A very public corporate ethics crisis among select businesses, in addition to, a lack of leadership by certain business leaders were a few of the driving factors in creating a global financial crisis. But clearly all leaders and businesses do not operate like the ones that drove us into the crisis. The Leaders Portfolio Awards offer opportunities for businesses and business leaders to publicly state that they are committed to operating within a framework of leadership and ethics.

At a time when clients, colleagues, and business partners are scrutinizing the businesses and business leaders around them, The Leaders Portfolio Awards couldn’t have been launched at a more opportune time! The Leaders Portfolio Awards debuted last year with leadership entries representing one-employee start-ups to 600 employee companies, as well as, leaders representing a full range of business sectors.

The Leaders Portfolio Awards were created for two reasons. Our host Dr. Rebecca Blacksmith wanted an outlet for rewarding strong leadership within the DC area (Baltimore, DC, Northern VA) business community.

Secondly, we received an overwhelming and unexpected response from people wanting to nominate CEOs for the show but with no outlet for doing so since guests are exclusively selected to appear on Leaders Portfolio by our Ivy League led research team. This awards program was created as a way to allow CEOs to nominate their colleagues, employees to reward bosses, businesses to recognize clients, and listeners to identify leaders.

Leaders Portfolio wishes to thank our sponsors for their support (Hilton Garden Inn of Fairfax, VA, Dennis Kowal Architects, The Riverwalk of Fanning Springs, and Wow Services Group), as well as, congratulate our 2011 Leaders Portfolio Award Winners. Judges graded applicants based on the quality of their answers to a variety of leadership questions: How do you define success? Are you (or have you been) a mentor and/or mentee (being mentored by someone)? When have you failed and what have you learned? Has the business ever had the opportunity to sacrifice short-term profits for loyalty to employees, clients, or greater good?

We are proud to present you with the 2011 Leaders Portfolio Award Winners:

Business Leader of the Year (1-50 employees)
John Ratigan, President of iDirect Government Technologies (co-winner)

Business Leader of the Year (1-50 employees)
Dr. Shahin Samadi, Co-Founder and President of INNOVIM (co-winner)

Business Leader of the Year (51+ employees)
Dr. Homaira Akbari, President and CEO of SkyBitz

Rising Business Leader of the Year
Jennifer Shiao

If you are a leadership business or business leader and you were unable to take part in the 2011 Leaders Portfolio Awards, please consider joining as a sponsor, nominator, or applicant for future award seasons.