Italian Women Fashion & Luxury Leader
Recognising women executives, designers, and brand leaders in Milan and Italy's globally iconic fashion and luxury industry who are defining global style and commerce.
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🇮🇹 Italian Women Awards 2026
Italy Women Awards — Celebrating Italy's Most Inspiring Women Leaders
From the runways of Milan Fashion Week to the executive suites of Rome's corporate headquarters, from the kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants to the laboratories of Italian universities — the Italy Women Awards honours the extraordinary donne who are redefining what it means to lead in the Bel Paese.
30% Growth in Women-Owned Businesses
Fashion, Luxury & Hospitality Leaders
First Female PM Recognized
2026 Nominations Open
About Italy Women Awards
Italy: Where La Dolce Vita Meets Extraordinary Women's Leadership
Italy is a nation of beauty, craftsmanship, passion, and increasingly, of women who are leading its most iconic industries and transforming its economic landscape. The Italy Women Awards celebrates these remarkable women — le grandi donne d'Italia.
Italy has seen a remarkable 30% growth in women-owned businesses over the past decade, reflecting a powerful shift in Italy's economic and social fabric. Italian women are not simply participating in the economy — they are leading its most glamorous, technically demanding, and culturally significant sectors. Milan's fashion and design ecosystem, long considered the domain of legendary male designers, now has extraordinary women executives at every level of its most iconic houses, including Versace and Prada.
The Italy Women Awards was created to recognise this extraordinary transformation. From Rome's capital of political and media power to Milan's global fashion throne, from the hospitality empires of the Amalfi Coast to the wine estates of Tuscany, from the engineering floors of Ferrari and Lamborghini to the research centres of Italy's ancient universities — the Golden Women Awards Italy programme honours women who carry forward Italy's great tradition of excellence.
Our Italian women entrepreneur awards celebrate the founders building Italy's next generation of world-class enterprises. Our women in business awards Italy honour those leading established institutions with vision and courage. And our women innovation awards recognise Italy's rising generation of women in technology and research.
Women Leadership in Italy
Italian Women Leading in Every Iconic Sector
Fashion, politics, hospitality, cuisine, automotive, design — Italy's women are at the forefront of the industries that define the world's most admired nation.
Milan: Global Fashion Capital
Milan is one of the world's four great fashion capitals, and Italian women executives and designers are shaping the collections, brand strategies, and creative vision at Versace, Prada, Gucci, Fendi, and dozens of independent Italian fashion houses. Women in Milan's fashion ecosystem are managing some of the world's most powerful luxury brands.
Women in Italian Hospitality & Tourism
Italy is the world's third most visited country, and its extraordinary hospitality sector — from the grand hotels of Lake Como to the agriturismi of Tuscany — is increasingly led by remarkable women hoteliers, tourism directors, and entrepreneurs who deliver the definitive Italian hospitality experience to guests from every nation.
Women in Italian Politics
Italy made history with the appointment of its first female Prime Minister, an event that inspired women across Italy and Europe. Italian women politicians are leading major ministries, regional governments, and European institutions, shaping policy that affects Italy's 60 million citizens and Italy's role in European governance.
Women in Italian Cuisine & Food Industry
Italy's gastronomic heritage — one of the world's most beloved — is being transformed by extraordinary women chefs, food entrepreneurs, and wine producers. From Michelin-starred restaurants in Rome to artisan food producers in Emilia-Romagna, Italian women in the food industry are celebrated worldwide for their passion and expertise.
Women in Italian Automotive & Engineering
Italy's legendary automotive sector — home to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and Fiat — is increasingly hiring and promoting women to leadership positions in engineering, design, marketing, and management. Italian women in automotive are breaking stereotypes and delivering world-class results in one of the world's most demanding industries.
Women in Italian Academic Research
Italy's ancient universities — Bologna, the world's oldest, Rome La Sapienza, and Milan's Bocconi among them — are home to outstanding women researchers leading discoveries in medicine, economics, engineering, and the humanities. Italian women academics are making contributions that enhance humanity's knowledge and wellbeing.
Nominate an Inspiring Italian Woman Leader Today
Italy's women are the custodians of the world's most admired culture — and they are simultaneously building its future. The Italy Women Awards 2026 is open for nominations. Celebrate the donne who inspire Italy and the world.
Award Categories — Italy
Italy Women Award Categories for 2026
Dedicated recognition categories for Italian women leaders across fashion, hospitality, technology, politics, cuisine, automotive, and entrepreneurship.
Women in Hospitality Excellence — Italy
Celebrating Italian women hoteliers, tourism entrepreneurs, and hospitality executives who are delivering the extraordinary Italian guest experience to the world.
