Since 1996, International Women Associates (IWA) has presented its Woman Extraordinaire Award to a Chicago-area woman who has made outstanding contributions in her field and in the international arena. This year’s recipient of the award is Connie Duckworth.

Connie Duckworth founded Arzu Studio Hope, a non-profit organization, in 2004. She serves as pro bono chairman and CEO for the organization. Ms. Duckworth is a retired partner and managing director of Goldman Sachs & Co., where she was named the first woman sales and trading partner during her twenty-year career from 1981–2001. She is the immediate past chairman of The Global Heritage Fund in Palo Alto and serves on the boards of The Wharton School in Philadelphia, the Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago, and NorthShore University HealthSystem in Evanston, Illinois, as the first woman to be named chairman of the board.

IWA is a Chicago-area forum promoting cross-cultural exchange among women with significant global experience and others within the broader community. IWA links diverse people and organizations to advocate universal human rights, especially for women and girls. For tickets or further information, visit www.iwachicago.org or call 312-263-1421.