Categories
- Chief Executive – Candidate must be at their agency for at least one year and must provide demonstrable proof of business success, including securing new clients, retaining business, generating revenue, creating new revenue streams, and fostering an inclusive culture.
- Creative – Entrants must demonstrate outstanding creative thinking, originality, and effectiveness in their work, showcasing campaigns, branding, or content that had a significant impact on clients or the industry.
- Strategist - Entrants must provide evidence of how their strategic thinking and innovative approach to problem solving led to successful client outcomes and business growth.
- Media planner/buyer - Open to media planners or buyers who have shown exceptional skill in developing and executing innovative and effective media strategies that drive results for clients and the business.
- New Business Team – Open to agency new business teams responsible for securing clients and driving agency growth. Entrants should showcase successful pitches, client wins, and contributions to revenue generation. Demonstrated teamwork, strategy, and creative approaches to winning new business are essential.
- DEI Advocate – This category is not limited to individuals who hold chief diversity or similar titles. Candidates should provide examples of tangible initiatives, policies, or actions that have advanced inclusion in the workplace, supported underrepresented voices, or driven meaningful change within the industry.
- Community Manager – Candidates must demonstrate success in building, nurturing, and engaging audiences, managing online conversations, and fostering brand loyalty.
- Account Manager – Entrants should highlight their ability to balance client needs with agency resources, problem-solving skills, and successful campaign management that led to client satisfaction and business growth. Effective communication, leadership, and strategic thinking are key.
- Technology – Candidates should demonstrate leadership in digital transformation, product development, analytics, AI, or other tech advancements that have positively impacted agency operations, client success, or industry-wide innovation.
- Unsung hero – This category recognizes individuals who may not always receive the spotlight but whose contributions were instrumental to agency or client success. Entrants should provide examples of how they went above and beyond their role to make an outsized impact on their agency or the industry.
- Rising Stars (10) – Open to any employee under VP Level and under the age of 35. ADWEEK will select a group of 10 rising stars. Entrants must demonstrate impact and leadership in their department, including on client work.
- All Star — Candidates must have demonstrable proof of delivering successful results for clients, innovative use of creative/media/content, original approaches to problem-solving, and any pro-social efforts.
- In-house: this category recognizes exceptional talent working at in-house brands across media, creative, strategy, and other roles. Entrants should provide tangible proof of how they’ve moved the business forward through groundbreaking marketing initiatives in support of the brand.