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Italian Women Entrepreneur of the Year
Celebrating Italian women founders building innovative enterprises that combine Italian craft, creativity, and commercial vision with modern entrepreneurial excellence.
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Italian Women in Technology Award
Recognising Italian women technology founders, engineers, and digital innovators who are building Italy's growing reputation as a European technology hub.
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Italian Women in Gastronomy Award
Honouring Italian women chefs, food entrepreneurs, wine producers, and gastronomy innovators who are elevating Italy's culinary tradition and sharing it with the world.
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Young Italian Women Leader Award
Spotlighting Italy's most dynamic women leaders under 40 in fashion, tech, food, hospitality, and politics — the next generation of Italy's great women leaders.
Learn More →Benefits of Winning
What Italy Women Award Winners Receive
Premium Gold Trophy
Artfully crafted award representing the pinnacle of Italian women's excellence.
Official Certificate
Personalized certificate of excellence signed by the global awards committee.
Global Winner Profile
Dedicated profile page on goldenwomenawards.com with worldwide reach.
International Press Release
Professional press release distributed to global and Italian media networks.
Social Media Campaign
Dedicated posts across our global high-reach social media platforms.
Digital Winner Badge
Official winner badge for website, LinkedIn, and all marketing materials.
Speaking Opportunities
Priority invitations to global women leadership summits and conferences.
Magazine Feature
Potential feature in the annual Women of Excellence digital publication.
Italy Past Winners
Inspiring Italy Women Award Winners
Meet some of the extraordinary Italian women recognised by the Golden Women Awards — each a testament to Italy's extraordinary tradition of passion, artistry, and bold leadership.
Fashion & Luxury Leader Award
Federica Colombo
Creative Director and CEO of Colombo Milano, a fourth-generation Italian leather goods house. Federica transformed her family's artisan brand into an international luxury success story with €320 million in annual sales across 60 countries. She champions apprenticeship programmes ensuring Milan's artisan heritage is preserved for future generations.
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Women in Gastronomy Award
Chef Rossella Martinelli
Executive Chef and Owner of Osteria della Terra, Florence. Rossella holds two Michelin stars and is celebrated for her modern reinterpretation of Tuscan cuisine using entirely local and seasonal ingredients. Her culinary school trains 200 young chefs annually and her cookbook has sold 400,000 copies in 12 languages.
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Women in Technology Award
Dr. Valentina Greco
Founder & CEO of MedTechItalia, Turin. Valentina's medical devices startup has developed an AI-powered diagnostic tool now used in 80 Italian hospitals and 15 European countries. She raised €42M in venture capital and was named Italy's Top Female Tech Entrepreneur at the Milan Innovation Forum.
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2026 Nominations Open Now
Nominate an Extraordinary Italian Woman for Global Recognition
Italy has always produced women of extraordinary passion, creativity, and determination — from Renaissance painters to modern fashion icons, from pioneering scientists to transformational political leaders. The Italy Women Awards 2026 is your opportunity to place an Italian woman leader's story on the world stage.
Whether she crafts luxury goods in Milan, leads a hospitality empire in Capri, builds tech startups in Turin, or shapes European policy in Rome — she deserves the recognition that the Golden Women Awards can provide. Submit your nomination or visit our nomination guide today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Italy Women Awards — Frequently Asked Questions
Any woman leader, entrepreneur, CEO, executive, or professional based in Italy is eligible. We welcome nominations from Milan, Rome, Florence, Naples, Turin, Venice, and all Italian regions across every industry. View our award categories for the complete list of eligible sectors.
Visit goldenwomenawards.com/award-nomination and complete the online nomination form. Nominations can be submitted in English or Italian. Both self-nominations and third-party nominations are accepted. Our nomination guide provides detailed assistance.
Absolutely. The Italy Women Awards strongly encourages nominations from women leaders in Italy's world-famous fashion and luxury sector. Women in design, brand leadership, retail management, and executive leadership at Italian fashion houses large and small are all eligible for the women leadership awards.
We cover all major Italian economic sectors including fashion and luxury (Milan), technology and startups, hospitality and tourism, automotive (Ferrari, Lamborghini, Fiat), food and wine, film and creative industries, politics and public service, and academic research. View our full categories for details.
Nominations for the 2026 cycle are currently open. Visit goldenwomenawards.com/award-nomination to submit your nomination for the Italy Women Awards and be considered in one of the world's most prestigious women recognition programmes.
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Winner Testimonials
Award Winners Share Their Story
Watch award winners from Italy, Europe and globally share their recognition journey.
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Italy's Great Women Leaders Deserve Global Recognition
2026 Italy Women Awards nominations are open. Celebrate the Italian women who lead with passion, artistry, and bold vision — nominate today and place their extraordinary story on the world stage.