The Office Depot Visionary Awards were created to recognize women whose extraordinary dedication and vision have had an impact in their businesses, industries or communities. Their vision, leadership, perseverance and commitment have helped to change the lives of women.

The 2002 recipients were honored by Office Depot during an evening of celebration at the Success Strategies Gala Dinner, hosted by Robin Roberts (Sports and News Commentator, ESPN and ABC).

Award winners included Dr. Madeleine Albright, who received the Office Depot Visionary Award for Pioneer. Dr. Albright served as the 64th Secretary of State of the United States. She was the first woman Secretary and is the highest-ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government. She is founder of The Albright Group LLC, a global strategy firm. As Secretary, Dr. Albright reinforced America's alliances, advocated democracy and human rights and promoted American trade and business, labor and environmental standards abroad.

Anne Mulcahy was our recipient of the Office Depot Visionary Award for Corporate. Mulcahy is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Xerox Corporation. In August 2001, Mulcahy was promoted to President and CEO. Prior to her CEO appointment she served as president and chief operating officer of Xerox from May 2000 to August 2001. She began her 25-year Xerox career as a field sales representative and assumed increasingly responsible management and executive positions, including chief staff officer and president of Xerox's General Markets Operations.

Lyn St. James, in 1992 became the second woman in history to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. With an 11th-place finish that year, St. James became the first woman and, at age 45, the oldest driver ever to be named Rookie of the Year Lyn was the recipient of the Office Depot Visionary Award for Sports. From 1990-1993 St. James was the President of the Women's Sports Foundation and currently sits on their Board of Stewards and serves as nominating committee chair. Through her own Lyn St. James Foundation's annual Driver Development Program as well as her involvement as the Executive Director of the Women's Global GT Series, Lyn St James has committed herself to helping women succeed in the world of motorsports.

The late Heidi Van Arnem, founded the Heidi Van Arnem Foundation in 1992 with a mission to help find a cure for paralysis. Heidi was our recipient for the Office Depot Visionary Award, Non-Profit. Van Arnem, a quadriplegic since age 16 from a gunshot wound to the neck, is an entrepreneur of a successful travel business. She sold her business in 1999 to start iCan.com to harness the power of the Internet and bring information, resources and services to people with disabilities. ICan! Inc., a solutions and services company for people with disabilities and leaders of business. ICan! Has business partnerships with some of the world's largest corporations, including General Motors, America Online, Kmart, Orbitz and PriMedia.

Muriel Siebert has been called "The First Woman of Finance." Ms. Siebert was the recipient of the Office Depot Visionary Award for Business Entrepreneur. Among other firsts, she is the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and the first to head one of its member firms - Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc. Muriel Siebert & Co., Inc., has been in business and a member of the New York Stock Exchange since 1967, longer than any other discount brokerage firm. In 1977, Ms. Siebert left her firm in a blind trust for five years to accept an appointment as New York State's first woman Superintendent of Banks, with responsibility for the safety and soundness of all banks in New York State, the highest position in banking supervision or regulation ever obtained by a woman at the time.

The evening concluded with the Gala Keynote Speaker, Dr. Maya Angelou, who was also awarded an honorary Office Depot Visionary Award.

• Elinor Guggenheimer, Founder and Past President of New York Woman's Agenda, Visionary for Pioneer.
• Marilyn Carlson Nelson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer for Carlson Companies, Visionary for Corporate.
• Pat Moran, Chair and Chief Executive Office for JM Family Enterprises, Visionary for Business.
• Martha Mertz, the founder of the ATHENA Award Program and Past President of the ATHENA Foundation, Visionary for Non-Profit.
• Dr. Betsy Clark, Director of Education and Research, Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Visionary for Sports