Judging Process
The judging process is a vital component of the Digital Women Awards, and we take great care in assembling a panel of the most experienced and highly-regarded experts in the digital industry. Our judges bring their unique perspectives and areas of expertise, united by their recognition of the challenges that women face in digital and their commitment to advancing women's leadership in digital industries.
The Process:
Nominations: All categories are open for nominations, particularly in the individual categories. Once an individual has been nominated, we will reach out to them (provided contact details have been submitted) and invite them to submit a full entry, giving the judges a comprehensive understanding of the nominee's work and achievements over the last 12 months. We also encourage self-nomination, as we believe that anyone who deserves an award should seise the opportunity to enter. You also do not need to be nominated or nominate to enter the awards fully. You can enter fully from the 7th March.
Important dates:
Nominations Open: 29th Feb 2024
Award Entry Opens: 7th March 2024
Entries Close: 15th April 2024
Shortlist Announced: 22nd Aprill 2024
Awards Ceremony in London - Early July 2024. (date TBC)
Entries: Some categories are based on straight submissions, where you will enter online based on the criteria for each category. We will then use these criteria (below) to narrow the entries down to a shortlist. The shortlist will be passed to our judges to make final decisions which will be presented at the Awards ceremony.
Shortlist: The shortlist and our list of 100 DIGITAL WOMEN TO WATCH will be released in April 2024.
By submitting a full entry you agree to the terms and conditions
We use a criteria for each category and a scoring system:
Universal Criteria (Applicable to All Categories)
Innovation and Creativity: How the entrant has demonstrated originality in their approach.
Impact and Effectiveness: The measurable outcomes and benefits of their work.
Leadership and Vision: The leadership qualities displayed and their vision for the future.
Design and Usability: Particularly for digital products, platforms, or content, how well these aspects are executed.
Social Responsibility and Ethics: How their work aligns with ethical practices and contributes positively to society.
Category-Specific Criteria
Digital Woman of the Year & Young Digital Woman of the Year
Career Progression: Evidence of significant career milestones achieved in a short period.
Digital Utilisation: How effectively digital tools and platforms are leveraged for business or career advancement.
Digital Woman for Good & Digital Community Leader of the Year
Community Impact: The extent to which their work has supported or uplifted a community.
Engagement and Mobilisation: How they've engaged with their audience or community and mobilised them towards a cause or activity.
Role Model of the Year
Inspirational Influence: Demonstrated ability to inspire and positively influence others.
Personal Development: How they contribute to their own and others' personal and professional growth.
Digital Entrepreneur of the Year & Digital Innovator of the Year
Market Impact: The impact of their innovation or business on the market or industry.
Risk Management: How they've navigated risks and challenges in their entrepreneurial journey.
Digital Freelancer of the Year & VA - Virtual Assistant of the Year
Client Satisfaction: Testimonials or evidence of high satisfaction among clients or collaborators.
Versatility and Adaptability: Ability to handle various tasks and adapt to different working conditions or requirements.
Digital Carer of the Year
Balance and Integration: How they've successfully managed caregiving responsibilities alongside digital work.
Resilience and Problem-Solving: Demonstrated resilience in facing and overcoming challenges.
Digital Creator of the Year & Product Creator of the Year
Content/Product Quality: The quality, relevance, and utility of the content or product created.
Audience Engagement: The level of engagement and impact on their target audience.
Podcast of the Year & Woman-Led Community of the Year
Community Building: Success in creating and nurturing a vibrant, engaged community.
Content Consistency: Regularity and quality of content delivery.
Women’s Champion Award
Support and Empowerment: Evidence of initiatives or actions taken to support and empower other women.
Community Contribution: Contributions to creating supportive networks or communities.
Role-Based Awards (e.g., Social Media Manager Of The Year, SEO Practitioner, etc.)
Professional Excellence: Demonstrated excellence and results in their specific digital role.
Innovative Practices: Innovative approaches and techniques applied within their field.
How Judging works:
Each entry will be assessed by our panel of judges against specific criteria established for the award category (shown above). These criteria reflect the core values and objectives of the Digital Women Awards, including innovation, impact, leadership, and social responsibility, among others.
Scoring Scale
For each criterion, entries will receive a score on a scale from 1 to 5:
1 (Low Compatibility): Does not meet the basic expectations for the criterion.
2: Meets some expectations for the criterion but lacks in several key areas.
3 (Adequate): Satisfactorily meets the expectations for the criterion.
4: Exceeds the basic expectations with notable achievements.
5 (High Compatibility): Significantly exceeds expectations, demonstrating exceptional achievement.
Criteria Weighting
Each criterion is equally weighted unless otherwise specified, ensuring a balanced and comprehensive evaluation of each submission's merits.
Shortlisting Process
Aggregate Scoring: The scores from each criterion are summed to form a total score for each entry.
Threshold for Shortlisting: Entries must reach a specified minimum score to be considered for shortlisting. This ensures that only the most compelling submissions are shortlisted and forwarded to our judges for the final selection of winners and runner-ups.
Judge Deliberation: For entries with close scores or where there's significant variance in scores among judges, further discussion may take place to reach a consensus.
Why This Matters
This scoring system allows us to provide detailed feedback to entrants, should they request it, and ensures a level playing field for all participants. It encourages entrants to carefully consider each criterion and present their submissions in a way that aligns closely with the awards' values.
For Entrants
We encourage you to review the criteria closely as you prepare your submission. Consider how your project or initiative aligns with each criterion and be sure to highlight these aspects in your entry. Our goal is to celebrate and acknowledge the incredible achievements of women in digital spaces, and this scoring system helps us recognise those who truly stand out in their contributions and impact.
Our expert judges will meet to discuss the shortlist and select the winners, with each judge responsible for making recommendations to the judging panel for each category. The winners will be selected by the judging committee, with the agreement that the nominee is the best in their respective category.
Voting: The majority of the awards are judged, but for tools and services categories, the winners will be determined by a vote of the Digital Women community. The tools with the most votes will be announced as the winners. We have implemented software to prevent any attempts to manipulate the voting system.
About Us:
We are Digital Women, a community established to empower over 1 million women through the sharing and development of digital skills. Our focus is on the growth and success of women in digital and business, and we strive to provide the best support, skills, and networking opportunities to help our community of brilliant, like-minded professionals reach their goals.
