One week since BWOTY 2018 – here’s everything you may have missed

It’s been one whole week since our Businesswoman of the Year Awards (or BWOTY, as they are affectionately known here in the office) — and what a week it’s been. This year has undoubtedly been the best yet, and with so many highlights, we wanted to make sure you, the readers, didn’t miss a thing. Or, if you’ve been as invested as we have, maybe you just want to relive it. We wouldn’t blame you — it’s been an amazing year for businesswomen.

And the winners of the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year 2018 are…

With eleven categories and over 400 entries, our judges had a tough job this year to choose our Businesswoman of the Year winners. But each and every one of our winners was a well-deserving woman, from a huge variety of areas — from beauty to marketing to charities and more. Check out the full list of winners here.

Seen and heard at the IMAGE Businesswoman of the Year Awards 2018

While we thought that this year’s awards were the most amazing yet, we’re a little biased. But all of our lovely guests seemed to feel the same way — just check out their reactions to the evening on social media.

The Businesswoman of the Year 2018 social pics are in!

And of course, everyone looked stunning  — and were more than ready for their close-up on the red carpet.

Advice for life from our Lifetime Achievement Award winner Anne Harris

Our Lifetime Achievement Award this year went to a very worthy winner  — Anne Harris, former editor of IMAGE Publications and freelance journalist. Anne’s speech went down a storm on social media as well as in the room, and we’ve been reading her speech over and over since last week. Read her words of wisdom here.

Jenny Taaffe, lessons from my cancer diagnosis: ‘I am going to enjoy every second of my life from now on’

Another major highlight of the evening was Jenny Taaffe’s win for Digital and Technology Businesswoman of the Year – her speech struck a chord with many in the room, with emotions running high for Jenny, as she has had a particularly difficult year. Her cancer diagnosis in August meant that 2018 was a year of contrasts but, as Jenny says, it gave her a beautiful outlook on life from now on. Read her beautiful story here. 

Businesswoman of the Year: A defiant, dazzling and gracious evening for Irish women

Our staff writer Edaein had never experienced an IMAGE awards show before, and didn’t know what to expect when she walked in the doors last Monday. What she found was “glitz, glam, hairspray and enough sequins to dress the nation on St Stephen’s night… and the most powerful women in Ireland filled the room.” Read her experience here.