Young Entrepreneur Award
Aisha Al Rashed, 31
Founder of a Dubai-based fintech platform serving 120,000 users across the Gulf. Named UAE's Most Promising Young Woman Entrepreneur by Golden Women Awards 2025.
Young Women Excellence Awards 2026
Young Women Awards — Celebrating the Next Generation of Women Leaders
Recognizing bold, brilliant, and breakthrough young women entrepreneurs, innovators, and professionals under 40 who are rewriting the rules of business, leadership, and impact.
Under 40 Category
Under 35 Category
50+ Countries
2026 Nominations Open
The Rising Generation
The Rising Generation of Women Leaders Changing the World
Young women today are not waiting for permission. They are building companies, leading movements, pioneering science, and redefining what leadership looks like at every age.
From 22-year-old founders launching apps used by millions to 38-year-old executives steering divisions of global corporations, the emerging generation of women leaders is more ambitious, more globally connected, and more impact-driven than ever before. The Young Women Awards exist to see them, celebrate them, and amplify the powerful signal their achievements send to every young girl watching: you can lead, you can build, and you can win.
Research from the World Economic Forum confirms that the gender gap in business leadership narrows fastest when young women receive visible recognition early in their careers. The ripple effects of a single young women award — the media coverage, the network access, the investor introductions — can compress what might have been a decade of momentum into a single year. We believe in that acceleration. We invest in it. We celebrate it through the Young Women Awards.
Each year, the Golden Women Awards Young Women category receives nominations from 50+ countries, spanning every industry from deep-tech to sustainable agriculture. Our judges look for ambition with evidence, vision with results, and leadership that lifts others as it rises. If that describes someone you know — or yourself — this is the award for you.
Who Qualifies
Who Qualifies for the Young Women Awards?
Our Young Women Awards are designed to recognize diverse excellence across career stages, industries, and geographies for women aged 40 and under.
Emerging Entrepreneurs (Under 35)
Young women who have founded or co-founded a business within the past seven years and are demonstrating measurable growth, market traction, or social impact. Startups, SMEs, and social enterprises all qualify.
Young Executives (Under 40)
Women under 40 who hold director, VP, C-suite, or senior leadership positions within their organizations and have delivered demonstrable results in team performance, revenue, or strategic transformation.
Young Innovators
Women who have developed, launched, or led breakthrough innovations — whether technology, process, product, or social innovation — that have created measurable positive outcomes in their industry or community.
Rising Professionals
High-potential young women professionals who have demonstrated rapid advancement, exceeded performance expectations, and shown clear leadership potential recognized by peers, managers, or industry bodies.
Young Changemakers
Women driving meaningful social, environmental, or community change — NGO leaders, social entrepreneurs, activists, and community organizers under 40 whose work creates a better world for future generations.
Young Academics & Researchers
Female researchers, scientists, academics, and thought leaders under 40 whose published work, patents, or discoveries contribute to knowledge advancement and industry progress.
Award Sub-Categories
Young Women Award Sub-Categories for 2026
Six specialized recognition tracks ensure that every form of young women's excellence is seen and celebrated.
Young Entrepreneur Award
For women founders under 40 who have built a viable, growing business demonstrating revenue growth, customer acquisition, or market expansion.
Young Leader Award
Recognizes exceptional leadership by women under 40 who inspire teams, shape organizational culture, and deliver transformational results.
Young Innovator Award
Celebrates women who have created breakthrough products, technologies, or methodologies that disrupt existing markets or solve critical problems.
Rising Star Award
For high-potential early-career women who have shown exceptional promise within their first five years in business, science, or professional life.
Young Professional Award
Honors women employees and professionals who consistently exceed expectations and demonstrate the leadership qualities of tomorrow's C-suite.
Young Changemaker Award
For social impact leaders and community champions whose purpose-driven work creates lasting positive change in society and the environment.
Why We Honor Young Women
Why We Honor Young Women Achievers
Recognition at a young age is one of the most powerful catalysts for long-term leadership excellence. It signals to the broader world that youth and gender are never barriers to achievement.
When we honor a 28-year-old fintech founder or a 34-year-old sustainability executive with the Young Women Award, we are not just celebrating that individual — we are broadcasting a message across industries, boardrooms, and classrooms: young women belong at the top, and the top welcomes them. This mentorship effect is measurable. Studies show that when young women see women like them celebrated publicly, their own career ambitions increase significantly, and their perseverance through setbacks strengthens.
Furthermore, the business case is clear. Companies with young women in leadership positions innovate faster, attract stronger talent pipelines, and report higher employee satisfaction scores. Recognizing young women leaders through formal awards programs creates a visible leadership ecosystem that benefits entire economies.
The societal impact extends beyond business. Young women honored through global awards programs frequently go on to become mentors, board members, investors, and policy advocates. Their recognition today plants seeds that grow into systemic change for the next generation. That is why the Young Women Awards are not just an award — they are an investment in the future.
See Our Past Winners
Eligibility Criteria
Age Criteria & Eligibility Requirements
Age Requirements
Nominees must be 40 years of age or under at the time of nomination submission. The Under 35 sub-categories require nominees to be 35 years of age or under. Age is verified through documentation submitted during the nomination review process.
Geographic Eligibility
The Young Women Awards accept nominations from women based in any of our 50+ eligible countries. There is no geographic restriction. Women from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UK, USA, Australia, and all other participating nations are equally welcome.
Professional Standing
Nominees must be actively engaged in their field at the time of nomination — whether as a business owner, employee, freelance professional, academic, or social enterprise leader. Nominees must have been active for at least one year.
Verifiable Achievements
All nominated achievements must be verifiable. Nominations should include references to published media, business records, academic publications, or other third-party evidence of impact. Our judging panel prioritizes evidence-based nominations.
