December’s MVC Award – Nominate your inspiring community members

“Don’t worry about being successful, but work toward being significant and the success will naturally follow.”

If anyone knows a thing or two about inspiration and success, it’s the speaker of the above quote, Oprah Winfrey. And she’s right— people all over the world are working towards making significant changes that inspire women and improves lives. But there’s still a long way to go. Happily, we believe that technology and social progress go hand-in-hand, which is why this month’s MVC is about people who inspire women and those who keep women at the heart of everything they do. We are eager to recognise both determined women and those people who spur women to achieve their full potential.

Technology, the great leveler

Technology is revolutionizing the world around us by opening up new opportunities, optimizing success, and helping people everywhere not only inspire change, but achieve it. Technology makes wonderful things possible and can help to create the change that’s shaping the world.

Inspiring people

This month’s MVC theme is all about celebrating those who inspire change and challenge the status quo. From our partnerships with programs such as the Thompson Reuters Foundation, to our Women in Tech meet-ups to the amazing female community members such as MVC judges, Celine, Jen & Emanuela, Connects has been working hard to support the empowerment of women. And we aren’t alone in this quest.

Take for example, Cairo-based citizen journalist Roger Anis, winner of last year’s Thompson Reuters Photo Award. Roger’s work both inspired and empowered women, using imagery to depict “the struggle of Egyptian women to assert their rights at a critical time in the nation’s history,” all while covertly using his Lumia 1020.

Another great example would be our own MVC judge Celine Navarro. Celine is a Lumia Hero, self-starter, and business owner who also helps to manage an online community for artists and teach Scrapbook/Mixed Media/Photography workshops around the world. Celine uses her Lumia to capture all that inspires her and others along the way.

So what exactly are we looking for?

We’re looking for either an inspiring woman or someone who inspires women. Perhaps you’re a woman who started her own business from scratch, using Microsoft technology. Perhaps you know someone who runs a program that puts technology into the hands of women who need it most. Whatever it is, whoever it is, we want to hear from you.

Think you know someone who fits the bill? Fantastic! Let’s give people recognition for their work in inspiring women everywhere who are using the technology at their fingertips to make their mark. Here are two ways to shout their names from the MVC rooftops:

Tweet @Connects with the hashtag #ConnectsMVC, Twitter handle or name of your nomination and the reason they’re being nominated.

Send an email to Sophie with as much information as you can, explaining whom you’re nominating and why your nominee’s inspiring.

Remember – we’re thinking outside the box here, so tell us why this person is amazing in your eyes and it just might be that our MVC judges agree with you (as mentioned above, there’s some pretty inspirational women among our judges too).

For more information on MVC, our past winners and our awesome judges, click here. And if you have any questions or comments, be sure to share them down below.