Award Recognizes Businesses With Workplace Cultures Supportive Of Women

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad has been chosen the 2009 Small Company of the Year by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, one of the largest women’s chambers in the nation.

Cynthia Banks, founder and executive director of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, accepts the 2009 Small Company of the Year award from representatives of the Colorado Women's Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of Merissa Pratt Photography, Denver.

The Company of the Year Award honors small, medium and large businesses that create a workplace culture supporting the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishments for women employees. The winners are recognized for encouraging employees to excel, devote time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and forge paths of leadership for other women to follow. The recipients also strive to create a balance in their leadership teams, help women reach their full leadership potential through training, promotion and programs, and have a track record of providing business opportunities for women-owned businesses.

GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, based in Westminster, Colo., received the award Oct. 23 at the Annual Awards Luncheon in Denver. An equal opportunity employer, it has over its two decades in operation strongly advocated for women’s success by providing global experience to employees and in-house professional development programs, as well as medical and dental coverage, tuition reimbursement, health-and-wellness benefits and a family friendly work environment

“With female students comprising 60% of all students who study abroad, GlobaLinks Learning Abroad believes in international education as a teacher of leadership,” said Cynthia Banks, executive director and founder.

Founded in 1990, the organization provides educational programs to more than 3,000 North American undergraduates annually via overseas university partnerships and innovative study abroad programs through AustraLearn (Australia, New Zealand and Fiji), AsiaLearn (China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand), EuroLearn (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy, and The Netherlands) and DegreesOverseas.com, providing full-degree options in Australia and New Zealand.

“Our business is one of sending young people around the world to study so they can learn and grow into future leaders,” Banks said, as she accepted award. “Our students study everything from anthropology to engineering and the sciences. They learn in cultures around the world from Australia to Asia, Fiji, Europe and beyond.”

“They have an opportunity to really change the world by seeing the world,” Banks said, “and I think that’s the greatest thing we can offer.”