Breaking Bias. Building Futures. Biennal Award Night 2026

    Apply for the awards

    Switzerland’s Biennal Award 2026 – Where Equality Meets Innovation.

    The FE+MALE Biennal Awards highlight organizations that take equality seriously—not as a slogan, but as a core part of their daily operations.

    We invite institutions, organizations, SMEs, startups, NGOs, and foundations to showcase how they shape culture, decision-making, procurement, funding, and community engagement with intention and responsibility.

    Our criteria focus on how an organization truly operates:

    • Modern Leadership: How leadership is lived in practice.

    • Inclusive Decision-Making: How decisions are made across the board.

    • Fair Value Chains: How transparent and equitable value chains are built.

    • Capital Allocation: How capital is directed to those shaping the future.

    • Community Engagement: How the organization shows up for its community.

    If these principles are part of your daily practice—visible, measurable, and genuine—then we want to hear from you.

    These awards recognize real commitment, not polished statements.

    "By rethinking long-established practices and adopting research-based approaches, we can shape leadership that is more inclusive, diverse, and capable of meaningful change.

    The Biennial Conference and Award advances this work, offering a model of commitment and forward-looking action. It will provide insights for Swiss business and cultural institutions, including the Locarno Film Festival, aiming to strengthen gender-equality structures.

    Greater gender diversity is not only a social priority; it is a key driver of creativity, resilience, and long-term competitiveness in Switzerland and globally."

    Raphaël Brunschwig 

    Director, Locarno Film Festival

    Raphaël Brunschwig
    Dr. Carole Ackermann

    "The current geopolitical situation and technological and social change are shifting the requirements placed on all industries, including the hospitality sector. 

    We all need to take different perspectives into account. The question is how we can equip students with the right skills to keep pace with this change.

    Diverse teams and inclusive behavior are essential for promoting different ways of thinking and finding creative solutions. "

    Dr. Carole Ackermann

    Chairwoman EHL Group and President of Board of Trustees 

    Biennal Award 2026

    The Biennal Award celebrate organizations that turn equality into strategy. We honour those who drive measurable progress with positive outcomes, embed inclusive decision-making into their core, and ensure that capital and opportunities reach the people shaping the future.

    Our three award categories recognize excellence across leadership culture, strategic decision-making, and societal impact — highlighting the institutions building a more equitable and innovative Switzerland by 2030.

    Categories

    Modern Leadership & Culture Award

    Defining What Modern Leadership Looks Like

    This award honours organizations that embed equality into their leadership culture and everyday practices. It recognises measurable progress, balanced leadership, transparent structures, and a culture where inclusion is lived — not only stated.

    What We Evaluate, for example:

    • EDGE Certification, UN Gender Equality Seal, SDG 5 & 10 commitment
    • Gender ratios across top, middle, lower management & full workforce
    • Employee-support policies (parental leave, care leave, flexible work)
    • Tools to detect and reduce gender gaps (audits, training, assessments)
    • Clarity & transparency in internal communication
    • Male allyship and its impact on culture & progress
    • Support for female founders and local entrepreneurship communities

    Apply for the 'Modern Leadership and Culture Award'

    Inclusive Decision-Making & Value Chain Award

    Where Strategy Meets Inclusive Decision-Making

    This award recognises organizations that integrate inclusion into core strategic decisions — from M&A and Corporate Venture Capital to supplier governance and procurement integrity.

    What We Evaluate, for example:

    M&A & Corporate Venture Capital

    • Number of female-led / female-founded acquisition targets
    • Gender diversity within M&A teams & decision-making roles
    • Use of gender metrics in due diligence and evaluation
    • Impact of inclusive decisions on sourcing, integration, leadership diversity, profit & risk
    • CVC investments in female-founded startups
    • Processes to ensure female-led ventures enter early M&A pipelines

    Supply Chain & Procurement

    • Number of new suppliers & share of female-led suppliers
    • Gender diversity criteria in vendor selection
    • Assessment of gender gaps within the supply chain
    • Bias-free procurement processes (blind scoring, standardised evaluation, diverse panels)
    • Supplier development, mentoring & preferential opportunities
    • Adoption of external frameworks (UNGPs, ISO, B Corp)

    Apply for the 'Inclusive Decision-Making & Value Chain Award' 

    Catalyst Capital & Community Impact Award

    Ensuring Capital Reaches Those Who Redefine the Future

    This award celebrates organizations that allocate capital, funding, and resources fairly and transparently — creating measurable impact for female founders and the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.

    What We Evaluate, for example:

    Funding & Capital Allocation

    • Funding awarded to female-founded companies & organisations
    • Bias-free review of funding applications
    • Gender diversity within funding committees
    • Standardised evaluation processes (blind review, scoring matrices, diverse panels)

    Community & Ecosystem Impact

    • Engagement in philanthropic activities in Switzerland
    • Alignment with SDG 5 & 10
    • Support for local startup and female entrepreneurship initiatives
    • Concrete examples of supporting female founders
    • Male allyship and participation in equality programmes
    • Inclusion of men in awareness-building, leadership, and training activities

      Apply for the 'Catalyst Capital & Community Impact Award' 

       

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    Nomination Process

    Application Timeline & Process

    Open Call: We invite all eligible Swiss organizations to apply through our open online portal.

