Woman of the Year
Woman of the Year recognises an outstanding female business owner whose leadership, commercial achievement and contribution create influence beyond her own business. It celebrates measurable success, strong character, purposeful leadership and a body of work that creates opportunity or impact for others.
Is this your category?
A quick read on the businesses this title is written for.
Demonstrates strong business performance and clear leadership.
Uses her influence, experience or platform to create meaningful outcomes for others.
Shows sound judgement, integrity and a sustained contribution to business or community.
Acts as a visible role model, mentor, advocate or leader through her actions.
What judges need to see.
The five areas your answers are assessed against.
Foundation
Foundation: The entrant's business, role, leadership context and body of achievement.
Results
Results: Measurable business performance, milestones and progress under her leadership.
Decisions
Decisions: Strategic choices, innovation and judgement that shaped outcomes.
Leadership
Leadership: Influence, mentorship, advocacy and the development of other people.
Impact
Impact: Contribution to business, industry or community and the legacy she is building.
Evidence to start gathering
Start collecting these now so the writing is quick later.
Read the Evidence Pack guideBusiness growth and financial performance data.
Major milestones or achievements with clear timeframes.
Team growth, retention or development outcomes.
Mentoring or advocacy outcomes.
Testimonials from team members, peers or community stakeholders.
Examples of decisions that produced measurable business results.
Community or industry contribution with measurable outcomes.
Third-party recognition that supports the entrant's impact.
Entry details and eligibility
The format, the dates and the conditions that apply to this title.
The entrant must be a female business owner or founder.
The business must be at least 51% female-owned.
- Assessment period
- 2024–27.
- Minimum business age
- 12 months.
- Written responses
- 5.
- Evidence Pack
- 5 pages.
1 January 2024 to 28 February 2027
Minimum 12 months in business as at 4 October 2026.
5 written responses, up to 400 words each.
One PDF, up to 5 pages and 10 MB.
Resources
Before you enter
Five short reads that answer almost everything. Each one opens the Entry Guide at the right place.
Evidence Pack guide
What counts as evidence, what does not, and how to lay the PDF out.
Full eligibility
The rules that apply to every title, including trading dates and locations.
How judging works
Who reads your entry, how it is scored and how finalists are chosen.
Build a strong entry
How to answer the five questions with specifics instead of adjectives.
Frequently asked questions
Costs, deadlines, multiple entries and everything else people ask first.
Category partner
SOL Society
Presenting Woman of the Year
Presenting partners do not score, select or influence entrants. Judging is run independently.
RAYE Awards 2027
Woman of the Year
Entries are written and submitted in the RAYE Awards portal, a separate system to RAYE Haus. Read the criteria, gather your evidence, then head across.