#empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards 2026 – recognizing equity champions in the AI economy

SEATTLE, WA: In a significant move to bridge gender gaps in the tech landscape, the Seattle-based community-led economic development organization Women in Cloud (WIC) has announced its sixth annual #empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards, culminating in a glittering ceremony on 17 July 2026 in Bellevue, WA, USA.

The premier platform is designed to unlock visibility, distribution networks and strategic partnership access for diverse tech leaders. In collaboration with industry giants like Microsoft, Accenture, EY, Ntegral and Adaptiva, the initiative honors innovators, entrepreneurs, executives and allies who are building equitable corporate pipelines and driving inclusive economic growth.

eShe is proud to be media partner for the event, and community partner for WIC.

This year’s editions of the #empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards focus heavily on two of the world’s most influential innovation ecosystems, US and India, expanding WIC’s reach to recognize leaders shaping the global AI economy.

The 2026 awards feature 10 distinct categories designed to celebrate multi-faceted leadership. Key honors include the Trailblazer Leadership Award, for women accelerating AI and workforce innovation; the Women Tech Entrepreneur of the Year Award, honoring visionary founders; and the Wellness Innovation of the Year, highlighting high-impact FemTech ventures.

Crucially, categories like Ally of the Year and Mentor of the Year emphasize that building equity requires an entire community.

Nominations are free of cost and open to women and allies from over 100 countries. Winners will be inducted into the prestigious WIC Awards Hall of Fame and receive a comprehensive visibility package, including dedicated press coverage, social-media spotlights, professional video interviews and VIP speaking opportunities, alongside tickets to the exclusive regional gala.

The awards gala celebration dinner will be held on 17 July 2026, at Hilton Hotel, Bellevue, Washington. Book your seat here.

The initiative builds on a legacy of advocacy by WIC, which has so far unlocked $600 million in documented economic access for a community of 150,000 women across 120 countries.

WIC’s ecosystem extends into powerhouse founder-focused initiatives engineered to secure women a definitive stake in the trillion-dollar AI economy. Chief among these is the #FoundHerWorld global campaign, an economic engine amplifying female voices to an audience of over 10 million.

Central to this massive mobilization is Women in Cloud’s core mission: unlocking $1 billion in economic opportunity for women in technology by 2030. Backed by its WICxPartners network, the organization addresses a critical hurdle identified in its 2026 State of the Economic Access Report—the “hidden access problem”.

While 92 percent of tech professionals note that skills and credentials are highly visible, a mere 10 percent feel corporate pathways to actual jobs are clear. By transforming corporate underwriting into actionable community solutions, WIC bridges this gap.

Through regular programs run in collaboration with major enterprise partners, WIC’s aim is to build a system where a woman’s tech skills directly translate into a steady paycheck and real business growth, rather than getting lost in corporate red tape and AI procurement systems that are already showing evidence of gender bias.

In an environment when just 2 percent of venture-capital funding goes to women founders, WIC is pushing big tech companies to stop just talking about diversity on paper and start backing it up with real jobs and funding. And by creating ecosystems of support and allyship within and outside the tech industry, it is ensuring that women are systematically positioned for financial power and inclusion in an AI-driven economy.

Click here to know more about Women in Cloud.

Click here to book a seat at the #empowHERaccess Global Prestige Awards 2026 in Seattle on 17 July 2026.