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Inspire Awards

Transparent Inspire Awards Face 2023

Save The Date:

May 16th, 2024

The Royal Sonesta

We are seeking nominations of inspirational female leaders from the Cambridge Chamber's business, institutional, and non-profit communities who have demonstrated exemplary leadership skills and have made significant contributions to improving the lives of others.

We are looking for nominees who are:

Role Models
Trailblazers
Mentors
Empowers Others
Changing the Landscape
A Positive Force

Nomination Deadline - March 8th

Nominate here.

Celebrating Cambridge Women in Business

The Inspire Awards recognize the commitment and contributions of outstanding women leaders in the Cambridge community.

2023 Lifetime Achievement Award:

Gilda Nogueira, Chief Executive Officer, East Cambridge Savings Bank

2023 Inspire Awardees:

  • Heather Henriksen, Chief Sustainability Officer, Harvard University
  • Denise Jillson, Executive Director, Harvard Square Business Association
  • Emma Lees, SVP, BMS Oncology Research and Site Head, BMS R&D Cambridge
  • Aisha Losche, Chief Diversity Officer, Draper Laboratory
  • Miriam Ortiz, Director of Education and Training, Just-A-Start Corporation
  • Tiffany Thiel, Executive Director, Process Development, Amgen, Inc.
  • Kathy Watkins, Commissioner DPW, City of Cambridge
  • Ayesha M. Wilson, MSW, Cambridge School Committee, Social Worker, Advocate
Photo 6

2023 Inspire Awardees

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Gilda M. Nogueira

Our 2023 Lifetime Achievement Awardee Gilda, is the Chief Executive Officer at East Cambridge Savings Bank.

Heather Award

Heather Henriksen

The Chief Sustainability Officer at Harvard University

Cambridge MA Chamber of Commerce Inspire Awards at the Boston Hotel Sonesta on June 22, 2023

Denise Jillson

The Executive Director at the Harvard Square Business Association

Emma Award

Emma Lees

The Senior Vice president at Bristol Myers Squibb Oncology Research and Site Head, BMS R&D Cambridge

Aisha Award

Aisha Losche

The Chief Diversity Officer at Draper Laboratory

Miriam Award

Miriam Ortiz

The Director of Education and Training at Just-A-Start Corporation

112 Thiel,T

Tiffany Thiel

The Executive Director of Process Development at Amgen Inc.

Kathy Award

Kathy Watkins

Commissioner DPW For The City of Cambridge

Ayesha Award

Ayesha M. Wilson

MSW, Cambridge School Committee, Social Worker, and Advocate

Celebrating Cambridge Women in Business

2022 Inspire Awardees

1

Helen Elaine Lee

Author of “The Serpent’s Gift” and “Water Marked”, Director of the Program in Women’s & Gender Studies, and Professor of Fiction Writing in Comparative Media Studies/Writing.

MIT

2

Charlotte Allerton

Senior Vice President, Head of Medicine Design

Pfizer

8

Kendalle Burlin O'Connell

President & COO

MassBio

9

Sumiao Chen

CEO & Founder

Sumiao Hunan Kitchen

3

Christine Elow

Commissioner

Cambridge Police Department

5

Jane Hirschi

Executive Director

CitySprouts

7

Katie Lapp

Executive Vice President

Harvard University

4

Colleen O'Connor

Senior Vice President of Leasing

BioMed Realty

6

Joanne Smith-Farrell

CEO

Be Bio

Past Awardees

Inspire Awardees Group Photo

Awardees: Aine Hanly, Vice President of Drug Substance Technologies, Amgen, Dr. Carolyn Turk, Deputy Superindentent of Schools, Cambridge Public Schools, P.A. d'Arbeloff, Director, MIT Nord Anglia Collaboration, MIT Museum, Erin Lanciani, Head of HR and Organization Strategy, Sage Therapeutics, Kelly A. Flynn, Associate Director, Real Estate, Global Real Estate, Facilities, and Procurement, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Eva Martin Blythe, Executive Director, YWCA, Keynote Speaker: Jeanette Clough, Former President, and CEO, Mount Auburn Hospital.

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