IAOTP names Jennifer S. Wilkov Top Trailblazer of the Year

The International Association of Top Professionals will honor Jennifer S. Wilkov at its annual awards gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in December 2026. The recognition spotlights her work in publishing, entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment after more than three decades in the field.

Why it matters: - IAOTP’s Trailblazer Award recognizes professionals who have broken barriers, set new standards and influenced their industries or communities. - Wilkov’s honor adds to her profile as a business consultant, author and founder focused on helping writers and women build platforms and careers. - The award also underscores the continued visibility of women-led entrepreneurship, publishing support and public-speaking networks.

What happened: - The International Association of Top Professionals selected Jennifer S. Wilkov as Top Trailblazer of the Year. - IAOTP will honor Wilkov at its 2026 Annual Awards Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in December 2026. - IAOTP says only a select group of professionals receive the Trailblazer title each year. - The organization also plans to recognize Wilkov for being named Empowered Woman of the Year.

The details: - Wilkov has more than three decades of experience in strategic planning, business development, publishing and entrepreneurship. - She is a multi No. 1 international bestselling, award-winning author and freelance writer. - Her work has appeared in national magazines and newspapers, and she has appeared on national television, radio programs across the United States and podcasts. - Wilkov works with first-time and established authors, writers and creators on writing, editing, marketing, publishing and production for books, film, television and episodic streaming projects. - She also helps celebrities, athletes and thought leaders build and scale their platforms on podcasts, Substack and speaking stages. - Wilkov is known as The Literary Agent Matchmaker™ and Ghostwriter Matchmaker™. - She founded and hosts The Next Bestseller™ Exclusive Weekend Workshop, now in its 13th year, and Entrepreneur Magazine has endorsed the event as a destination for next-bestseller ideas. - Wilkov also created The Make It Happen Room, a collaborative space for writers finishing projects. - She is the founder and CEO of Speak Up Women, a global community for women seeking to move from silent to seen and lead more boldly. - Speak Up Women offers the Rise and Speak Membership, virtual events and conferences. - Wilkov earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Syracuse University. - She completed advanced training through Jack Canfield’s Breakthrough to Success and Tony Robbins’ Mastery Graduate Programs. - Wilkov holds a Master Certification in NeuroLinguistic Programming and is a Platinum Member of New York Women In Film and Television, where she leads the Writers Group. - She is also a member of Womens Media Group, Women in Film in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area, BNI and Innovation Women. - In 2024, IAOTP honored Wilkov as Top Motivational Speaker, Business Consultant and Best-Selling Author of the Year. - Wilkov also serves on several Boards of Advisors and speaks at conferences, festivals, masterclasses and professional programs for writers and speakers. - She says perseverance, work ethic and mentors helped shape her success. - Wilkov enjoys time with family and scuba diving, and she hopes to keep helping people bring creative projects to life. - More information is available on Speak Up Women, Your Book Is Your Hook, Jennifer S. Wilkov and LinkedIn.

Between the lines: - The recognition reinforces IAOTP’s role as a credentialing and networking group that uses awards to spotlight professionals it sees as leaders in their fields. - Wilkov’s portfolio spans publishing, coaching, speaking and community-building, which gives the award broader reach than a single-industry honor. - The repeated emphasis on empowerment suggests IAOTP is positioning this award as both a personal milestone and a signal of influence in women’s professional advancement.

What's next: - Wilkov will be honored at IAOTP’s annual gala in December 2026 at the Plaza Hotel. - She is expected to continue speaking, advising and supporting writers, creators and women’s leadership initiatives. - IAOTP says it will keep recognizing top professionals through its annual awards program and related events.

The bottom line: - Jennifer S. Wilkov’s latest IAOTP honor cements her as a visible figure in publishing, entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment, with a platform that now extends to one of the organization’s top annual awards.