IAOTP to honor Diane McClelland with Trailblazer Award

The International Association of Top Professionals will recognize Diane McClelland, co-founder and CEO of Girls STEAM Institute, at its annual awards gala in New York City this December. The award spotlights her work advancing opportunities for women and girls in STEAM and entrepreneurship. Why it matters: - The Trailblazer Award highlights leaders who break barriers and set new standards in their fields. - McClelland’s recognition puts a national spotlight on efforts to expand STEAM and entrepreneurship pathways for women and girls. - Girls STEAM Institute is also entering a growth phase that extends its reach to older young women. What happened: - The International Association of Top Professionals selected Diane McClelland for its Trailblazer Award 2026. - IAOTP will honor McClelland at its Annual Awards Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in December 2026. - McClelland is co-founder and CEO of Girls STEAM Institute, a nonprofit focused on girls ages 13 to 18. - IAOTP said the award recognizes her leadership, dedication and innovation. The details: - IAOTP described the Trailblazer Award as reserved for people who have broken barriers and pioneered innovative methods. - Girls STEAM Institute uses immersive technologies and global collaboration to teach entrepreneurship inside science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. - The organization marked its 10th anniversary in 2024. - Girls STEAM Institute is expanding to serve women ages 19 to 26. - The program pairs mentorship and hands-on guidance with immersive technologies and entrepreneurship. - The goal is to help participants build wealth, increase net worth and compete in a global economy. - The curriculum combines project-based learning with social and emotional development. - Participants build leadership, business, communication, relationship-building, technology and strategic business skills. - Accomplished women entrepreneurs and STEAM professionals guide the participants. - McClelland spent more than 18 years as co-founder, president and CEO of Astra Society International, doing business as Astra Women’s Business Alliance. - She also co-founded the Foundation for Women Business Owners and served as its president and CEO. - Her earlier nonprofit work focused on increasing access to capital for women business owners. - Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, program management, business development, leadership and business strategy. - Her education includes International Business, Trade and Commerce studies at Portland State University School of Business and a Dartmouth Executive Education leadership certificate. - In 2025, IAOTP named McClelland Top Co-founder and CEO of the Year and Empowered Woman of the Year. - IAOTP also plans to recognize her induction into Bombshell Boss Babes, her Lifetime Achievement Award and her inclusion in Top 50 Fearless Leaders. - McClelland has also been honored by Marquis Who’s Who for her work in the nonprofit sector. - She will be considered for inclusion in TIP Magazine this year. - McClelland recently published How Do You Know You Are You? through TaraSwift Press and Amazon. - The book explores self-identity. - For more information, see the awards gala page and IAOTP . - Additional videos are available here and here . Between the lines: - The honor reinforces McClelland’s long-running focus on women’s economic mobility, not just recognition inside the nonprofit sector. - The expansion of Girls STEAM Institute suggests the organization is trying to create a pipeline from teen education into early-career entrepreneurship. - IAOTP’s repeated awards for McClelland point to a broader branding push around women-led leadership and advocacy. What’s next: - McClelland will be honored at IAOTP’s 2026 Annual Awards Gala in December. - Girls STEAM Institute will continue expanding programming for women ages 19 to 26. - McClelland said she is working on a movement to increase the number of women business owners in global supply chains who mentor and hire women STEAM entrepreneurs.