Watch Party

The live event may be in Chicago, but the HBA wants to ensure our global community can participate in networking, fun, and inspiration. Woman of the Year Watch Parties are an opportunity for an HBA chapter, region, or Corporate Partner to create a live experience for their local community, providing a space for people to come together, network, and build community while celebrating HBA’s inspiring awardees.  

What does a Watch Party look like?  
A Watch Party is a live event hosted by an HBA chapter or region in collaboration with a sponsor, or by an HBA Corporate Partner. The live event includes the opportunity to watch the live simulcast of the event (between 12:00-2:00 PM US Central Time) as a group. Additionally, Watch Party hosts may want to add in time for networking, a brief in-person panel discussion or keynote, or other unique opportunities. 

What is the cost, and what are the benefits?  
Access to host a virtual Watch Party costs $750/€708 and includes full access to the 2025 Woman of the Year event remote platform and live simulcast with no cap on the number of attendees you can invite to your celebration.  

Watch Parties (and their sponsor/host companies) will also be featured in the event Walk-In slides for all attendees (in Chicago and remotely around the globe).  

Sponsor companies hosting in collaboration with an HBA chapter/region may also be provided additional sponsorship benefits, such as logo visibility on Watch Party registration pages and marketing materials, verbal acknowledgments from speakers, social media exposure, etc. (to be confirmed with HBA chapter/region). 

What is the deadline for purchasing a Watch Party?  
Payment must be received by Friday, 18 April. However, interested parties should fill out this form by 1 April to sign up. 

What is necessary to host a Watch Party?  
Hosts are responsible for coordinating their venue, food, beverage, and audio-visual equipment for their virtual Watch Party. Additionally, a hard-wired internet connection is recommended if possible. For the optimal viewing experience, the HBA recommends the following audio-visual equipment: laptop, speakers, projector, and projector screen. A microphone is also recommended for parties with announcements and speakers. 

For HBA chapters and regions, locating an in-kind sponsor to host/cater the event, including purchasing the registration, in return for agreed-upon chapter/regional-level sponsorship benefits are ideal.  

Hosts can choose to incorporate a short panel, speaker(s), or entertainment in their virtual Watch Party. The HBA recommends selecting a speaker(s) to provide a brief, live introduction.  

The host will be provided access to the virtual Woman of the Year simulcast to project for the group. Logging into the simulcast will utilize the host’s first name, last name, and email address.  

HBA chapters/regions can choose to set up and collect a registration fee from their participants as a revenue stream.  

The deadline to purchase a Watch Party is 18 April. To sign up to host a Watch Party, fill out this form no later than 1 April.