In honor of Women's History Month in March, the Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association (RPOA) proudly announces the fifth annual Women in Talent Acquisition Celebration. Nominations for the Influential and Rising Women in TA are open from February 1 through February 19, 2025.
The Women in Talent Acquisition Celebration is a peer-recognition program that allows the talent acquisition community to spotlight remarkable women for their contributions to their organization, team, and clients. "Having been recognized by my peers through this program over the past four years, I truly believe in the value of peer recognition in developing women leaders," said Pam Verhoff, an advisory board member with the RPOA. "This initiative not only celebrates individual achievements but also fosters a culture of support and empowerment within our industry."
The "Women in the Workplace 2024" report by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org reveals that for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 81 women receive similar promotions. This disparity is even more pronounced for women of color. Such trends contribute to a significant gender gap in leadership, with women holding nearly 30% of C-suite positions—a figure that has seen only modest growth over the past decade. These findings underscore the ongoing challenges in achieving gender parity in leadership roles, both within the staffing industry and across the corporate landscape.
"Every action we take moves us closer to true equality—recognition programs like this one are not just about celebrating success but about amplifying voices, opening doors, and driving real change," said Leslie Vickrey, CEO and Founder of ClearEdge. "There’s a pledge I love: I commit to one deliberate act a day to help another woman rise. The RPOA’s commitment to spotlighting the incredible women shaping talent acquisition is a powerful example of that pledge in action. I look forward to celebrating their achievements and sharing their stories this March."
As the leading association for the RPO industry, the RPOA launched the Influential and Rising Woman in TA awards in 2021, providing a platform to celebrate women’s achievements in talent acquisition. Over the past four years, the RPOA has helped recognize over 200 women in recruitment process outsourcing and talent acquisition. "We take great pride in offering this platform to recognize and empower women in our industry, especially during Women’s History Month," said Lamees Abourahma, CEO at RPOA. "This peer-recognition program not only honors outstanding women but also strengthens our community and fosters greater engagement within the talent acquisition space."
"Championing the women on my team and cultivating a diverse, inclusive workplace is something I am deeply passionate about," said Andrea Barre, RPO Executive Vice President at AgileOne. "The RPOA’s recognition program is instrumental in amplifying women's voices in talent acquisition, celebrating their leadership, and inspiring the next generation of industry trailblazers."
Nominations are open as of February 1 and will close on February 19, or when 50 nominations are reached, whichever comes first. A complete list of nominees will be posted on the RPOA website on March 1, 2025. During March, all nominees will be recognized individually with custom graphics and copy on RPOA’s LinkedIn page.
"I look forward to learning more about the exceptional women within the talent acquisition community who will be recognized this year by their peers," commented Sarah Peiker, advisory board member at the RPOA and former Influential Woman in TA award recipient.
To make a nomination, visit https://rpoassociation.org/2025-Women-in-Talent-acquisition-nominations/. Don’t wait to submit your nomination and miss out on this great opportunity to celebrate women in talent acquisition.
