There are moments that remind you why you started.
Our first She Inspires Global Community Connect, held online on 3 July, was one of those moments.
Created as a global extension of our annual Judges Meet, the session was designed to bring finalists together before the interview process, offering an opportunity to meet members of the judging panel, ask questions, gain valuable insights and, most importantly, feel part of the She Inspires community from the very beginning.
We hoped it would be useful.
What we didn’t expect was the extraordinary response.
Within days, all 100 Zoom places had been booked. Soon afterwards, more than 40 additional finalists joined the waiting list. While the platform’s capacity meant we couldn’t welcome everyone this time, the demand spoke volumes. Women from across the world weren’t simply looking for information about the awards—they wanted connection, encouragement and a community they could belong to.
From the moment the session began, it became clear that this was about far more than preparing for interviews. Women joined us from different countries, cultures and professions, yet within minutes they were sharing ideas, supporting one another and celebrating each other’s journeys. The atmosphere was warm, generous and uplifting—a reminder that while our finalists may come from different backgrounds, they are united by purpose.
One of the highlights of the afternoon was hearing from our judges, who generously shared their wisdom, encouragement and practical advice. Our sincere thanks go to Lynn Williams, Sue France, Sohini Roy Chowdhury, Dr Reem Alshamari and Dr Deborah Lawson, whose authenticity and experience immediately put finalists at ease.
Their message was simple but powerful.
Be yourself.
Trust your story.
Enjoy the journey.
Don’t try to be who you think the judges want to see. Be the person whose work has already created meaningful impact.
Working quietly behind the scenes, Kiki Smith ensured the session ran seamlessly, welcoming participants, managing the chat and helping finalists feel heard throughout the event. Like so many within the She Inspires family, her contribution reflected the generosity and collaboration that define our community.
Perhaps the most powerful part of the afternoon came after the meeting had finished.
Our inbox filled with messages. Social media came alive with reflections from finalists across the globe. Again and again, the same words appeared.
One finalist wrote that the session had “brought the She Inspires world to life” and that she was “delighted to be part of such a supportive community.”
Another shared that she left feeling “included, valued and inspired,” while another described finishing the afternoon feeling “positive, celebrated and seen.”
One finalist, proudly representing Azerbaijan, thanked the judges and organisers for creating such an engaging experience and wrote of how proud she was to stand alongside inspiring women from around the world while representing her country. That sense of global connection is something we treasure deeply.
Perhaps the comment that moved us most came from a finalist who said that what we are building is “beyond anything I’ve ever seen in the awards space.”
We couldn’t have asked for a greater compliment. Because She Inspires has never been about creating another awards programme. It has always been about creating a community. Awards recognise achievement, but community creates confidence. Confidence creates visibility. Visibility opens doors to collaboration, opportunity and economic agency. Long before finalists step into their interviews, we want them to know they already belong.
That philosophy was evident throughout the afternoon. Women who had never met before were exchanging ideas and offering encouragement. Judges were sharing not only professional advice but genuine reassurance. Questions that might otherwise have caused anxiety became opportunities for conversation. By the end of the session, something remarkable had happened.
A group of finalists had become a community.
The overwhelming response has inspired us to do more. We are already planning another Global Community Connect for those who were unable to secure a place, because one thing has become abundantly clear: there is a real appetite for meaningful conversations that extend far beyond the awards themselves.
At She Inspires, we believe recognition should never begin with a trophy and end with a photograph. It should begin with belonging.
When women feel seen, valued and connected, extraordinary things happen. They grow in confidence. They build relationships. They discover opportunities. They champion one another. Together, they create lasting impact—not just for themselves, but for the communities they serve.
Our first Global Community Connect reminded us that the greatest achievement isn’t filling 100 Zoom places. It’s creating a global community where women from different countries, cultures and experiences come together and genuinely feel that they have found their people.
And for us, that is where every She Inspires journey truly begins.
