site.btaCouncil of Women in Business in Bulgaria Presents Annual Awards at 5th Global Women Leaders Forum 2025

The Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria (CWBB) presented its annual awards at the 5th Global Women Leaders Forum 2025 held on Thursday in Sofia. The main theme of the event, organized by the CWBB, was Fast and furious changing world. Women in the driving seat.

The award in the Inspiring initiative for diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace category went to Lidl Bulgaria for its Lidl Palitra project for the inclusion of Generation Z and representatives of the Roma community in the labour market. The award was presented by Natalia Efremova, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy. 

Three first places were awarded in the second category, Inspiring civil society initiative – NGOs contributing to social inclusion. The winners were the Trust for Social Achievement Foundation for it’s the Way Home: Inclusion and Security for Roma Communities programme; the Kalinki for Life Foundation for Children with Thalassemia and their programme Renovation and Transformation of the Children's ENT Department at University Hospital Tsaritsa Yoanna-ISUL, and the Rise Bulgaria Foundation for the programme Active Learning in a Non-formal Environment. The awards were presented by Reneta Dimitrova, Head of Division at the European Investment Bank (EIB). 

The winner in the third category, Inspiring initiative for the integration of young people and the realization of their potential in Bulgaria, was HP Bulgaria for its InternStellar Internship Programme. The award was presented by Zornitsa Roussinova, President of the Economic and Social Council.

The winner in the last, fourth category of the competition, Inspiring communication campaign to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion Initiatives, was Yettel for its mirror installation dedicated to tolerance, Look at Yourself. The award was presented by Rumyana Valkanov, member of the Board of the CWBB.

The culmination of the annual awards was the presentation of the CWBB Distinction Award for outstanding achievements in building a diverse and inclusive working environment. Tsvetanka Mincheva, Chair of the CWBB, announced the winner in the special category this year, SAP Labs Bulgaria for establishing an internal network managed by employees, whose goal is to support the professional development of women in the company. 

In his opening speech at the 5th Global Women Leaders Forum Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov highlighted the indispensable role of women in public life, the economy and politics. "If we want an economy with a soul, politics with vision and technology with morality, we must listen more to women and act together with them," Zhelyazkov said. In his words, women have traditionally been bearers of resilience and guardians of order. They educate generations and are the first to sense when society loses its balance. "They do not change the world through revolutions, but through perseverance," the Prime Minister added, saying that women do not seek to subdue the world but to heal it.

Iliana Ivanova, member of the European Court of Auditors, told the participants in the Forum that “the female perspective not only enriches public debate, it adds empathy, insight, and attention to long-term solutions that combine the pursuit of economic efficiency with care for people.” Ivanova appealed to women not to be afraid to step outside their comfort zone, to follow their instincts, to be brave and true to themselves, because honesty and consistency build trust and respect.

In a video message from Brussels, MEP Eva Maydell (EPP) said that female leaders have a say in the making of decisions about EU rules and funding, and in determining Europe's stance on global matters. "The female viewpoint adds more meaning and a different perspective to discussions," she said. Maydell noted that the next generation of European leaders is taking shape today. She called on women leaders to support talented ladies.