Brussels, November 9, 2023 – The Belvue Museum in Brussels set the stage for an unmissable celebration on November 9th – the Women of Europe Awards, an event jointly organised by the European Movement International and the European Women’s Lobby. Moderated by Euronews anchor Méabh McMahon and with interventions from jury members Federica Mogherini, rector of the College of Europe, and Dr. Audrey-Flore Ngomsik, President of The Brussels Binder, the evening honoured exceptional women across Europe who’ve made strides in various fields from activism to power to media, spotlighting their achievements and underscoring the vital role women play in shaping these diverse sectors.
Celebrating Women in Business
Emphasising the significance of promoting and acknowledging women in business, this year’s ceremony recognised Emilie Schmitt, founder of Activ’Action, as the recipient of the Women in Business award. In her acceptance speech, Schmitt expressed her honour and gratitude for the recognition, attributing the success to her team’s unwavering dedication and collaborative efforts to reshape attitudes towards unemployment.
“I’m very honoured by this award which highlights the continuous engagement of Activ’Action’s team, volunteers, and partners to change the mentality of unemployment! This award rewards the power of intuition, conviction, strength, and perseverance necessary to build an impact-driven business.” – Emilie Schmitt, Women in Business Winner.
Activ’Action, Schmitt’s brainchild, stands as a testament to innovation in advocating inclusive opportunities and novel employment strategies. It’s a beacon guiding unemployed individuals to navigate their situations positively. Schmitt’s pioneering framework fosters local optimist communities, transforming unemployment into an enriching learning phase, dispelling the notion of it being solely an economic challenge. Her vision extends beyond providing employment skills; it seeks to cultivate a positive shift in societal perceptions, harnessing the latent potential within the unemployed.
European Women Leading the Way
The ceremony, highlighting various categories including Woman in Power, Woman in Action, Young Woman of Europe, and Woman in Media, also recognised leader Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and journalist Shada Islam, underscoring their monumental contributions to political leadership and European journalism respectively.
These awards serve as a testament to the impactful work women are accomplishing across Europe, not only celebrating the individual success of all nominees but also serving as inspiration for future generations of women across Europe that they can succeed at whatever it is they put their minds to.
The event underscored the immense value of diversity of voices and opinions, emphasising the need for varied perspectives to fuel innovation and progress within our societies across these different areas.