Back in the Matrix: A Scholarship Alum’s Return to the Most Glamorous Day in Communications
I’ll be honest with you—when I got the news back in 2021 that I’d been awarded a New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) scholarship, my first thought wasn’t about networking or career growth or even the life-changing opportunities ahead.
Nope. My first thought was: “What am I going to wear to the Matrix Awards?”
(And honestly? Still a valid concern.)
This year, I returned to the 2025 Matrix Awards, and I was hit with that same old rush: the nerves, the excitement, and the “do-I-have-the-right-shoes?” feeling. It was all still there—and it felt amazing.
I was lucky to receive the NYWICI scholarship twice, in 2021 and 2022, and attending the Matrix Awards back then was nothing short of surreal. The room sparkled with leaders from every corner of the communications world—media, journalism, PR, tech, marketing—you name it. It was intimidating, inspiring, and exciting all at once. I remember looking around, wide-eyed, thinking, Wow. These are the people shaping the future of communication—and somehow, I’m in the same room.
Being in the same place with these leading women in communication—and feeling that buzz of celebration, admiration, and hope—was a reminder of what NYWICI stands for: empowering women’s voices and celebrating their career journey.
And speaking of full-circle moments…
✨ After two years of “mom mode,” I finally got to wear a cocktail dress again! It may sound small, but for me, it marked a big moment of returning to myself.
📸 I even got a chance to snap a picture with Bellamy Young (yes, Mellie Grant from Scandal) and somehow kept it cool. On the outside, anyway.
📝 I even walked away with a referral for a journalism fellowship I’d applied to—one of those serendipitous Matrix moments you just can’t plan for.
But beyond the star-studded stage and career moments, what moved me the most was the sense of community. I reconnected with fellow scholarship recipients, met renowned journalists, and ran into people I hadn’t seen since before my maternity break. It was a night full of hugs, laughter, and the kind of conversations that fill your cup.
That’s what makes the Matrix Awards so special. The vibe doesn’t change. It’s still that sparkly, energizing, “pinch-me-is-this-real” kind of event. It’s a room full of people who believe in the power of communication—and in lifting up the next generation. This year, attending as an alumna of the program, I watched the new scholarship winners take it all in—the bright lights, the stage, the applause—and I could feel their butterflies like they were my own. It was like time travel. Only with better shoes.
The energy in the room hasn’t faded. Everyone’s still just as eager to connect, celebrate, and uplift each other. It’s one of the few spaces where you can be completely starstruck, professionally inspired, and also have a really great dessert—all at once.
So here’s to another unforgettable year of Matrix magic. To the scholarship winners: breathe it in, take way too many photos, and say yes to the networking. You’ll remember this forever. (And yes, your dress looks amazing.)
To the 2025 honorees: your stories inspire us to keep dreaming bigger and reaching higher.
To NYWICI: thank you for believing in us—for creating spaces where women are seen, supported, and celebrated.
A heartfelt thank you to the amazing organizers, especially Donna-Jean Plante, whose tireless work helps bring this magical night to life year after year.
And to anyone reading this: if you ever want to talk about career, communication, motherhood, or how to pull off an updo after chasing a toddler—let’s connect. You can find me on LinkedIn.
See you next year—still starstruck, still grateful, and still wondering,
“Do these shoes go?”
Written by Yamila Mercado
