The following nominees for the Inspirational Women Leadership Awards represent a rare kind of professional who stands out among their peers, making them worthy of recognition within these pages. In Southern California, these women inhabit all business sectors, from the familiar entertainment and tech industries to a myriad of other professions: law, medicine, the nonprofit sector, communications and more. In addition, there are many female entrepreneurs who have taken those steps to build businesses they (and consumers) love. We are thrilled to recognize these inspiring leaders here.