Zaha Hadid has been announced as the winner of the 41st Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award at a ceremony in London on Monday. Now in its 41st year, the Veuve Clicquot Award was set up by the Champagne house to recognize the work of successful businesswomen worldwide, who embody their spirit of Madame Clicquot.
Madame Clicquot was a 19th Century businesswomen who, after being widowed at the age of 27, took the reigns of her husband's Champagne businessa became one of the first women to lead a male-dominated company. The company describes her as a women who was 'proud and strong-willed' who demanded "only one quality, the finest." The award appraises the nominees under the headings of entrepreneurship, financial success, corporate social responsibility and whether or not they are seen as a role model to others.