Abie Awards
Our Abie Awards honor these distinguished leaders, whose achievements and life stories demonstrate that all of us have the power to improve our world, individually and collectively. We are seeking notable innovators of technology and technical civic leaders to elevate through our Abie Award program.
Abie Award Winners will be announced at Grace Hopper Celebration 2025, Nov 4-7.
Apply for a Chance to Win
Award at GHC
The recipient is honored at Grace Hopper Celebration and invited to the Abie Award Ceremony on the Mainstage at GHC.
Speak at GHC
The award winner will also have a few speaking engagements throughout GHC on their work and accomplishments.
Trip to GHC
Trip to GHC (Includes lodging, GHC registration, and a stipend for travel and expenses during the event)
Prize Money (ONLY Technical Leadership)
Additionally, Abie Award winners will receive $15,000.
Selection Criteria
The Emerging Technologist Abie Award highlights the creative ways women in tech confront problems and seek solutions. Nominees are early to mid-career women in the first 10 years of their technical career. Nominees are evaluated on the following:
High-impact Technology Initiatives:
The nominee has developed a breakthrough product, service, strategy, or business model that has had a transformative effect on their organization. They use their technical skills to revolutionize the industry, nonprofits, or government agencies.
Impact on the Community:
The nominee has leveraged their leadership to increase women’s impact, representation, and effectiveness in technology. They mentor, motivate, and lift up other women as they progress in their career.
Recognized Role Model:
The nominee is recognized as a role model, formally or otherwise. They are sought out as a speaker in their area of expertise or have established their influence on their industry through patents and/or publications.
The Technology Entrepreneurship Abie Award recognizes a woman in tech who is the builder of an innovative and game-changing technology venture startup (within a larger organization or not).
Established Track Record:
The nominee has demonstrated exemplary leadership traits by starting and operating a new business, turning technologies into viable startups, transforming markets, and creating change. They motivate employees, team members, and have a tangible record of accomplishment to show it.
Impact on the Community:
The nominee has deliberately acted to increase women’s impact, representation, and effectiveness in technology. They are working to support and develop the next generation of powerful entrepreneurs.
Recognized Role Model:
The nominee is recognized as a role model by their community or more broadly. They may have been recognized formally or not.
Abie Award Application Timeline
April 14
General applications open.
May 28
General applications due by 11:59 pm PT.
July 30
Finalist decisions start rolling out.
Meet Our Past Winners
Kathy Pham
2024 Technical Leadership Abie Awards Winner
Noreen Hecmanczuk
2024 Tech in Government Abie Award Winner
Ange Cynthia Umuhire
2023 Student of Vision Abie Award Winner
Carlotta Berry
2023 Educational Innovation Abie Award Winner
Eva Esteban Velasco
2023 Emerging Technology Abie Award Winner
Margaret Burnett
2023 Technical Leadership Abie Award Winner
Renata Spinks
2023 Government in Tech Abie Award Winner
Esther Kumali
2023 Social Impact Abie Award Winner
Everything You Need to Know
Can I nominate myself for an award?
Yes, nominees are able to nominate themselves for an award.
Can I nominate someone for my own company?
Yes, you can nominate someone from your own company for an Abie Award.
Do I have to work with someone to nominate them for an award?
No, you do not have to currently work with an individual to nominate that person for an Abie Award. Nominators should be able to provide information on the nominee’s body of work but do not have to have the same employer. We encourage Nominators to nominate mentors, mentees, industry peers, etc.
Can I nominate a group for one award?
No, all Abie Awards are currently for individuals.
Can I nominate more than one person for the awards?
Nominators can submit multiple nominations for the same award, as well as submit nominations to more than one award. However, we encourage submitting thorough nominations over multiple nominations (quality over quantity).
Can I participate if I’m under 18 years old?
Nominees must be 18 years of age or older by the start of the annual Grace Hopper Celebration that the award they are applying for will be presented at. To be eligible for the 2025 Abie Awards, nominees must turn 18 years old no later than November 4, 2025.
Can I participate if I work/study outside of the U.S.?
We welcome and encourage submissions from outside of the United States for all awards.
Do Abie Award Nominees have to speak English?
Nominee must speak English fluently enough to deliver an acceptance speech, and all nomination forms must be submitted in English.
Can I save my Nomination Form if I can’t complete it?
Yes, you can save and revisit the form as frequently as you need until 11:59 pm PT, May 28.
How long does it take to complete the NominationForm?
We recommend you get started early on the nomination form because it is not something you can leave until the last minute to complete. The average nomination process takes 1-2 days.
What information is required to submit?
Below are the requirements for all Abie Award nominations:
- Nominee’s full name, email address, organization, and job title.
- A description of the nominee and their work (maximum of 500 words)
Please note: There may be additional information needed that is unique to a specific Abie Award. Please read the nomination form closely to see what is required.
Is there a cash prize for receiving an Abie Award?
Each Abie Award honor includes a cash prize. In 2025,the Abie Award cash prizewill be $15,000.
Are Abie Award Winners required to attend GHC?
Abie Award Winners are required to attend GHC. All Abie Award Winners are presented their awards on the mainstage at the conference and must be physically present.
How are Abie Award Winners selected?
AnitaB.org staff and board members review the nominations and select a winner based on the award’s individual set of criteria.
How will I know my nomination was selected as an Abie Award Winner?
AnitaB.org will contact the nominator and nominee via email to share the good news.