    Initial Selection: All qualifying submissions will be entered into the Initial Application Pool for review.

    Submission Deadline: Applications must be submitted by February 2, 2026.

    The Jury

    Our jury is composed of experts in:

    • Gender equity & diversity & culture and responsible leadership
    • Corporate governance & procurement
    • Capital allocation & entrepreneurship
    • Public policy, academia, and innovation

    The jury ensures a credible, independent, and transparent evaluation process.

    Longlist

    • Each jury member may nominate up to 7 organizations.
    • Organizations must demonstrate measurable commitment to SDG 4, 5 & 8.
    • Up to 60 organizations become the Longlist.

    Shortlist

    • Organizations with strong evidence or multiple nominations advance.
    • The Jury finalizes a Shortlist of 20–30 organizations.
    • Shortlisted organizations provide additional documentation.
    • Final top 10 list.

    "The Jury will be presented soon." 

    Jury Evaluation (February)

    The jury reviews all materials and casts up to 3 votes per category:

    • Modern Leadership & Culture
    • Inclusive Decision-Making & Value Chain
    • Catalyst Capital & Community Impact

    In February, the jury selects:

    The top 10 organizations will be shortlisted, and the selection process for the three winners will begin.

    The 3 Category Winners

    • Organizations are informed and formally invited to the Award.
    • Public Announcement & Visibility
    • Top 10: Recognized as Switzerland’s leading equality practitioners
    Announcement & Award Ceremony

    • Finalists are honoured

    • Winners in each category are celebrated

    • The winners will participate in the Grand Prix Award, which will be presented during the Biennal & Award 2030 to the organization demonstrating the most transformative systemic impact.

    Winners receive:

    • Official award trophy

    • Jury report summary

    • Media visibility & press outreach

    • Access to the FE+MALE Think Tank network and partner ecosystem

    • Year membership 

    • One page in the Best Observed Practices Guide 2026 of The FE+MALE Think Tank 


    All TOP 10 organizations are featured in:

    • The Best Observed Practices Guide

    • Case studies & social media stories

    • The FE+MALE Think Tank  Award – photos and benchmarks

    • The Biennal Award event

    Program Award Ceremony

    • 17:30 Opening Keynote 

    • 17:45 Introduction to the Award 

    • 18:00 Award Winners Presentation & Talks

    • 18:45 Closing Remarks 

    • 19:00 Networking Apero

    The Program of the Day

    On March 17, 2026, the BFBI Biennal Conference & Award will bring together leaders, founders, investors, policy-makers, and change-makers focused on understanding and overcoming bias in decision-making, while advancing equity, trust, and opportunity toward 2030.

    Through masterclasses, expert talks, panels, and awards, the event combines insight, dialogue, and community-building to drive systemic change—particularly in funding, education, and support for inclusive entrepreneurship.

    Why Your Participation Matters

    By joining the BFBI 2026 Biennal Conference & Award, you are helping move the needle toward a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and unlocking overlooked entrepreneurial potential. We invite you to contribute your experience to a collective effort aimed at real, measurable progress.

    Vote on Key Initiatives: Help us identify and select the three most impactful and feasible projects (across Legal, Education, and Networking) to prioritize in the 2030 Roadmap.

    Masterclass Insights: Gain fresh perspectives on biased decision-making and strategic leadership that you can bring back to your team to improve your organization’s operations.

    Exchange Best Practices: Learn from the Award winners and guest speakers. See what is actually working in other organizations and identify replicable solutions for your own.

    Build Meaningful Connections: Spend the day with people from business, government, and NGOs who are committed to closing the funding and wealth gaps.

    Contribute to Systemic Change: Your involvement directly supports the growth of female entrepreneurship and ensures the continuity of this initiative through 2030.

    Best practices from organizations

    Comming Soon!

    Our Partners

    Our Location Partner

    Our Media Partners

    Our Network Partners

    Our Publishing Partner

    Location

    Gottlieb_Duttweiler_Preis_2019_34

    Be part of the movement toward a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable Switzerland.

    Where: Zurich, Switzerland Creating Futures | GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute

    When: March 17, 2026

    Together, we beat gender unconscious bias.

    Where to Find Us

    FE+MALE Think Tank Strategic Goals

    • Increase gender diversity in Swiss entrepreneurship by 14%; from 37.7% in  2022 → 43.0% female participation in 2030

    • Achieve balanced gender awards engaging individuals, males, and females.

    • Drive systemic impact via education, legal frameworks, networks, investment, and policy influence in Alignment with UN SDG 4, 5, and 8.

    UN Goals