Akraya President, Sonu Ratra Wins Stevie® Award In 6th Annual Stevie Awards For Women In Business

Nov. 16, 2009 - PRLog -- (Sunnyvale, CA): The 2009 Stevie Awards for Women in Business is an international competition recognizing the accomplishments of outstanding women executives, business owners, and the organizations they run.  The awards are produced by the creators of the prestigious American Business AwardsSM.  

Sonu Ratra was chosen for the Stevie Award based on her extraordinary achievements in supporting other minority and women-owned businesses and mentoring women professionals. As a successful woman entrepreneur, Sonu believes that with success comes responsibility. Sonu has been proud to serve on the board of the Northern California Supplier Diversity Council – MBEIC. In this role, Sonu supports MBEIC’s mission to find ways to help women-owned minority businesses reach a larger market. Sonu also makes it her priority to mentor women and provide career guidance.  Since the beginning of the economic downturn, Sonu has been active in guiding the careers of her mentees in job transition. She hosted several networking events such as the “Pay It Forward” Matchmaking Event and the “Woman Power Hour Mixer” with the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Sonu also recently joined The Institute of Economic Empowerment for Women’s Peace Through Business Mentorship Program and became a mentor to Joy Kabera Kansangire, a female business owner from Rwanda hosting Joy in her own home and managing her US business training.

Stevie Awards were handed out in categories including Best Entrepreneur, Best Executive, Lifetime Achievement, and Women Helping Women at the gala event at New York’s Marriott Marquis Hotel on November 13.  More than 1,100 entries from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration.  

The Stevie Awards for Women in Business are governed by a Board of Distinguished Judges & Advisors that features many leading women entrepreneurs and luminaries in business.  Members of the Awards’ Board selected Stevie winners from among the finalists.  Finalists were chosen by business professionals worldwide during the preliminary judging period.

“It is a great honor to be named a Stevie Award winner” said Sonu Ratra. “This award is special since it recognizes Akraya’s efforts in helping other women professionals and women enterprises. The award is a celebration of women and the power of our influence, our commitment towards success of other women.  I have had amazing female mentors and valuable support of friends throughout the years.  I share this award with the network of men, women and corporations that continuously support me and Akraya and with every woman out there making a difference.”

Details about the Stevie Awards for Women in Business and the list of honorees are available at www.stevieawards.com/women.  
   
About The Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about The Stevie Awards at www.stevieawards.com.

Sponsors of the 6th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business include the Business TalkRadio Network, Covario, Inc., and KeyBank.  Localization partner of the 2009 Stevie Awards is Lionbridge.

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About Akraya, Inc.

Akraya, Inc. is a multiple award-winning, fast growing provider of IT, Engineering, Creative & Marketing talent. We have extensive experience supporting Enterprise clients like eBay, Cisco, Oracle and Roche as well as hot emerging companies like Facebook. Akraya is a woman-owned and minority-owned certified business and also a certified Bay Area Green Business.