BWOI Trailblazers
BWOI Trailblazer Honorees
Each year, BWOI honors trailblazing women of color who exemplify our mission of helping women and their communities win.
BWOI Trailblazers are individuals who come from all industries and backgrounds. They are committed to diversity and equality. Their life and work exemplifies a commitment to helping the underrepresented and underserved. They have a clear track record of commitment to the community.
BWOI Corporate Trailblazers provide organizational support and resources for these causes as well. BWOI was honored to bestow its inaugural Corporate Trailblazer award in celebration of its 10th anniversary to OppenheimerFunds.
OppenheimerFunds has supported BWOI and its work for seven consecutive years.
We are proud of all of our Trailblazers. Meet our Trailblazer honorees below:
Past Trailblazer Honorees
2019 Trailblazers
2019 Trailblazers
2019 Trailblazers
Kim Bourne
President & CEO - Playfair Financial Services
2018 Trailblazers
2019 Trailblazers
2019 Trailblazers
Abigail James
Group Vice President - Marketing Strategy; Macys
Gloria Hartley
Retired Professor; Fashion Institute of Technology & Parsons School of Design
One of the First African-American Buyers in the Retail Industry
Founder & Former President, Black Retail Action Group (BRAG)
2017 Trailblazers
2019 Trailblazers
2017 Trailblazers
(Left to Right)
Adrienne D. Gonzalez
Lead, BOLD; Bristol Myers-Squibb
Rhonda Joy McLean
Deputy General Counsel; Time, Inc.
Vera A. Moore
President & CEO; Vera Moore Cosmetics
Thasunda Brown Duckett
CEO, Chase Consumer Bank
2016 Trailblazers
2016 Trailblazers
2017 Trailblazers
(Left to Right)
Kaylin Whittingham
Founder & Managing Partner, Whittingham Law
President, Association of Black Women Attorneys (ABWA)
The Honorable Alice Dear
President A.M. Dear & Associates
Former Executive Director, African Development Bank
2015 Trailblazer
2016 Trailblazers
2015 Trailblazer
Vernice "FlyGirl" Armour
America's 1st Female African-American Fighter Pilot, U.S. Marines
2014 Trailblazer
2016 Trailblazers
2015 Trailblazer
Vanessa K. DeLuca
Editor-in-Chief
Essence Magazine