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    Nomination & Judging Process

    From the moment a nomination is submitted to the night honorees take the stage, here's how the FIERCE Awards of SW Florida come together.

    Step 01

    Nomination

    Anyone can nominate a woman in SW Florida who is making a remarkable impact. The form is short and simple. Share who she is, how you know her, and what makes her FIERCE.

    Step 02

    Nominee Notification

    Once a nomination is received, we reach out to the nominee with a congratulatory email letting her know she has been recognized and inviting her to complete the next step: the application.

    Step 03

    Application

    Each nominee is invited to submit an application that goes deeper into her story, leadership, and impact. The application questions are tied directly to the criteria our judges use to score.

    Step 04

    Independent Judging

    Because this is the inaugural year for SW Florida, our judging panel is made up of past FIERCE honorees from multiple years of the FIERCE Awards of Greater Gainesville. Each judge scores independently using a structured rubric tied to the application questions, so no single voice decides the outcome.

    Step 05

    Scoring & Ranking

    Independent scores are combined and ranked to identify the honorees who best embody the FIERCE values of resilience, leadership, and meaningful change in our community.

    Step 06

    Honoree Celebration

    Selected honorees are notified privately and celebrated publicly at the inaugural FIERCE Awards of SW Florida, an unforgettable evening of recognition, storytelling, and community.

    A Closer Look

    Judged by Those Who've Lived It

    Since this is the inaugural year for SW Florida, our judging panel is composed of past FIERCE honorees from multiple years of the FIERCE Awards of Greater Gainesville. They understand firsthand what it takes to lead, persevere, and inspire, and they bring that lived experience to every application they review.

    How Scoring Works

    • •Each application question is tied to a specific scoring rubric.
    • •Judges review and score every application independently. No group discussion influences individual scores.
    • •Independent scores are then combined and ranked to determine the inaugural class of honorees.

    Know a FIERCE Woman?

    Start the process by submitting a nomination. It only takes a few minutes.

    Submit a Nomination