By Maria Valdez Haubrich

Ernst & Young LLP has announced the 11 winners of the 2010 Entrepreneurial Winning Women contest, a national leadership program designed to promote growth of women-owned businesses. The contest is a group effort between several women business organizations such as the Women Presidents’ Organization, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, The Committee of 200 and Babson College’s Center for Women’s Leadership.

Contestants/winners have to be the founder or a founding partner and at least a 51 percent owner, the business needs to be less than 10 years old and must have annual sales of at least $1 million dollars in sales within the last two years. Judges selected winners based on the entrepreneur’s “conviction, tenacity, plan and overall professional acumen to take a high potential business and scale it into a market leader.”

Winners will be able to participate in a customized program designed by Ernst & Young to help the entrepreneur build important business relationships and improve their leadership skills. To meet the 2010 winners, go to the  Winning Women home page.