Global Publishing Leaders Honored at Bologna Book Fair

The PublisHer Excellence Awards recently celebrated influential women making a strong impact across the global publishing industry. The awards ceremony took place during the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and highlighted achievements in leadership, innovation, and long term industry contribution.

Third Annual Awards Celebrate Industry Progress

This year marked the third edition of the PublisHer Excellence Awards. The event honored women at different stages of their careers whose work continues to strengthen and transform the international publishing landscape.

Sheikha Bodour Highlights Women’s Leadership

During the ceremony, Sheikha Bodour emphasized the growing role of women in shaping the future of publishing. She noted that women are actively building the industry’s future through leadership, creativity, and innovation rather than waiting for change to happen.

International Recognition Across 34 Countries

The 2026 awards received 102 nominations from 34 countries, reflecting the growing influence of women in publishing worldwide. The strong global participation highlighted the diversity of talent and leadership within the industry.

2026 Award Winners Announced

The awards recognized three publishing professionals for their outstanding contributions:

Emerging Leader Award

Ana María Bermúdez, Publisher at Penguin Random House Mexico, received the Emerging Leader Award for her growing influence and leadership in publishing.

Innovation Award

Monique Leite, Founder and Director of PlenaVoz, was honored with the Innovation Award for her creative contributions and forward thinking work within the industry.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Ana María Cabanellas, President and Publisher of Grupo Claridad, received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her long standing contributions to publishing.

Focus on Inclusion and Industry Access

Following the announcement, Ana María Bermúdez shared that the award represents progress for women leaders and aspiring professionals in publishing. She explained that conversations around inclusion, accessibility, and expanding opportunities within the industry are becoming increasingly important and widely recognized.

PublisHer’s Mission to Support Women in Publishing

PublisHer was created as a global networking, education, and mentorship initiative focused on addressing gender imbalance in publishing. The organization works to support women professionals while encouraging meaningful change across the industry.

Growing International Community

The organization now has a network of more than 1,000 women worldwide and continues expanding through global events and leadership discussions. Recent initiatives include publishing focused events that spotlight women leaders and industry development.

Continued Impact Across the Publishing Industry

The PublisHer Excellence Awards continue to serve as a platform for recognizing women whose work is helping redefine the future of books, storytelling, leadership, and publishing innovation on an international scale.

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