Female Empowerment and Embracing Change at the 2023 Matrix Awards as a Young Member of the Media
The 2023 Matrix Awards presented by NYWICI meant celebrating past, current, and future leaders in all fields of communications through female empowerment. It was a night of “Champions of Change” and using our voices to motivate and stimulate continuous action toward breaking down barriers in the ever-evolving landscape of the media.
As a young member of the media, I was ecstatic to be a part of my first Matrix Awards, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t the slightest bit intimidated to be standing beside such accomplished and experienced women. As the night went on, my intimidation was uplifted by how willing the women were to talk and share how special and important the night was.
And they were right; this was one special night. Not only was I humbled and inspired to meet and reconnect with such empowering women in the industry, but I was moved by the honorees and NYWICI members’ speeches.
Many speeches, like that of Matrix Honoree Christine Elliot, highlighted navigating change in the media and using voice. Elliot learned to view change as growth and said the best way to navigate it is to champion it. What also stood out to me in her speech was her emphasis on the strength to lean on others and embrace the messiness of change.
Besides “Champions of Change,” the strength to lean on others mentioned by Elliot seemed to represent another theme of the night. Later in the night, Matrix Honoree Clarissa Ward called to attention those who may not be in the room and whose voices may not be heard. I felt like this was a vital statement – that we might pay much more attention to those taking momentous actions toward change and less to those we may not evidently notice, but their smaller action is no less important.
Those like teachers can be “Champions of Change” and may not get all the recognition they deserve. My mom, Penny, is a teacher, and I took her as my guest to the Matrix Awards. She is a champion of change in my life, supporting every step of my growth, and of her students and those around her.
There was an obvious display of the significance of honoring and supporting one another at the Matrix Awards, especially surrounding female empowerment. Another example of this female empowerment was Matrix Honoree Moira Forbes, who referenced a quote by Dolly Parton: “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” This quote surely resonated with me in a few different respects – one being the acknowledgement of the importance of listening and valuing what others have to say and carrying through with it, and the other being true and genuine to yourself and those around you while embodying it in your words and actions.
The Matrix Awards motivated me to pursue change, whether taking the lead or being a part of it, as it means steps of growth, like Elliot highlighted. This idea can be reflected on both professional and personal levels, like how my intimidation transformed to a feeling of empowerment. And this is a reason why NYWICI exists. I might be in the first stage of my career, and others might be well on their way, but like NYWICI’s mission says, the goal is “to empower women in the communications field at every career stage to reach their full potential and navigate the ever-changing landscape of communications.”
I remain grateful to be able to experience such an incredible night of female empowerment and embracing change, and I encourage others to join or support NYWICI however they can to help keep this organization flourishing and ever-changing.
Written by 
