The winners of the 2012 Initiative Entrepreneurial Awards are pictured in the photo from right to left with Suzy Oge of the WBII. Ruchika Handa won the Social Innovation Award for her socially responsible business Laboni. Jo Parfitt won Networker of the Year. Not only has Jo Parfitt written books on the topic of Networking, she has authored 28 books in total has has now published over 50 for other aspiring writers through her business, Summertime Publications. Azra Secerbegovic (not pictured) won the Ambition Award as owner of ASpa, a city spa concept she created in 2008 with the our philosophy to create a complete range of honest, natural and therapeutic treatments. Congratulations on the new ASpa location on Alexanderplein 2 in The Hague.
The Initiative Awards are based on the Core Values of the WBII and this year a new award was added…The STRONG Award. Kathryn Bolkovac, pictured left, was the recipient of the first ever STRONG Award. More STRONG role models are definitely needed for women and her courage and strength make her an absolute hero and inspirational role model for all women. Kathryn Bolkovac is the author of the book, “The Whistleblower: Sex Trafficking, Military Contractors, and One Women’s Fight for Justice” and her story is the inspiration for the movie “The Whistleblower”, which portrays her courageous fight against sex trafficking in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Rachel Weiss plays her character in the movie. What a privilege it was to meet such a remarkable woman and to honor her in this way. Congratulations to all the 2012 WBII Initiative Award winners!