WILMA’s 2026 Women to Watch Awards

Meet this year's Women to Watch finalists
WILMA Staff, Photography by Madeline Gray,

Meet the 2026 WILMA’s Women to Watch Award finalists and the WILMA Icon Award recipient.

THEY REPRESENT LEADERS IN THEIR FIELDS AND THE COMMUNITY.

Read more about the thirty-six women on the following pages to learn more about why the judges selected them out of hundreds of nominations and applications that came in this year.

In this issue, we introduce this year’s finalists in arts, business, education, health, nonprofit, public sector, and rising star. The rising star category is the only one with an age description and is open to those under thirty.

The women will be honored at the awards event September 11, where the winners also will be announced, and this year’s WILMA Icon Award recipient, Wilma Daniels, will be honored.

For more on the finalists, including extended versions of their interviews, go to our website at WILMAmag.com. Congratulations to this year’s group.

The Categories

To see the finalists for the ARTS category, click here.

To see the finalists for the BUSINESS category, click here.

To see the finalists for the EDUCATION category, click here.

To see the finalists for the HEALTH category, click here.

To see the finalists for the NONPROFIT category, click here.

To see the finalists for the PUBLIC SECTOR category, click here.

To see the finalists for the RISING STAR category, click here.

The Judging Process

Each year, WILMA opens up the nominations process for the Women to Watch Awards during the summer.

Our judging panel – made up of leaders who sit on the Women to Watch Leadership Initiative’s advisory board as well as outside guests – met to pick the finalists and winners in each of the seven categories.

WILMA would like to thank the judges for volunteering their time and expertise on the awards.

The Judges

  • Wanda Coley
  • Heather Davis
  • Denise Foat
  • Katie Gloe
  • Amy Grant
  • Pam Hardy
  • Alexis Hunter
  • Sheri Leaves
  • Tracey Newkirk
  • Tammy Proctor
  • Ruth Ravitz Smith
  • Cara Stretch
  • Karen Weaver

The Bracelet

This year’s awards bracelet is by Kristin Wood of Local Summer Jewelry (read more here).

Photos by Madeline Gray

Hair and Makeup by Anna Woodall Lee

Location: Azalea Station (1502 Castle Street, Wilmington)

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Categories: WILMA Leadership