The award, created in 2007, highlights the careers of some of the nearly 12,000 female graduates of France’s HEC business school. This year’s nominees were Nicole Arditti (‘76), head of Lazard Frères; Catherine Damesin (‘79), managing director of Vulcania; and Laetitia Puyfaucher (‘97).

The 20-person jury was composed of people committed to gender equality across all levels of society; representatives from HEC corporate partners (such as Boston Consulting Group, GDF SUEZ, KPMG, LVMH, Sanofi Aventis and Sodexo); and members of the HEC community.

“I’m really honoured to receive this award, especially considering the impressive careers of the other nominees, and those of all HEC degree-holders in general,” Laetitia said before thanking Maison Arthus-Bertrand for the attractive medal and Stéphane Baschiera, CEO of Veuve Clicquot, for the magnificent jeroboam of champagne. “I’d like to dedicate this award to the WordAppeal and Pelham teams, and I wish to thank all our clients for putting their faith in us. In particular, I’d like to thank the event’s sponsors, GDF SUEZ and Sodexo, with whom we have worked for many years.”