A Look Back at the 2026 Signature Awards Luncheon
The 2026 Signature Awards Luncheon brought together the brightest minds across media, entertainment and technology. This year’s event took over the iconic Cipriani 42nd Street on May 12 for an afternoon dedicated to excellence.
We proudly recognized our 2026 Women of the Year and Women to Watch, spotlighting the leaders whose strategic influence and vision drive our industry forward.
What a kickoff to the Signature Awards Luncheon! Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the NYC Hawaiian Hula troupe opened the stage, setting a spectacular tone for an incredible day of community and celebration.
Photos by L. Busacca/Getty Images for WICT
The momentum only grew when Michelle L. Rice took the stage to officially open the afternoon’s main program. After greeting attendees, Michelle shared the stage with Tracy Pitcher for a dynamic fireside chat that marked Tracy’s exciting new chapter as our President & CEO. Their conversation highlighted how our network helps leaders navigate an evolving industry, showing the unparalleled value The WICT Network delivers as the go-to organization for leadership development. It was a fantastic introduction to an afternoon dedicated to celebrating the women who are moving media and technology forward.
2026 Women of the Year and Women to Watch Honorees
The true centerpiece of the afternoon was spotlighting our 2026 award recipients. Our Women to Watch honorees are exceptional executives who bring fresh perspectives and powerful momentum to the media, entertainment and technology sectors. By championing innovation and excellence, these rising leaders are shaping a future where impact and strategic influence take center stage.
Women to Watch: Mary Pouliopoulos (Media), Karen Bronzo (Entertainment), Pooja Jugran (Technology)
Our 2026 Women of the Year represent the highest standard of leadership in our industry. It was a privilege to recognize these exceptional executives, whose strategic vision and dedication continue to drive meaningful progress across their organizations. Congratulations to each of our honorees on this significant and well-deserved honor.
Women of the Year: Karen Kovacs (Media), Stephanie Mitchko (Entertainment), Chandy Ghosh (Technology)
Rhonda Crichlow concluded the Signature Awards Luncheon with a strong message focused on our community’s shared goals. Her remarks provided an excellent final note for an afternoon dedicated to professional excellence and industry progress. We are grateful to Rhonda for helping us wrap up this year’s event!
The 2026 Signature Awards Luncheon demonstrated that the future of our industry relies on a strong foundation of executive excellence and diverse perspectives. Providing a space for meaningful collaboration allows us to strengthen the entire business landscape, ensuring our network remains the go-to resource for professional growth. We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors and attendees!
The WICT Network Signature Awards Luncheon recognizes the leaders and organizations that are paving the way for the development of women in the media industry. The luncheon honors the industry’s best and brightest for their embodiment of The WICT Network Touchstones, which serve as the origin for all our initiatives. Among the accolades presented are the Woman to Watch and Woman of the Year.
On May 6, 2025, The WICT Network proudly hosted the Signature Awards Luncheon in partnership with the Motion Picture Association (MPA). Held at the iconic Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills, this inspiring event celebrated visionary leadership and the rising stars shaping the future of our industry.
The afternoon honored our 2025 Women of the Year and Women to Watch. These remarkable individuals continue to make a lasting impact across the media, entertainment and technology landscape.
Click here to read more from our event.
The WICT Network held an exciting celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the PAR workplace diversity survey. In celebration of the anniversary, we created a special recognition for the six companies that have most consistently ranked at the top based on their PAR survey results.
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During the 2023 Signature Awards Luncheon, The WICT Network recognized the following top operators and programmers for their strong gender DEI efforts, based on data collected by the survey administrator, PwC. At the luncheon, we honored the 2022 Top Companies for Women to Work, based on our PAR survey results, including the top operators and programmers based on their achievements in demonstrating stronger gender diversity in the workplace.
Click here to read more from our event.
The Signature Awards Luncheon
