Outstanding Women in Business is the evolution of the Mainebiz Women to Watch program, which was started in 2009 to put the spotlight on women leaders.
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This year, Mainebiz launched the Outstanding Women in Business awards program, building on the longtime Women to Watch program.
Outstanding Women in Business tweaks the formula a bit, allowing for a bit more leeway in the roles played in business, offering recognition to people who don’t fit into the traditional CEO or executive director roles.
But make no mistake, the program is very much indebted to the original format and meaning.
Mainebiz started the Women to Watch program in 2009 to put the spotlight on women leaders who were showing remarkable leadership and vision.
The program was started by two people who had a lasting impact at Mainebiz: longtime Publisher Donna Brassard, who retired in 2021, and Carol Coultas, who was editor for six years, until 2014.
The way they tell the story, it was a simple premise: Flipping through the pages of Mainebiz, they asked, “Where are all the women leaders?”
Mainebiz has subsequently honored more than 75 women business leaders.
From time to time, someone will ask, “Is this still valid? Do we need this award in 2025?”
As an institution, our answer has always been “yes.” As long as there is a pay gap between men and women, as long as men are more common in CEO roles, as long as women are a minority on corporate boards, we feel the award is valid.
So, in this issue we introduce you to the latest class of honorees: seven women from the business, nonprofit, economic development and scientific fields. Congrats to all!
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