WIT to Honor Industry Leaders 2

Jill Barad and Geena Davis will be honored at the Wonder Women Awards Gala, Feb. 19.

Women in Toys will recognize Jill Barad (left), formerly of Mattel, with its Lifetime Achievement Award and Geena Davis (right) of the Bentonville Film Festival at its 13th annual awards gala.

Barad is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Mattel. During her tenure, she became one of the most prominent female chief executives in America and was one of the few women at the helm of a Fortune 500 company. She also helped build Barbie from a $320 million business to a $2 billion global brand.

Davis is the co-founder and chair of the Bentonville Film Festival as well as the founder of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. She has been at the forefront of gender equality in film and entertainment, and advocates to the toy industry on the importance of improving gender balance, reducing stereotyping and creating diverse female characters in kids’ entertainment.

“We are thrilled to be honoring Geena Davis and Jill Barad this year,” says Genna Rosenberg, co-chair, Wonder Women Awards Gala, and principal, GennComm. “Both have made history for women in our industry and helped pave the way for today’s businesswoman to grow, thrive and prosper on a more level playing field.”

This year’s Wonder Women Awards Gala theme is WIT Changemakers: Playing it Forward, and will recognize and honor female executives who are creating positive change by giving back, passing on the lessons they’ve learned and paving the way for future leaders.

Barad and Davis will be honored at the 13th annual Wonder Women Awards Gala, Feb. 19, at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers in New York City.