Claudia Mirza, CEO of Akorbi, Named One of North America’s Top Women Entrepreneurs by EY
Plano, TX (PRWEB) November 16, 2015 -- Claudia Mirza, CEO of Akorbi, today announced she was chosen as one of the 12 entrepreneurs selected for EY's 2015 North American Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ program. She was the only entrepreneur in North Texas selected for the prestigious program this year. EY helps the winners accelerate the growth of their companies through training, advice and access to the resources and networks necessary to grow their companies into formidable forces in their respective industries.
This year’s diverse class of winners is comprised of some of the most promising women in business today. As a group, they average $11.3 million in revenue with a combined $136 million in revenue. Their three-year growth rate is 164%, and their companies average 116 employees. This year’s winners faced more competition than ever. EY received record numbers of qualified applications and nominations, and saw a sharp rise in applicants in STEM-related fields. Twenty-eight percent of this year’s applicants were in the technology sector, compared to 9% in 2014.
Akorbi, the fastest-growing language services provider in the world, offers multilingual business solutions in more than 170 languages to some of the largest companies and government agencies in the world. Akorbi offers a wide range of services, including professional staffing, translation, interpretation, multilingual call centers, business process outsourcing, sign language interpretation, e-Learning and eDiscovery services.
“Being part of the 2015 Class of EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women was an amazing experience,” said Claudia Mirza, CEO of Akorbi. “I have no doubt the experience, knowledge and relationships I’ve developed as a result of going through the program will be invaluable as I continue to build an industry-leading company. I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and would highly encourage other CEOs of fast-growth companies to apply for this phenomenal program.”
Launched in North America in 2008, Entrepreneurial Winning Women is a national competition and executive education program that identifies a select group of high-potential women entrepreneurs from the United States and Canada.
The entrepreneurs are selected by a panel of independent judges and participate in a customized program designed by EY to catalyze their companies’ growth by accessing seasoned business advisors, improving business know-how, expanding external investment options and providing increased visibility. The program continues to help the entrepreneurs in the years that follow their initial selection. Many past winners stay engaged in this community where they find like-minded peers with common values, purpose and entrepreneurial ambition.
“The women in this year’s class have achieved remarkable things in their careers and for their companies. Through our experience as business advisors and the rich entrepreneurial ecosystem we convene, we can help these entrepreneurs overcome obstacles to achieve their full ambitions,” says Kerrie MacPherson, Principal, Financial Services Office, Ernst & Young LLP, and EY North American Entrepreneurial Winning Women Executive Sponsor.
The 12 members of the Entrepreneurial Winning Women class of 2015 received an all-expenses paid trip to the EY Strategic Growth Forum® 2015, a CEO invitation-only gathering of more than 2,000 high-growth business leaders held this week in Palm Springs, CA. The conference presents a one-of-a-kind platform for Entrepreneurial Winning Women to introduce their companies and integrate into a community of EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® winners, top executives, prospective investors and business advisors. The 2015 class members were introduced and honored today at a celebratory luncheon hosted by Steve Howe, Chairman of Ernst & Young LLP and EY Americas Managing Partner, at the EY Strategic Growth Forum.
The entrepreneurs were selected for the 2015 program by a panel of independent judges:
• Mike Cohen, Managing General Partner, VG Partners
• Sarah Kauss, Founder and CEO, S'well (and a member of the 2014 Class of EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women)
• Christina Lampe-Onnerud, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Cadenza Innovation, LLC (formerly Founder and CEO, Boston-Power)
• Steve Streit, Founder, Chairman and CEO, Green Dot Corporation
An investment in the advancement of women that now spans more than 30 countries worldwide, the Entrepreneurial Winning Women program is part of EY Women. Fast forward, a global platform designed to accelerate the achievement of global gender parity.
“Women’s advancement and leadership are central to business performance and economic prosperity,” says Lisa Schiffman, EY Director and Global Co-lead, Women. Fast forward. “Through this accelerator and programs such as Entrepreneurial Winning Women, we are using our influence and resources to catalyse opportunities for women in the workforce and advance their interests around the world.”
Entrepreneurial Winning Women is conducted in collaboration with several organizations that encourage the development of women-owned businesses, including the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), The Committee of 200 (C200), Golden Seeds, the Kauffman Foundation and Babson College’s Center for Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership. For more information on the program, visit ey.com/winningwomen.
About Akorbi
Akorbi offers multilingual business solutions in more than 170 languages to some of the largest companies in the world. The company offers a full range of language, localization and global marketing solutions, including: professional staffing, translation, interpretation, multilingual call centers, business process outsourcing, sign language interpretation, alternate formats, transcription, e-Learning and eDiscovery. The company holds several certifications including ISO 9001:2008, ISO 13485:2003, EN 15038:2006 and M/WBE Certification. For more information, visit http://www.akorbi.com or call 1.877.4.AKORBI.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
Veronica Thomison, MPR Source, Inc., (214) 893-3740, [email protected]
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