The Croatian Women’s Network /Mreža Hrvatskih Žena has revealed the 15 recipients of the prestigious Croatian Women of Influence Award and one recipient of the Future Leader Award. These honors will be presented during a gala event on International Women’s Day, Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Zagreb, Croatia.
The 2025 honorees hail from six countries—Argentina, Belgium, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, and the United States—bringing the total number of award recipients to 181 since the program began in 2016. The winners were selected from over 110 nominations received from 12 countries, highlighting the growing global recognition of Croatian women’s achievements.
The Croatian Women of Influence Award celebrates leadership, innovation, and contributions to the community, while the Future Leader Award honors exceptional young women aged 16 to 25 who demonstrate outstanding talent and leadership potential.
2025 Future Leader Award Winner:
Jana Košćak (Croatia) – Athletics
2025 Croatian Women of Influence Award Winners:
1. Vjekoslava Bagarić (Croatia) – Philanthropy
2. Jovana Čutul (Croatia) – Leadership/Innovation
3. Kristina Ercegović (Croatia) – Entrepreneurship
4. Jasna Horvat (Croatia) – Arts & Culture
5. Vesna Jakšić Lowe (USA) – Arts & Culture
6. Stela Jokić (Croatia) – Science & Technology
7. Tamara Jurković (Croatia) – Entrepreneurship
8. Nevenka Komarica (USA) – Arts & Culture
9. Marina Lekić Peran (Slovenia) – Arts & Culture
10. Barbara Matić (Croatia) – Athletics
11. Lidija Ortloff (USA) – Leadership/Innovation
12. Adriana Smajić (Argentina) – Leadership/Innovation
13. Nataša Tramišak (Croatia) – Leadership/Innovation
14. Zlata Vasiljević (Serbia) – Arts & Culture
15. Željana Zovko (Belgium/Croatia) – Leadership/Innovation
The awards, recognizing remarkable contributions across various fields, will be celebrated during the International Women’s Day gala, further highlighting the achievements of Croatian women worldwide.