2025 Athena Awards

The Athena Awards are a long-standing banquet to recognize girls, women and allies from young scholars to seasoned professionals that exemplify The Eight Principles of Enlightened Leadership:
Live Authentically & Learn Constantly
Build Relationships & Foster Collaboration
Act Courageously & Advocate Fiercely
Give Back & Celebrate

ATHENA International is a non-profit catalyst for developing diverse, transformative leaders who create a balance in leadership voices worldwide. We Ignite, Amplify and Celebrate girls, women and allies through experiential programs that empower them to discover and activate the transformative leader within. More than 40 years ago, our founder, Martha Mertz, was told that women are not leaders. She obviously felt otherwise and believed that if women were recognized for their leadership achievements, they could no longer be dismissed. In this vision, ATHENA International has honored 8,200+ trailblazers and change makers, who are opening doors of leadership opportunities for women and girls around the world.