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40 www.thejewelrybook.com Women Mean Business W O M E N M E A N B U S I N E S S W J A Monday, July 16th, marked the dawn of a new era for the Women's Jewelry Associa- tion as the new president, Jenny Luker, enthusiastically walked on stage and welcomed an audience of nearly 500 people at the organization's annual Awards for Excellence Gala. The theme of the evening was all about change – a change in vision, a change in direction and a change in presentation. Change, not only in the format of the awards gala, but also for the organization as a whole. This year, the WJA Board voted to intro- duce the Visionary Awards, recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations making a difference in the cause of wom- en's equality. The evening's inaugural pre- sentation of these awards went to women, all of whom were the fi rst to hold their executive leadership positions in their companies, as well as organizations that are leading the way in promoting gender equality. Each honoree inspired the audience as they shared the compelling stories of their careers and communicated a clear message to all in attendance that women mean business and their leadership has a profound impact on the people and orga- nizations they lead. WJA's fi rst Visionary Awards were presented to the following individuals: Mercedes Abramo – CEO and President, Cartier North America Caryl Capeci – President, Hearts On Fire Nadja Swarovski – Executive Board Mem- ber, Swarovski And organizations: DeBeers Group of Companies UN Women One of the important takeaways from this evening was the fact that women in leader- ship roles should no longer be a novelty. It's time for companies and organizations, large and small, to objectively review the gender balance on their boards and in their execu- tive suites. WJA is taking an active role in helping these organizations do just that with the launch of the Gender Equality Project. A task force was assembled and they identifi ed three areas of focus for this important project: 1) Analyze and address the imbalance of women participating on industry and corporate boards. (Currently, the average representation of women on in- dustry boards is 20%.) 2) Focus on mentoring and leadership development for WJA members (pro- vided by a network of WJA mentors.) 3) Providing tools and services to women and men that defi ne and address gender-based employment policies. These tools are designed to ensure businesses comply with local laws and incorporate values of inclusiveness and gender equality. Bernadette Mack, WJA's Executive Direc- tor summed it up perfectly when she said, "It's thrilling to see women and men work- ing together to bring new depth and dimen- sion to our 35-year-old mission. This is a pivotal time for women's equality; and with new programs focused on professional development & gender-equality outreach and education, WJA is doubling down on its commitment to the success of women in the jewelry and watch industries." Change can be diffi cult, but change that helps to ensure diversity, respect and equal opportunity for all is change for good. Jenny Luker (WJA President).

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