A Look Back at 2009

Matrix Awards 2009 at the Waldorf-Astoria.

See Honorees & Presenters

Read More

NYWICI Foundation Scholarship Winners get Seventeen Magazine Covers!

Take a look at our beautiful scholarship winners on the cover of Seventeen Magazine!

Read More

FIVE PLAY of The DIVA Jazz Orchestra to perform at the Matrix Awards 2009

We are excited to announce that FIVE PLAY of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra will be playing at the Matrix Awards this year! Learn more about FIVE PLAY on their web site.

Check out this video of Groove Merchant:

Read More

NYWICI Foundation Scholarship Winners Join Seventeen Magazine for Dinner

On Monday, March 30th, 2009 the Matrix Scholarship winners were invited to the Hearst Tower to celebrate their achievement. Beautiful photo of the ladies below.

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Advertising: Linda Sawyer

Linda Sawyer is the CEO of Deutsch Inc. and the recipient of our 2009 Matrix Award for Advertising.

Her philosophy:
"Every problem has a solution. It might not be the obvious one, but there's always a solution."

Describe Linda in three words:
"Perceptive, gracious and focused."

--Paula Alex, CEO, Advertising Education Foundations

"Super-smart, great instincts, confidence."

--Val Difebo, President, Deutsch New York

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Arts and Entertainment - S. Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson is an award-winning actress and the recipient of the 2009 Matrix Award in Arts & Entertainment.

Some random thoughts...

"My biggest motivation was moving to NYC and getting a chance to observe and work with great actors."

"In books you can find the road to characters."

"I was a hard head when I started out"

"Wearing a wig as Lt. Van Buren was a definite character choice. Plus it allows me some personal anonymity."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Broadcasting: Campbell Brown

Campbell Brown is a CNN Anchor for Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull, and the recipient of our 2009 Matrix Award for Broadcasting.

On her earliest professional experiences:

"My first job was with television in Topeka, Kansas, I got paid $6 an hour."

"My first story was something like "Cat in a Tree." I remember feeling more nervous about trying to get that story right than I had ever felt before. During my first live shot, there was a monitor nearby where you could see the feed coming in from your television station and I couldn't decide whether to look at the monitor or the camera. I was a deer in the headlights completely. But fortunately the good people of Topeka were willing to let me learn on the job and they were very forgiving."

On making the most of the college experience:

"I think you should major in things that you are passionate about, be it politics or history, and have some broad basis of knowledge. Also, take journalism classes and internships in tandem with having a really solid liberal arts education. I think that gives a budding young journalist an excellent foundation."

On the pacing of news industry:

"The thing about cable news is that it happens so quickly so you don't have time to second guess or revisit things, you move on to the next story and the next day. It's a very "in the moment" kind of business. The news business in general is -- there's always another story. You're always forward looking in a way that doesn't give you a lot of time to be contemplative. In an ideal world, we'd all have much more time to sort of sit back and think about the show and the work we're doing but it's too fast paced."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Digital Media: Dany Levy

Dany Levi is Founder and Editorial Director for DailyCandy.com and is the recipient of our 2009 Matrix Award for Digital Media.

















On building her brand:

"DailyCandy has become a nationwide and global brand. Editors strive not to spoon feed NYC style and attitude to readers. Each city is unique, and editors live in the city they cover and know the cultural climate, mindset and what's relevant there."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Magazines: Linda Wells

Linda Wells is the Editor-in-Chief of Allure and the recipient of the 2009 Matrix Award in Magazines.

Linda's Philosophy:

"I'm always looking for something that's meaningful to women."

On getting great writers and contributors for the magazine:

"We used to send John Updike these letters every six months, asking him to write for Allure. He'd always respond on these postcards, the kind that you would buy at some obscure New England post office, and say something like 'Well, I don't think I'll write for your magazine,' which was mildly embarrassing. But then I thought of an idea that would appeal to him based on what I knew of his life, and one day this envelope arrived containing a whole typed article! There was no contract, there was no arrangement. It was unheard of!

