The IMAGE Icons: Where excellence becomes legacy

A half-century of female ambition. Eighteen years of celebrating Ireland’s most dynamic businesswomen. Now, we mark a new chapter, a movement that honours the past, celebrates the present and defines a vision for the future.

Welcome to The IMAGE Icons, a powerful tribute to the women whose drive, talent and leadership have commanded change, forging a new business and social landscape for Ireland. IMAGE The Icons honours the women who shaped part of the IMAGE story as well as spotlighting those who are defining the next era of Irish business. It is a recognition of women at every stage and every stride, united by a shared belief in progress, purpose and power.

Defining an icon

An icon is not only successful; she is transformative. Her influence extends beyond her own accomplishments, embedding a new standard of possibility into the national consciousness. She is a pivot point in her corner of the business world, or across a national or international stage. She leaves a legacy that inspires the very best in the generations that follow. These are the women we have championed and celebrated across IMAGE’s many platforms, the businesswomen we have spotlighted through our awards.

We look to the journey of women like the trailblazing Mary Robinson, a cherished recipient of the IMAGE PwC Lifetime Achievement Award. Before her historic election as the first woman President of Ireland, she challenged laws that sought to hold women back. Since her time as President, she has championed, advocated for and fought for women around the world. She embodied the poised and powerful force of progress, her leadership a guiding light that redefined Ireland’s image on the global stage. 

The changing face of female leadership

For 50 years, IMAGE has been a steadfast witness to the profound and often seismic shifts encountered by Irish women, as we dismantled barriers and seized opportunities with grace and grit.

It’s hard to imagine that within this timeframe, Irish women have been both pioneers and powerhouses, facing legal and social battles to overturn restrictive practices, such as the marriage bar, that confined women to the domestic sphere. 

From the economic recessions across the decades to geopolitical upheaval and from the disruption of Brexit to the complex challenge of a global pandemic, Irish businesswomen have consistently shown profound resilience, navigating crises with heart and an extraordinary ability to find opportunity in the aftermath of crisis.

As modern leaders, they understand that true strength is found in connection. The old command-and-control models are fading and women are driving a new model rooted in empathy-led, inclusive and sustainable leadership. Our new Icons are championing purpose-driven business, understanding that profit is no longer enough for themselves, their teams and their audiences. This is leadership with heart and foresight.

An enduring legacy of excellence

For 18 years, the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards has stood as the definitive marker of female excellence in Irish enterprise. Each winner and, indeed, each nominee, represents a thread in a tapestry of modern leadership. Their stories of entrepreneurial grit, corporate mastery and social impact are the very foundations of the IMAGE legacy.

The IMAGE Icons will continue to spotlight these remarkable women. This new content series will look deeply into the lessons from the top and the changing landscape of leadership

Over the coming weeks, you can expect a series of impactful articles, social media content and an exclusive vodcast that showcases the purpose, the power, and the enduring legacy of our Irish Icons. 

This milestone moment is further marked by the announcement that the IMAGE PwC Businesswoman of the Year Awards will move to the RDS next May, a space worthy of the scale and ambition of the women transforming our country.

We step forward with immense pride and a warm, renewed commitment to celebrating the women who are not just building businesses, but reshaping our nation. Because at IMAGE, we have walked with one unwavering belief for half a century: that when women rise, everything rises.

Stay tuned . . .