluated by an esteemed judging committee of industry leaders dedicated to recognising excellence and innovation in women-owned and led businesses.
The payment company affirmed that the award aligned with its global initiative to connect 25 million women entrepreneurs to the digital economy by 2025.
“These awards underscore the company’s dedication to building a more sustainable and inclusive world, even though this global goal was achieved by Mastercard last year, two years before the target date,” it stated.
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