On what makes a woman beautiful:

"I think most people ultimately want to look like themselves. It sounds so hackneyed, but confidence is really what makes a woman beautiful. For example, I was recently out on the beach in Antigua when a woman came up to me and asked for advice managing her hair under hot and humid conditions. Every tip I gave her was something that she had tried before that didn't work. Finally I thought, 'You're on vacation! Take a swim! Relax!' To me, preoccupation with beauty and self-involvement -- at the expense of experiencing the pleasure of life -- is really unattractive."

On inexperience:

"I'm so glad I knew nothing when I started my career. I think that naiveté is so protective because it enables you to ask a lot of questions, keeps you incredibly open to learning and new experiences and also allows you to make some mistakes!"

On the role of Allure:

"Beauty can be loaded and sort of ditzy, but I love exploring it and finding a connection between appearance and self-esteem, and helping our readers learn and grow from that."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Marketing: Sherrie Rollins Westin

Sherrie Rollins Westin is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Sesame Workshop.
















On her favorite Muppet:

"Grover - because of his quirky sense of humor -- but don't tell Elmo!"

On the prestige of the Matrix Award:

"I didn't realize how much this award really meant until I found out I was to receive it. Since then, I've had so many women from the most prominent to the youngest women in my office tell me how important they thought it was. And I feel honored to add my name to a list of so many women for whom I have so much admiration and respect."

On her earliest career goals:

"I wanted to go into either Special Education or Graphic Arts - of course neither of
which I did!"

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Newspapers: Monica Langley

Monica Langley is the Deputy Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journaland the recipient of the 2009 Matrix Award in Newspapers.

On the current financial crisis:

"The fall of these iconic companies underscores a broader issue in the crisis. In recent years, Citi, GM, AIG and others had ample warning signs of big problems to come. Rather than correct them, they -- along with their boards, regulators and shareholders -- went along because the money was rolling in. Money papered over serious threats. That these titans are teetering highlights how America is transforming into a new business era with far fewer dominant franchises. It's a move that could impact the economy for years. Of course, dramatic change has arrived in Washington as well, in the person, policies and politics of Barack Obama. I'm in a fascinating spot to report on these dramatic changes in the government and in business - and how they'll be intersecting for years to come."


Observations from Mike Siconolfi, Senior Editor, The Wall Street Journal:

"Last year, Monica was profiling Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. She was pushing to find out what made this one-time governor and business executive tick -- and found it in, of all places, his briefcase. Noticing that Mr. Romney always cradled his briefcase between campaign stops in New Hampshire, she nestled next to him in a car and asked for a look inside. Mr. Romney was hesitant at first (no one had ever asked him to do this), but he eventually relented -- revealing that he literally ran a "by-the-book" campaign filled with data, data and more data, but with little emotion to touch voters. Looking into his briefcase helped seal a powerful story that presaged the collapse of the candidacy of this professionally impressive but emotionally aloof candidate who never seemed able to connect with voters."

"Monica rigorously prepares for interviews, but also follows her instincts. A couple of years back, she was writing about the auto industry's woes and interviewed Bill Ford. As she chatted with Mr. Ford about his company's troubles, Monica noticed at one point that he was particularly uncomfortable, and immediately asked: "What are you NOT telling me?" Mr. Ford conceded that there was something brewing, but stressed that he couldn't say just yet. Monica seized on that, and asked him to promise to tell her first. The tack paid off days later, when Monica broke a story on the Journal's front page that Mr. Ford was stepping down as Ford CEO and naming Alan Mulally to the post."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Public Relations: Leslee Dart

Leslee Dart is the Founder and CEO of 42 West and the recipient of the 2009 Matrix Award in Public Relations.


















On her future plans:

"Explore my passions, most notably wildlife conservation in Africa. And to leave the suburbs where I moved a few years ago. I miss the action of Manhattan."

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Marie Dugo

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Nina Elias

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Emily Freisher

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Maggie Groves

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Kristen Joerger

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Rachel Johnson

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Carol Kuruvilla

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Kayla LeGoff

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Sydney Lowe

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Miki Onwudinjo

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Chelsea Orcutt

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Kelli Plasket

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Charlotte Schaefer

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Sara Spruch-Feiner

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Elizabeth Stoltz

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Kaitlin Tambuscio

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Taylor Trudon

Read More

See you at the Matrix Awards 2009 - Monday April 27th at the Waldorf-Astoria.

