Celebrating Female Leadership: Highlights from the 14th Annual DVF Awards in Venice

On Thursday evening, August 31, 2023, the canals of Venice buzzed not just with gondolas but also with the hum of anticipation. The city played host to the 14th Annual DVF Awards, an event that celebrates the indomitable spirit of women worldwide.

Amal Clooney; Diane Von Furstenberg
Getty Images

A Star-Studded Night with Purpose

Held in the picturesque backdrop of Venice, Italy, the event recognized and celebrated phenomenal women such as Amal Clooney, honored for her unwavering efforts in championing victims of human rights abuses.

But the limelight was shared with other equally remarkable women including the following.

• Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General
• Helena Gualinga, fierce environmental and human rights advocate
• Dr. Joy Buolamwini, a pioneer in the understanding of AI (artificial intelligence) implications
• Lilly Singh, the ever-charismatic storyteller and advocate for gender equality

These five remarkable women of color were all recipients of the DVF Leadership Award.

Honorees of the 14th Annual DVF Awards

This wasn’t just a regular evening of accolades. It was a melody of empowerment, with a soulful performance by the multi-platinum, Grammy-nominated Jewel.

And if that wasn’t dazzling enough, we also had appearances by Nobel Peace Prize laureate-journalist Maria Ressa, the talented Emma Thompson, the melodious Rita Ora, and the stalwart Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi.

A Legacy of Empowerment – The DVF Awards

Diane von Furstenberg, with the support of The Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, initiated the DVF Awards back in 2010.

The idea? To spotlight and back extraordinary women who’ve shown the resilience to fight, the strength to endure, and the spirit to inspire.

Every year, the ceremony spotlights five of these women, empowering them further with an award of $100,000 for their non-profit, fueling their missions to change the world.

Vital Voices Global Partnership – Championing Women Leaders

In collaboration with the event was the renowned Vital Voices Global Partnership. Over the last 26 years, this partnership has invested in over 20,000 women leaders across 185 countries.

From supporting future Nobel Peace Prize Laureates to backing pioneering human rights defenders like Amanda Gorman and Malala Yousafzai, their journey has been nothing short of inspirational.

In 2022, taking their commitment a notch higher, they inaugurated the world’s first-ever global embassy dedicated to women – the Vital Voices Global Headquarters for Women’s Leadership.

This space is dedicated to uniting, innovating, and actioning plans for women leaders tackling the world’s pressing challenges.

In a world often mired by challenges, events like the DVF Awards and organizations like Vital Voices remind us of the strength and resilience of women.

It’s a testament to the power of collective action and the immense possibilities when we stand united in the cause of empowerment and progress.