Women in Business Leadership Scholarship
2026 Women in Business Leadership Scholarship
What is the Women in Business Leadership Scholarship?
The Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award celebrates exceptional women entrepreneurs and leaders who are breaking barriers, and making a difference in their fields. By recognizing and supporting emerging women leaders, Zonta is investing in a future where women have an equal voice in shaping the decisions that affect workplaces, communities and economies.
How does the Women in Business Leadership Scholarship work?
Women*, aged 18-35 at the time of application, who demonstrate evidence of the following, are eligible to apply.
Exceptional leadership in a business-related field of study or industry.
Entrepreneurial spirit.
Ethical conduct.
Significant contributions to addressing global or local issues affecting women and girls or climate justice.
*To be eligible, you must consistently live and identify as a woman.
The Zonta Foothills Club of Boulder County selects a local winner to receive its $5,000 scholarship. This business student is then considered for additional scholarship funding at both the district and international levels. The District 12 winner, selected from a four-state region (CO, MT, SD, WY), moves on to compete for one of 10 Zonta International Foundation awards of $5,000 and a complimentary one-year supporting membership in Zonta International for the next financial year.
Applications are Due by 11:59 pm on November 1st, 2026.
Download the 2026 Application Here
Our winner will be selected by November 30, and submitted for consideration at the next levels of competition.
Molly Finnegan, our 2025 Women in Business Leadership Scholarship winner
Molly is a junior at the University of Colorado, Boulder, in the Leeds School of Business. Originally from Evanston, Ill, she is a dual major in Marketing and Business Analytics with an emphasis in Global Business. She explains that “Leadership is more than a title to me. It's using your voice, resources, and experiences to create opportunities for others and meaningful solutions that last.” She explains that she “leads with empathy, curiosity, and emotional intelligence. These qualities are the foundation of who I am as an individual, and why I constantly seek opportunities where business and impact intersect.”
At the Showa Women's University in Tokyo, she worked with a team of scholars and Showa students to develop a scalable strategy to expand quality education in Kenya, aligning with the UN SDGs. Through this program, she navigated cultural differences, led diverse teams, and applied entrepreneurial thinking to global challenges. Through the Leeds Scholars Outreach Project, she mentors local high school students and younger children at Boulder’s Family Learning Center.
Molly explains that the Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award will “allow me to pursue my goals with greater focus and impact. …using business to advance sustainability, equity, and opportunity for women and girls, I will broaden my leadership, proving that business can be a powerful tool for empowerment and change.”