See Honorees & Presenters

Get Tickets

Read More

NYWICI Foundation Scholarship Winners get Seventeen Magazine Covers!

Take a look at our beautiful scholarship winners on the cover of Seventeen Magazine!

Read More

FIVE PLAY of The DIVA Jazz Orchestra to perform at the Matrix Awards 2009

We are excited to announce that FIVE PLAY of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra will be playing at the Matrix Awards this year! Learn more about FIVE PLAY on their web site.

Check out this video of Groove Merchant:

Read More

NYWICI Foundation Scholarship Winners Join Seventeen Magazine for Dinner

On Monday, March 30th, 2009 the Matrix Scholarship winners were invited to the Hearst Tower to celebrate their achievement. Beautiful photo of the ladies below.

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Advertising: Linda Sawyer

Linda Sawyer is the CEO of Deutsch Inc. and the recipient of our 2009 Matrix Award for Advertising.

Her philosophy:
"Every problem has a solution. It might not be the obvious one, but there's always a solution."

Describe Linda in three words:
"Perceptive, gracious and focused."

--Paula Alex, CEO, Advertising Education Foundations

"Super-smart, great instincts, confidence."

--Val Difebo, President, Deutsch New York

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Arts and Entertainment - S. Epatha Merkerson

S. Epatha Merkerson is an award-winning actress and the recipient of the 2009 Matrix Award in Arts & Entertainment.

Some random thoughts...

"My biggest motivation was moving to NYC and getting a chance to observe and work with great actors."

"In books you can find the road to characters."

"I was a hard head when I started out"

"Wearing a wig as Lt. Van Buren was a definite character choice. Plus it allows me some personal anonymity."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Broadcasting: Campbell Brown

Campbell Brown is a CNN Anchor for Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull, and the recipient of our 2009 Matrix Award for Broadcasting.

On her earliest professional experiences:

"My first job was with television in Topeka, Kansas, I got paid $6 an hour."

"My first story was something like "Cat in a Tree." I remember feeling more nervous about trying to get that story right than I had ever felt before. During my first live shot, there was a monitor nearby where you could see the feed coming in from your television station and I couldn't decide whether to look at the monitor or the camera. I was a deer in the headlights completely. But fortunately the good people of Topeka were willing to let me learn on the job and they were very forgiving."

On making the most of the college experience:

"I think you should major in things that you are passionate about, be it politics or history, and have some broad basis of knowledge. Also, take journalism classes and internships in tandem with having a really solid liberal arts education. I think that gives a budding young journalist an excellent foundation."

On the pacing of news industry:

"The thing about cable news is that it happens so quickly so you don't have time to second guess or revisit things, you move on to the next story and the next day. It's a very "in the moment" kind of business. The news business in general is -- there's always another story. You're always forward looking in a way that doesn't give you a lot of time to be contemplative. In an ideal world, we'd all have much more time to sort of sit back and think about the show and the work we're doing but it's too fast paced."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Digital Media: Dany Levy

Dany Levi is Founder and Editorial Director for DailyCandy.com and is the recipient of our 2009 Matrix Award for Digital Media.

















On building her brand:

"DailyCandy has become a nationwide and global brand. Editors strive not to spoon feed NYC style and attitude to readers. Each city is unique, and editors live in the city they cover and know the cultural climate, mindset and what's relevant there."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Magazines: Linda Wells

Linda Wells is the Editor-in-Chief of Allure and the recipient of the 2009 Matrix Award in Magazines.

Linda's Philosophy:

"I'm always looking for something that's meaningful to women."

On getting great writers and contributors for the magazine:

"We used to send John Updike these letters every six months, asking him to write for Allure. He'd always respond on these postcards, the kind that you would buy at some obscure New England post office, and say something like 'Well, I don't think I'll write for your magazine,' which was mildly embarrassing. But then I thought of an idea that would appeal to him based on what I knew of his life, and one day this envelope arrived containing a whole typed article! There was no contract, there was no arrangement. It was unheard of!

