The Quiet Trailblazers: Behind the Scenes of the Trailblazer Awards
As I walk through the doors of the Forbes on Fifth event space in Greenwich Village, I become immersed in the energy in the room. Volunteers are setting up name cards, event staff are making last-minute adjustments, and there’s a hum of anticipation in the air. Guests are starting to arrive and chatting with familiar people.
Sticking with the theme of the night, I look around at both familiar and unfamiliar faces. I begin to think about what it means to be a trailblazer in 2025. As I spoke to those around me, I could not come to a single conclusion. I realized that there are so many types of trailblazers. As NYWICI President, Brandi Boatner stated best, “The 2025 Trailblazer Awards celebrate the women who don’t wait for green lights or permission—they are bold visionaries who often bring others along the journey with them as they achieve excellence.”
While the purpose of the NYWICI Trailblazer Awards is to recognize up-and-coming professionals as Brandi mentioned who are on the rise to great things, there is also a type of trailblazer that often goes unrecognized. They blend into the background, pulling strings and ensuring everything runs seamlessly. These women may not be on stage accepting awards, but without them, the celebration wouldn’t be possible. They are the quiet trailblazers – women whose work behind the scenes helps other women shine.
Building the Foundation
The first person I met was Renee Obester, Facilities Director for the event space. Despite her tendency to downplay her role, she is integral to the evening’s success. She oversees the calendar for the space, hires staff and bartenders, coordinates with the kitchen, and acts as the liaison between Forbes, the talent, and the client. On event day, she stays late to ensure everything runs smoothly for a crowd of up to 200 people. Renee’s work may be quiet, but without her, there would be no stage for honorees to stand on.
Nearby, I spot Donna-Jean Plante, clipboard in hand. She is the architect of the night. A trailblazer in her own right, Donna-Jean starts planning six months before the first light hits the stage. She collaborates with committees to identify honorees, shape the program, and ensure the evening reflects the values and mission of NYWICI.
“In many ways, my role was to be a connector—bringing together the right people, resources, and ideas to make the event not only successful but also meaningful for our community,” Donna-Jean explains.
On event day, she is everywhere at once: checking in with staff, coordinating media, and smoothing last-minute details. “Every detail matters—each decision contributes to creating a powerful and memorable experience for the honorees and attendees.”
The Vision Behind the Awards
In 2024, Laura Brusca, then CCO of Forbes and that year’s NYWICI President, reintroduced the NYWICI Trailblazer Awards with the intention of recognizing women on the rise. This stage is often under-recognized, despite its significant role in shaping industries and careers.
“When I stepped into my presidency, I wanted to highlight not only young leaders but also women who are under-recognized in the industry – women on the cusp of breaking through,” she shares.
For Laura, mentorship is the heart of the NYWICI Trailblazer Awards. “You’re more successful when people support you in your career. That’s why mentorship is at the heart of the Trailblazers.”
“Everyone needs their hype women (and men) – the people who encourage you to push past limits, try things that scare you, and believe in yourself. Those defining moments are what move careers forward. That’s what we’re celebrating here.”
Voices from the Room
As I move through the space, I strike up a conversation with Laura, one of the bartenders preparing glassware. She has been a bartender (and a certified mixologist) for decades and has worked countless events at Forbes, but this night feels different.
“Forbes has all types of events here – many celebrated by men. Tonight, it’s the women taking over, which is a pleasure to see,” She states.
Reflecting on her own career path, she explains how, “For me as a woman, it was hard competing with men, as even 10 years ago, it was mostly men behind the bar and men drinking. Now, you see more women working as bartenders. Then after the pandemic, everyone thought they could bartend, so I decided to go back to school to get certified as a mixologist – I wanted to take on real responsibility.”
“Sometimes men aren’t prepared, but women are. Whatever challenges we face, we prepare ourselves – going to school, knowing what we want, and aiming high. That’s something you don’t really learn in school – it’s life.”
At the end of the day, being a trailblazer also means being grateful for the current moment, “Being here in New York City, on Fifth Avenue, it’s huge. You have to stop and remember where you came from, the steps you’ve already taken. That motivates you to go further.”
Her story mirrors the resilience celebrated on stage: preparation, persistence, pride in the steps already taken.
The Supportive Work
While other trailblazers work behind the scenes to help others shine, another equally essential trailblazer is the one who reports and highlights the hard work of the visible trailblazers being honored that night. Photographers crouch to capture the perfect shot, reporters rush to gather quotes, and technicians check the sound levels to make sure every word is heard. They make sure the honorees are listened to – literally. Without sound, there is no celebration. The media’s dedication is so palpable that I didn’t want to disrupt their flow for this article.
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Whether organizing, supporting, reporting, or nominating, all of these women are trailblazers in their own right. By paving new paths and lifting others, they embody the same values being honored on stage. As the evening unfolds and honorees take the stage, it’s impossible not to think about the women behind the curtain who made it all possible. From facilities managers to bartenders, from sound technicians to committee chairs, these quiet trailblazers are holding the light steady so others can shine.
At the end of the day, Beth Feldman, NYWICI’s 2026 President-elect, offers advice to current and future trailblazers: for any trailblazer, rejection or “no” cannot be the end. “You have to find ways to break through and make your dreams happen.”
