Women MAKE Awards (Women MAKE America Initiative)

Women MAKE Awards

Overview: The Women MAKE Awards honor women who have demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers across all levels of the manufacturing industry, from the factory floor to the C-suite. Part of the Women MAKE America initiative working to close the talent gap in manufacturing.

Purpose:

To honor women for excellence and leadership in manufacturing

To reshape perceptions of the industry

To showcase talent and opportunity for women in manufacturing

To inspire young women to envision themselves in modern manufacturing careers

To elevate role models and demonstrate what leadership in manufacturing looks like today

Award Categories:

100 Honorees - recognizing women at all levels demonstrating exceptional leadership

30 Emerging Leaders - recognizing young women who are the future of the industry with demonstrated exceptional accomplishments early in their careers

Number of Recipients: 130 total recipients annually (100 Honorees + 30 Emerging Leaders)

Cumulative Impact: Since inception, the Women MAKE Awards have recognized approximately 1,700 outstanding individuals

Geographic Scope: United States manufacturing sector

Eligibility:

Women working in manufacturing at any level

Selected from thousands of nominations submitted by peers

Recognized for making significant contributions to their companies, communities, and efforts to cultivate next generation of skilled talent

Demonstrated excellence and leadership in their careers

Industry Context:

Manufacturing industry faces critical talent gap: 400,000+ monthly job openings

3.8 million positions need to be filled by 2033

Women represent ~50% of U.S. labor force but <30% of manufacturing workforce

Initiative aims to close this gender gap and strengthen talent pipeline

Recognition & Events:

Profile book featuring awardees and their stories

Annual Women MAKE Awards Gala ceremony

2025 awards ceremony: April 24, 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Mission Alignment: The awards strengthen the future of the industry by inspiring the next generation through role models who are "paying it forward" to engage young women in manufacturing careers.

Contact: The Manufacturing Institute, [email protected], (202) 637-3426

Website: themanufacturinginstitute.org