Women of Influence RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards 2026

For more than three decades, the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards have recognized and celebrated the strides of Canada’s most accomplished, influential, and impactful women. It is the leading women’s awards program in the nation, elevating this group’s important contributions – from economic growth to social change across sectors and industries. We are thrilled to continue to highlight the success stories of the nation’s most impressive entrepreneurs, and to watch as the women in this community continue to unlock new heights of success. It is our honour to do our part to highlight their impact and celebrate their achievements.

• Table of Content
• About Women of Influence
• Women of Influence Contest
• Requirements for Women of Influence Contest Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Women of Influence Contest
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

Women of Influence Contest

Requirements for Women of Influence Contest Qualification

Nominees must meet all eligibility criteria in order to apply for the 34th Annual RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards. To see if you qualify, please visit our Eligibility Page or email us at [email protected] for more information.

Basic Eligibility Criteria:

Please note: Certain eligibility criteria do not factor in if you are applying to the Social Change Award and the Ones to Watch Award. Please review additional criteria that applies to each specific Award category

1. Must be the leader of a non-profit or business registered as a sole proprietorship or corporation for three full years as of April 30, 2026*.
2. Her business must have been profitable in the last fiscal year. For registered charities, not-for-profits and social enterprises, this means financially stable and meeting all spending quotas when applicable. 
3. She must currently own shares in the company.**
4. She must hold the most senior executive title and/or be the chief decision maker.
5. She must be the founder of the business and/or have had a significant impact on the company if acquired. (Nominees applying to the Social Change Award must demonstrate how they’ve had a significant impact as the leader of the organization.)

* Not applicable to those applying for the Ones to Watch Award.

** Not applicable to those applying for the Social Change Award.

Looking for more details on each award criteria? You can decide which award category is the best fit here.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Women of Influence Contest

Key Dates 2026

• Nominations Open: Monday, January 19
• Nominations Deadline: Friday, March 20
• Applications Deadline: Thursday, May 14
• Applicant Status Notification: Monday, June 29
• Finalists Announced: Thursday, September 10
• Awards Gala: Friday, November 13

Check also:
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027
Global Korea Scholarship 2027

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Applying for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards is done in three steps.

1. Get Nominated
   • Entrepreneurs must be nominated by March 20, 2026. If you have received an email notifying you of your nomination – congratulations! You can follow the links within the email to take you to the next steps. If you have not been nominated yet, why not nominate yourself?
2. Confirm Your Eligibility by Completing Your Eligibility Confirmation Form
   • All nominees must complete the Eligibility Confirmation Form prior to starting their application. This form confirms your eligibility as an official Award Applicant and the information gathered here is a required component of your complete application. A link to this form will be included in your nomination kickback email.
3. Submit Your Formal Application
   • All nominees who successfully complete their Eligibility Confirmation will be emailed a link to the official Award Application. Remember – we have resources to help you! Be sure to check out our Frequently Asked Questions below to help you create an award-winning application.

For more details, kindly visit Women of Influence scholarship webpage.