Self or Third-Party Nomination
Young women may self-nominate or be nominated by an employer, colleague, mentor, family member, or community organization. Both nomination types are equally weighted in our judging process.
Industry & Sector
All industries and sectors qualify — technology, finance, healthcare, education, retail, manufacturing, sustainability, arts, media, hospitality, government, NGOs, and more. Excellence is recognized regardless of the field in which it occurs.
Winner Spotlights
Young Women Award Winners — Success Profiles
Meet some of the extraordinary young women who have been honored through the Golden Women Awards Young Women category.
Rising Star Award
Mei Lin Chen, 27
Singapore-based sustainability innovator whose eco-packaging startup eliminated 2 million single-use plastics from Southeast Asian supply chains within 18 months of launch.
Young Innovator Award
Dr. Fatima Hassan, 33
Saudi Arabia's leading AI healthcare innovator whose diagnostic algorithm is now used in 45 hospitals across the Middle East, improving early cancer detection rates by 34%.
Young Changemaker Award
Amara Osei, 29
Founder of an edtech NGO that has delivered digital learning tools to 85,000 students in under-resourced communities across West Africa, recognized as a Global Changemaker.
Young Women in Business
Statistics on Young Women in Business and Entrepreneurship
42% of Global Entrepreneurs
Women under 40 now represent 42% of all new entrepreneurs globally, up from 28% a decade ago.
$1.8 Trillion Economic Impact
Women-led businesses under 40 contribute an estimated $1.8 trillion to the global economy annually.
3x Higher Survival Rate
Startups led by women under 35 have a 3x higher five-year survival rate than industry averages.
68% Report Funding Challenges
68% of young women entrepreneurs cite access to capital as their primary challenge — awards help bridge this credibility gap.
Award Winners Secure 2x More Partnerships
Young women award recipients report securing twice as many strategic partnerships within 12 months of their recognition.
85% Report Increased Confidence
85% of Young Women Award recipients report a significant increase in professional confidence and willingness to seek larger opportunities.
Application Tips
Tips for Young Women Applying for Their First Award
Applying for an award for the first time can feel intimidating. These tips from past Young Women Award winners will help you submit a confident, compelling nomination.
Own Your Achievements
Young women frequently undersell themselves in nominations. Write about your impact in concrete, specific, and confident terms. If you grew revenue by 200%, say so. If you led a team of 30, say so. Facts are your friends.
Quantify Everything You Can
Judges respond to numbers. Instead of "grew the business significantly," write "increased annual recurring revenue from $200K to $1.2M in 18 months." Specificity demonstrates credibility and impact.
Tell Your Story
Our judges are human beings looking for inspiration. Share the challenges you overcame, the pivots you made, and the "why" behind your work. A compelling narrative alongside strong metrics creates an unforgettable nomination.
Choose the Right Category
Read all six Young Women Award sub-categories carefully before choosing. Selecting the category where your achievements are strongest dramatically increases your chances of recognition. You may qualify for more than one.
Gather Evidence Early
Collect testimonials, media coverage links, revenue records, team size documentation, and any other supporting evidence before you begin writing. Strong nominations are supported by multiple independent sources.
Review the Judging Criteria
Read our judging criteria page thoroughly and ensure your nomination explicitly addresses each of the seven evaluation criteria. Mirror the language of the criteria in your responses where natural and authentic.
Winner Testimonials
What Young Award Winners Say
Hear from rising stars recognised at Golden Tree Awards ceremonies around the world.
Sophie Blondel — The H Dubai
International GM Awards · Dubai (UAE)
La Perla SPA
International Spa & Beauty Awards · Dubai (UAE)
Beauty Escape London
International Spa & Beauty Awards · London, UK
Gurnoor Bindra — Marriott International
World GM Awards · Dubai (UAE)
Nadia Nassar — Hilton Garden Inn Dubai
International GM Awards · Dubai (UAE)
Know a Remarkable Young Woman? Nominate Her Today.
The Young Women Awards exist to celebrate extraordinary achievement before the world fully wakes up to it. If you know a young woman who leads with brilliance, builds with purpose, or innovates with courage — she deserves this recognition. Nominate her today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Young Women Awards — Frequently Asked Questions
Our primary Young Women Awards category is open to women aged 40 and under at the time of nomination. We have dedicated sub-categories for women under 35, recognizing both early-career rising stars and established young professionals making a significant impact. Age is verified through documentation submitted during review.
The Young Women Awards are specifically designed for women aged 40 and under. However, women over 40 are warmly encouraged to apply for our full range of Women Awards, Women Leadership Awards, Women Entrepreneur Awards, and many other categories that celebrate excellence at every career stage.
All industries are welcome. We honor young women leaders in technology, finance, healthcare, education, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, social enterprise, arts and media, sustainability, and beyond. If a young woman is creating impact in her field, she is eligible. See our award categories page for a full industry list.
No. You do not need to own a business. Our Young Women Awards include categories for young professionals, young executives, rising stars, and young employees who demonstrate exceptional leadership potential and achievement within their organizations or communities. The Young Professional Award and Rising Star Award are specifically designed for non-founders.
Visit our nomination portal, select the appropriate Young Women Award category, and complete the nomination form with detailed information about her achievements, impact, and leadership story. Read our nomination guide for step-by-step instructions. Both self-nominations and third-party nominations are accepted.
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2026 Nominations Are Open
The World Is Ready to See Young Women Lead
The Golden Women Awards Young Women category is your platform to gain global recognition before your career has even reached its peak. Whether you are 23 and just launched your first product, or 38 and leading a team of hundreds — your story of early excellence belongs in our winners directory.
Applications for the 2026 Young Women Awards are now open. Nomination spots are limited. Submit your application today and join the most celebrated community of young women leaders in the world.