PRESS RELEASES

New York Women In Communications Marks 50th Anniversary of the Matrix Awards with Virtual Event Celebrating Top Women in the Communications Industry

Gayle King To Emcee Virtual 50th Anniversary Ceremony on October 12, 2020

Matrix 2020 winnersNEW YORK, NY (August 20, 2020) — Today, New York Women in Communications (NYWICI), the premier organization for female communications professionals, announced the honorees for its 2020 Matrix Awards. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Matrix Awards and will come to life virtually on October 12, 2020 at 12pm ET, emceed by Gayle King, Co-Host of CBS This Morning and Editor-at-Large O, The Oprah Magazine.

The 2020 NYWICI Matrix Honorees include:

  • Carla Hassan, Managing Director, Global Chief Brand Officer, Citi
  • Ann Lewnes, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Adobe
  • Barri Rafferty, Head of Corporate Communications, Wells Fargo
  • Tina Tchen, CEO, TIMES UP Now & TIMES UP Foundation (NYWCI Incite Award Honoree)
  • Carol H. Williams, President, CEO and Chief Creative Officer, Carol H. Williams Advertising
  • Linda Yaccarino, Chairman, Advertising and Partnerships, NBCUniversal
  • Susan Zirinsky, President, CBS News

Since 1971, the Matrix Awards have been given annually to a group of outstanding women leaders who exemplify excellence, the courage to break boundaries and steadfast commitment to champion the next generation of trailblazers, creatives and communicators. They are truly “Women Who Connect the World.” 2020 will be no different.

These remarkable women will join a roster of distinguished past Matrix Award recipients such as Gloria Steinem, Toni Morrison, Meryl Streep, Anna Wintour, Nora Ephron, Halle Berry, Geena Davis and Padma Lakshmi, to name a few.

“Over the last 50 years, the women of NYWICI have led the way in breaking down barriers for other women and supporting the next generation of female leaders. They’ve done it through their personal career triumphs, within the organizations they support and in the world around us through the work that they do,” said Judith Harrison, President, New York Women in Communications and Senior Vice President, Diversity and Inclusion, Weber Shandwick. “The Matrix Awards presented by NYWICI is our moment to honor our industry’s most outstanding leaders and celebrate all the courageous women who have come before them and those who will follow.“

This year’s virtual event will showcase the 2020 class, past Matrix honorees and the 2020 NYWICI Scholarship recipients. It will also look back at the history of how Matrix has supported women’s success and equality in the communications industry spanning entertainment, journalism, digital marketing, advertising and public relations. The 2020 Matrix Awards will be hosted by IPG and is sponsored by NBCUniversal. Makeout is the 2020 Production Partner.

“It is an honor and a privilege for IPG to serve as the lead sponsor for the 50th Annual Matrix Awards. Throughout its history, New York Women in Communications has led the way in the communications industry by celebrating and showcasing women leaders as well as mentoring rising stars,” said Michael Roth, Chairman and CEO of IPG. “We are proud to celebrate with this year’s Matrix Award honorees, scholarship recipients and past winners who have all been part of a diverse organization that supports women in every communications discipline at every stage of their career. ”

In the spirit of inclusiveness, NYWICI is opening access to this event for anyone who would like to attend but asking attendees to donate to the organization when they register. Donations from the Matrix Awards go to support NYWICI operations as well as a full range of scholarships and educational programs for women. To date, NYWICI’s Foundation, the largest for communications scholarships for women in the country, has given more than $1.7 million in scholarships.

To learn more, register, donate or explore sponsorship opportunities, please visit: https://nywici.org/matrix2020/.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Beth Feldman
Beth Feldman Media
E. beyondpr@gmail.com
T: 917-797-8054

Follow Us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NYWICI

Matrix hashtag: #matrix2020

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About New York Women in Communications
New York Women in Communications is dedicated to promoting the highest standards throughout the industry and to providing education and leadership for the next generation. Founded in 1929, the not-for-profit association has more than 2,500 members — from senior executives to students and entrepreneurs to young professionals — representing a variety of communications disciplines. NYWICI’s mission is to support women at all levels of their communications careers, to help define the future of communications and stay ahead of the industry’s ever-changing landscape. The organization’s membership encompasses senior executives and other experienced communicators from a wide range of enterprises, as well as young professionals and students. NYWICI empowers women across communications disciplines to reach their full potential by promoting their professional growth, inspiring them to achieve and share their successes and helping them navigate the evolving and converging world of communications.

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