International Women's Day: March 6th, 2026
at Denver Center for Performing Arts
Presented by:
and
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually across the world on March 8th, and WorldDenver is proud to host one of the largest IWD celebrations in the country. Join over 700 community and business leaders, elected officials, students & supporters as we celebrate women and girls’ success around the world. We invite you to be part of this growing movement that is open to all!
2026 Event Day Schedule
8:30 a.m. | Registration opens with coffee & pastries for Expert Community Panel
9:00 – 10:30 a.m. | FREE Expert Community Panel: CEOs Building a Global Future
10:00 – 11:15 a.m. | Coffee & Networking Hour, Luncheon Registration
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Keynote & Awards Luncheon (ticketed)
2026 Keynote Speaker
Sponsored by:
President Laura Chinchilla
Costa Rica (2010-2014)
in conversation with Michelle Griego of CBS Colorado
2026 Event Chairs
2026 Honorees
FREE Expert Community Panel: CEOs Shaping a Global Future
9:00–10:30 a.m. | Studio Loft @ DCPA
Sponsored by:
THANK YOU
2026 International Women's Day Sponsors!
Student Lounge Sponsor
Media Sponsor
Accessibility Sponsor
Champion Sponsor
Leader Sponsors
Advocate Sponsors
Biennial of the Americas
Beyond Our Borders
Charles Schwab
Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce
Community College of Denver Foundation
Consulate General of Canada in Denver
Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance & Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Denver Mile High Rotary Club
Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
Eide Bailly, LLP
Ireland Stapleton Pryor & Pascoe, PC
Scheuber Wealth Management
Solis Mammography
Patron Sponsors
Friendship Bridge
Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies Alumni
Margaret "Migs" Muldrow, MD
Maria Gonzales
Pamela Schiess
Patricia Barela Rivera
Patrice Henning
Water For People
Women Have Wings
WorldDenver Board Emeritus
Future Leader Student Sponsors
APEX Real Estate Contracting
CU Boulder International Affairs (IAFS) Program
Denver Health
Denver Water
East West Urban Management
El Pomar Foundation
JP Morgan and PIMCO
Kent Denver
Leslie Schaus
Norma Horner & John Estes
Rocky Mountain PBS
Sterling Capital Management, LLC
Past International Women's Day Celebrations
What is International Women’s Day?
Each year on March 8th, countries around the world lift up the achievements of women leaders in their societies to recognize and celebrate the leadership role that women play in business, academia, government, community-building, and families. Started by women in Europe just after the turn of the 20th Century, International Women’s Day had its roots in the labor movement and quickly embraced universal suffrage as well. Modern celebrations of International Women’s Day are as varied as the cultures of the world; in many countries, International Women’s Day is a national holiday.  Â
Previous Themes and Honorees
Celebrating the Global Achievements of Women
Keynote: Ellen Ochoa, PhD
First Latina Astronaut in Space
Honorees:
Girls With Books!
Empowering South Sudanese Girls Through Education
and Maria Garcia Berry
Founder of CRL Associates, International Business Leader
Celebrating the Global Achievements of Women
Keynote: Hon. Maryam Monsef
CEO, ONWARD and Former
Canadian Minister of Women
and Gender Equality
Honorees:
Women’s Bean Project
Nonprofit Supporting Inspiring Women Through Social Enterprise
and Dr. Margaret “Migs” Muldrow
Founder & Board Chair, Village Health Partnership
Celebrating the Global Achievements of Women
Keynote: Jane Marie Chen
CEO, Embrace Global
Honorees:
Friendship Bridge
Nonprofit Committed
to Empowering Women
in Guatemala
and Lucille Echohawk
Changemaker & Prolific
Advocate for Denver’s
Native Community
Women Solving Global Issues through Leadership, Compassion, and Innovation
Keynote: Elizabeth Nyamayaro
Humanitarian and United Nations Special Advisor
Honorees:
Beyond Our Borders & Women’s Regional Network
and Marti Awad
SVP, Wealth Enhancement Group, former IWD Event Chair
Women in National Security
Keynote:
Amb. Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley
Co-Founder, Leadership Council for Women in National Security
and Lauren Buitta
Founder and CEO, Girl Security
Honorees: Janine Davidson
MSU Denver President, Former Undersecretary of the Navy
and Lockheed Martin Space
Women in Sports
Keynote: Lauryn Williams
Three-time Olympic Champion
Honorees:
Joanne Posner Mayer
Physical Therapist and Fitball Pioneer
and Cigna
A Global Health Services Company
Women in Tech
Keynote:Â Adriana Gasciogne
Founder, CEO of Girls In Tech
Honoree:Â Jill Tietjen
STEM Champion, Women’s Advocate, Author and Speaker
Women in Space
Keynote: Dr. Mae Jemison
Astronaut, Scientist, Doctor
Honorees:Â
Cynda Collins Arsenault, 2018 Pathfinder Award Winner
Co-founder, Board Chair and President of Secure World Foundation
Dr. Mae Jemison, 2018 Trailblazer Award Winner
Astronaut, Scientist, Doctor
Women in Global Health
Keynote:Â Sheryl WuDunn
Pulitzer Prize WinnerÂ
Honorees:Â
Dr. Neena Jain
Founder, emBOLDen AlliancesÂ
Ann Moore
Inventor, The Snugli Baby CarrierÂ
Women in Entrepreneurship
Keynote: Nancy Phillips
President, CEO, and co-founder of ViaWest Inc.
Honoree: Patricia Foley Hinnen
Founder & CEO, Capital Sisters International
Women Leading Change Around the World
Keynote: Lieutenant General Michelle D. Johnson
Superintendent, US Air Force Academy
Honoree: Terry Odendahl
CEO, GlobalGreengrants Fund
Promoting Global Women’s Issues
Keynote: Jacqueline Hinman
President & CEO, CH2M Hill
International Women’s Day Luncheon
Keynote: Deedee Corradini
President, International Women’s Forum