ColoradoBiz Magazine celebrates the many ways women are trailblazing the economy in Colorado.

International Women’s Day and the Women Leading Colorado

ColoradoBiz Magazine celebrates the many ways women are trailblazing the economy in Colorado.

March 8, 2022
Sarah Carpenter

Women across the globe and everyone who empowers them entered 2022 — ready, to celebrate our collective strength and success — for International Women’s Day, springing the doors open March 8, 2022.
Social platforms and intimate conversations everywhere, overflow with tributes to our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, friends, and everyone in between. I, myself, can’t help but think back on some of the trailblazers I’ve been lucky enough to strive alongside, from my own mother, to women in hospitality and leading Denver businesses.
One of my first jobs while paying my way through college, was under the mentorship of women behind the Denver nonprofit for child advocacy, The Kempe Center (The Kempe Foundation).

It wouldn’t be long before I was pulled into the pulse of the hospitality and restaurant scene, such as working with some of the transformative teams behind Dana Crawford and her landmark hotels, or supporting Julia Joun and the Flatirons Food Film Festival in Boulder.
A new discovery, includes how Tekisha Harvey is changing the narrative for women leaders in the cannabis industry in Colorado and nationwide, as co-founder of CannaCurious Magazine and Director of Marketing at FlowerHire.

International Women’s Day has honored women around the world for over a century now, with movements marching from New York to Europe and Asia, and back around again. The platform preserving its history and vision, welcomes a global collective in “celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women,” which looks toward a “world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated” (#BreakTheBias).

At ColoradoBiz Magazine, one of the many ways we join the collective is by recognizing the Top 100 Woman-Owned Companies across Colorado, in our annual list of woman-owned firms collected by May 12, 2022. We also anticipate to see game-changers shaping the next generation of Colorado’s economy in our Top GenXYZ, Top Most Influential Young Professionals in Colorado — submissions open to this Friday, March 11, 2022.

In 2020, ColoradoBiz featured women leading the way across every industry and enterprise in Colorado: “They are CEOs, startup founders, strategists and irreplaceable employees who are instrumental in their own organization’s success. Through their daily actions and achievements, they open a world of possibilities for the next generation of women in business to build upon.”

During the summer of 2019, inspiration filled the air at event gatherings and more, in celebration of the Top Women in Business with ColoradoBiz. “In an ever-evolving business landscape, these fearless women business owners are navigating, strategizing, building and motivating in Colorado and beyond. From startup founders to CEOs, owners, mentors and team members, these females are carving out opportunities for the next generation to follow in their footsteps,” shared Brianna Dowell, Marketing and Events Manager at ColoradoBiz.
Recently, our teams have had the fortune of connecting with women business leaders and their partners across the community and at large.

Launching Labs Marketing, an agency based in Boulder, just earned an international award for its excellence in branding. The women and teams behind High 5 Plumbing are innovating the plumbing industry across Denver. Colorado Network Staffing just rang in 25 years of success as a women-owned company. Jones Law Firm, PC and its founder and CEO April D. Jones, continues to empower diversity in the workplace and beyond.

The ColoradoBiz print issue that just hit stands for Spring 2022, features movers and shakers in Denver from Helen Young Hayes, founder and CEO of Activate Workforce Solutions, and Katherine Wells, founder and CEO of Serenity Engage, to work Made in Colorado by artists like Gina Klawitter of Maternity Sculptures, to Denise Weaver of Smart by Nature Soaps.

As we commemorate women in moments like this week and all month — including months throughout the year sharing stories about BIPOC, LGBTQ+, Disability Awareness, Veterans, and more — may we continue to shine in our remembrance and excellence every day, beyond our holidays.