| NEW YORK—May 27, 2025—On May 20, New York Women in Communications (NYWICI), the premier organization for female communications professionals, honored the 2025 Matrix Awards recipients at a reception and awards ceremony at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan. The sold-out event, which marked the 55th year of the Matrix Awards, drew more than 550 guests to celebrate seven exceptional “Leading Luminaries” lighting the path of success and influencing the future of the communications industry.
Rachel Lindsay, author, attorney, and media personality, best known for making history as the first Black lead on The Bachelorette, emceed this year’s ceremony. Rachel’s infectious personality and graceful presence captivated the audience and inspired attendees to continue showing up for the women in their lives. Her powerful remarks made for a memorable evening for all attendees.
The 2025 honorees joined an esteemed group of past award winners, recognized for their impactful leadership in the communications professions. They were celebrated by a crowd of industry notables, including Alexis Christoforous, Correspondent – ABC News; Tiffany R. Warren, EVP, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Sony Music; Debi Chirichella, President, Hearst Magazines; Sherry Phillips, CEO, Forbes; Rob Reilly, Global Chief Creative Officer, WPP.
“Celebrating our emerald anniversary, the 55th Annual Matrix Awards, was a truly inspiring occasion, spotlighting the extraordinary women who are dynamically shaping the world of communications and media. Our seven honorees, each bringing invaluable perspectives from the film and communications industries, were chosen not solely for their individual triumphs, but for their collective power to ignite positive transformation and for illuminating a brighter path for the leaders of tomorrow,” said Brandi Boatner, President of NYWICI and Global Influencer Marketing, Corporate Affairs at IBM. “I hope every attendee left feeling profoundly empowered to stand firm in their beliefs and to relentlessly showcase what’s possible, pursuing their dreams without hesitation.”
The 2025 NYWICI Matrix Honorees and Presenters include:
- Leslie Berland, EVP, Chief Marketing Officer, Verizon presented by Brad Minor, Chief Marketing Officer, Etsy
- Teneshia Jackson Warner, Founder and CEO of Egami Group presented by Carolyn Hearns, Teneshia’s mother and award-winning special education teacher
- Dustee Jenkins, Chief Public Affairs Officer, Spotify presented by Beatrice York, Founder BY-EQ
- Lucy Kaylin, Editorial Director of Hearst Magazines presented by Michael Sebastian, Editor-in-Chief of Esquire
- Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Writer, Showrunner, Producer presented by Enuma Okoro, Author, Writer, Lecturer, and Curator
- Kristen Welker, Moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press presented by Andrea Mitchell, NBC News Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and Chief Washington Correspondent
- Bellamy Young, Actress and Advocate presented by Tony Goldwyn, Actor, Director, Writer, and Activist
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