Fletcher Honors Two Alumnae with Annual Leadership Award

Today, Dean Rachel Kyte, F02, and Fletcher Board Member, Alice Finn, F86, announced the recipients of the 2022 Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award at a ceremony held in the ASEAN Auditorium. This year’s recipients are Guadalupe Phillips, F99, F10, CEO of Empresas ICA construction, and Adela Raz, F11, former Afghan Ambassador to the US.

The Fletcher Women’s Leadership Award was conceived of and developed by the school’s Board of Advisors and the school’s leadership to honor outstanding alumnae who are making a meaningful impact in the world.

In her welcome remarks, Dean Kyte noted that this year’s award winners are “changing lives.”

Ms. Phillips brought Empresas ICA Construction back from the brink of bankruptcy and credited her two degrees from Fletcher with her ability to do so. “Fletcher prepares you for the real world. Whenever empathy is used to help solve people’s problems, teams come together. I’m proud to be a team leader at work. We just had our best financial year ever,” she said.

Ambassador Raz assumed her role shortly before the Taliban took over Afghanistan last August. Adela said, “It’s hard for me to accept this award because the women in my country are suffering. I’m dedicating this award to them.”

Adela also thanked the Fletcher community – many of whom helped evacuate Afghans last August and pointed out the importance of building a solid network of colleagues. “Many of the people in my Fletcher network reached out to me last year to see how I was. It’s very important to build a great network while you’re at Fletcher,” Adela said. Adding, “The women before us created a path for us, so it’s important for us to create a path for those who will come after us.”