On what makes a woman beautiful:

"I think most people ultimately want to look like themselves. It sounds so hackneyed, but confidence is really what makes a woman beautiful. For example, I was recently out on the beach in Antigua when a woman came up to me and asked for advice managing her hair under hot and humid conditions. Every tip I gave her was something that she had tried before that didn't work. Finally I thought, 'You're on vacation! Take a swim! Relax!' To me, preoccupation with beauty and self-involvement -- at the expense of experiencing the pleasure of life -- is really unattractive."

On inexperience:

"I'm so glad I knew nothing when I started my career. I think that naiveté is so protective because it enables you to ask a lot of questions, keeps you incredibly open to learning and new experiences and also allows you to make some mistakes!"

On the role of Allure:

"Beauty can be loaded and sort of ditzy, but I love exploring it and finding a connection between appearance and self-esteem, and helping our readers learn and grow from that."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Marketing: Sherrie Rollins Westin

Sherrie Rollins Westin is the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Sesame Workshop.
















On her favorite Muppet:

"Grover - because of his quirky sense of humor -- but don't tell Elmo!"

On the prestige of the Matrix Award:

"I didn't realize how much this award really meant until I found out I was to receive it. Since then, I've had so many women from the most prominent to the youngest women in my office tell me how important they thought it was. And I feel honored to add my name to a list of so many women for whom I have so much admiration and respect."

On her earliest career goals:

"I wanted to go into either Special Education or Graphic Arts - of course neither of
which I did!"

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Newspapers: Monica Langley

Monica Langley is the Deputy Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journaland the recipient of the 2009 Matrix Award in Newspapers.

On the current financial crisis:

"The fall of these iconic companies underscores a broader issue in the crisis. In recent years, Citi, GM, AIG and others had ample warning signs of big problems to come. Rather than correct them, they -- along with their boards, regulators and shareholders -- went along because the money was rolling in. Money papered over serious threats. That these titans are teetering highlights how America is transforming into a new business era with far fewer dominant franchises. It's a move that could impact the economy for years. Of course, dramatic change has arrived in Washington as well, in the person, policies and politics of Barack Obama. I'm in a fascinating spot to report on these dramatic changes in the government and in business - and how they'll be intersecting for years to come."


Observations from Mike Siconolfi, Senior Editor, The Wall Street Journal:

"Last year, Monica was profiling Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. She was pushing to find out what made this one-time governor and business executive tick -- and found it in, of all places, his briefcase. Noticing that Mr. Romney always cradled his briefcase between campaign stops in New Hampshire, she nestled next to him in a car and asked for a look inside. Mr. Romney was hesitant at first (no one had ever asked him to do this), but he eventually relented -- revealing that he literally ran a "by-the-book" campaign filled with data, data and more data, but with little emotion to touch voters. Looking into his briefcase helped seal a powerful story that presaged the collapse of the candidacy of this professionally impressive but emotionally aloof candidate who never seemed able to connect with voters."

"Monica rigorously prepares for interviews, but also follows her instincts. A couple of years back, she was writing about the auto industry's woes and interviewed Bill Ford. As she chatted with Mr. Ford about his company's troubles, Monica noticed at one point that he was particularly uncomfortable, and immediately asked: "What are you NOT telling me?" Mr. Ford conceded that there was something brewing, but stressed that he couldn't say just yet. Monica seized on that, and asked him to promise to tell her first. The tack paid off days later, when Monica broke a story on the Journal's front page that Mr. Ford was stepping down as Ford CEO and naming Alan Mulally to the post."

Read More

Matrix Award Winner in Public Relations: Leslee Dart

Leslee Dart is the Founder and CEO of 42 West and the recipient of the 2009 Matrix Award in Public Relations.


















On her future plans:

"Explore my passions, most notably wildlife conservation in Africa. And to leave the suburbs where I moved a few years ago. I miss the action of Manhattan."

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Marie Dugo

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Nina Elias

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Emily Freisher

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Maggie Groves

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Kristen Joerger

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Rachel Johnson

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Carol Kuruvilla

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Kayla LeGoff

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Sydney Lowe

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Miki Onwudinjo

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Chelsea Orcutt

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Kelli Plasket

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Charlotte Schaefer

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Sara Spruch-Feiner

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Elizabeth Stoltz

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Kaitlin Tambuscio

Read More

New York Women in Communications Foundation Scholarship Winner-Taylor Trudon

Read More