With the aptly named Luminary Awards, Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce is putting a spotlight on local women in business.
“As women, we really know the power of women supporting women, but also how important it is to give back and inspire the younger generation,” says Sarah Budd, outgoing president and CEO of Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.
Open to women and those who identify as women in the city and county of Peterborough, the awards celebrate the achievements of those who shape and inspire the community, whether from leadership positions or from behind the scenes. With five categories, the inaugural Luminary Awards are open for nominations until Friday, January 17th.
Budd wanted to introduce awards for women in business since before she began leading the chamber two years ago. Between learning about other chambers of commerce hosting similar initiatives and seeing how connections are formed between women at the Women’s Business Network of Peterborough, it’s a project that has always been in the back of her mind.
“I really benefited from mentorships early on in my career, and just being around a bunch of other women,” Budd says, noting how eagerly community members seemed to want an award like this. “As soon as we started talking it up, we knew we were on to something.”
When asked why she thinks it resonated so much with community members, chamber vice chair Susan Dunkley referred to the collection of portraits of past chamber chairs that hung in the chamber’s board room until about a year and a half ago. Save for three, all the photos — covering upwards of 130 years — were of men.
“I think that’s why people are excited, because it has always been about the men,” Dunkley explains. “That’s not to say men don’t deserve it, but there have been women who have been doing amazing things for years but not being recognized. Right now, there’s some really amazing women coming to the forefront and shining a light on all the rest of us.”
Including one award specifically for a “barrier-buster employee,” all the Luminary Awards are intended to recognize the added barriers that women in business face compared to their male counterparts. Dunkley points out that women, while managing their own careers, are also more likely to be the ones who manage their families by keeping track of appointments and kids’ schedules.
“You’re trying to do that and run a business and that’s a huge barrier, because I do not feel we equally share responsibility of home life,” she says, noting other barriers in the workplace like gender disparity and pay gaps.
“I would never give up my being a mom and being a grandmother — they’re the most important things in the world to me,” Dunkley says. “My businesses is also super important — my clients all mean the world to me — but my kids and being a mom, that’s my number one job and that should not diminish me as a business woman in any way, and yet it does.”
For her part, Budd says that because so many men are in leadership positions, this influences how women feel they are expected to act in the workplace to move up the career ladder.
As an example, she recalls a story she recently heard about a woman in business feeling she had to order a hamburger and beer instead of the salad and wine she preferred while at a lunch meeting so as to “fit in” among her male colleagues.
“If there were more of us that were at the top, there would be more salads around the table as well as hamburgers,” Budd laughs. “Neither is wrong, it’s just that we feel we have to assimilate and become more male. That wouldn’t be the way if we had more female role models.”
While the Luminary Awards will certainly shine a light on female business leaders in the community, Budd notes it’s also essential to recognize those women who are behind the scenes as with the “One to Watch – Employee” award.
“Not everyone’s going to run their own business or be the CEO, so it’s really important to recognize and to be inspired by those that lead from behind as well,” she says.
“I know so many women that I’ve worked with over the years that are not going to be the CEO, but we would not have been able to accomplish what we did without them. Those stories need to be told.”
The Luminary Awards will also honour those women in business who have built a legacy in the community and have guided others, while also recognizing emerging entrepreneurs.
“It’s really important that we have the full circle, and it’s not just about the new and under 40,” says Dunkley. “It shouldn’t be focused on one thing — it should be the whole gamut.”
“I think everybody that is a female that is pretty successful will say they remember women in their lives that they aspired to be,” Budd adds. “They inspired them to think they could do that, too, and that’s what the Luminary Awards is all about.”
While people can certainly submit nominations on behalf of a friend or co-worker, Budd and Dunkley notes that self-nominating ensures that everything on a woman’s resume will be included in the nomination.
“We definitely want to encourage women to toot their own horns — that’s the whole point of this,” says Budd.
“We want them to be proud of their accomplishments and we want to celebrate them for those accomplishments, so whether they’re nominated by their peers or they nominate themselves, that’s great.”
Having both received their own share of awards and accolades, Budd and Dunkley note that the Luminary Awards are not just great marketing opportunities for nominees to gain more traction in their business, but the recognition is significant for their own sense of self-worth.
“Anytime you win an award, it really does make you step back and see that what you do everyday matters,” Budd explains. “Sometimes we just really need that pat on the back because often, as women, we are our harshest critics.”
“Because we do that balancing act between kids and family and business, many women aren’t sure if we’re giving enough or giving too much. It’s honestly immeasurable to get that validation from the public and from your peers. I’m sure it will inspire them to want to do even more, or become mentors themselves.”
An awards luncheon for the Luminary Awards will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 8th in the Great Hall at Trent University’s Champlain College, featuring networking, keynote speakers, and a celebration of the award recipients.
“It’s good to be excited about everybody, but I feel that it is time for us to be excited in particular about women,” says Dunkley.
Visit www.luminaryawards.ca for the list of award categories and to submit a nomination by Friday, January 17th. You can also purchase tickets for the awards luncheon, with an early bird price of $75. Table sponsorships, which include eight tickets, are available for $1,000.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be the presenting media sponsor of the Luminary Awards.
