Emerging Leaders

The ELAs recognize rising stars in the communications industry, and showcase the field’s most talented young women (ages 25-35) for their professional accomplishments. These honorees implement innovative communications strategies that go above and beyond – achieving impressive and extraordinary results.

The ELAs were created in 2010 as a special accolade for young women active within the communications field that were making a significant impact on the industry but were not being recognized due to age or years of experience. The Emerging Leaders Awards ceremony is an opportunity to hear from these up-and-coming leaders that will inspire and educate, and celebrate the value of public relations. The honorees will be promoted in WWPR materials and on the website. Honorees will be named at the awards ceremony based on their contributions as well as their potential to contribute to the industry for many years to come, making them truly emerging leaders.

The honorees will span from different industries and will be honored in the following categories: boutique agency ELA honoree, mid-sized agency ELA honoree, lage/global agency ELA honoree, nonprofit ELA honoree, corporate ELA honoree, association ELA honoree, and government ELA honoree.

Eligibility requirements and nomination instructions are detailed below. Please direct questions about nominations to Ligia McEvoy and Ranata Reeder, WWPR board members and Emerging Leaders Awards co-chairs, at ela@wwpr.org.

Nominate a friend, a mentee, a mentor or a colleague today by April 21, 2025.

• Nominees must be no younger than age 25 and no older than age 35 on June 11, 2025 and reside in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
• Nominees must work in one of the following disciplines: media relations, crisis communications, event planning, social media, digital media, website communications, strategic communications, community relations, internal communications, speech writing, public affairs, public relations, marketing communications, government communications, investor relations communications, consumer/lifestyle communications, branding, and writing/editing.
• Nominee cannot be a current WWPR board member.
• Nominees must have demonstrated leadership, including contributions to the field, post-college.

Wondering where you or your nominee fit in? Here’s a breakdown of each category:

Boutique Agency: A public relations/communications professional who is employed at an agency with less than 50 full time employees

Mid-size Agency: A public relations/communications professional who is employed at an agency with 50 to 250 full time employees

Large/Global Agency: A public relations/communications professional who is employed at an agency with more than 250 full time employees

Government: A public relations/communications professional who is employed by a local, state, federal, or tribal government entity, or any other public employer, such as a school district or transportation agency

Corporate: A public relations/communications professional who is employed by a corporation or entity with the purpose of operating for a profit, that is not considered a nonprofit or government agency

Trade Association: A public relations/communications professional who is employed by a trade association made up of a collection of companies and/or individuals with common interests or who work in the same industry

Non-Profit: A public relations/communications professional who is employed by a nonprofit organization that qualifies for tax-exempt status by the IRS because its mission and purpose are to further a social cause and provide a public benefit 

The nomination period for the 2025 Emerging Leaders Awards is now open.  Submit your nominations by April 21, 2025.

You can also register now for the Awards Ceremony and be sure to reserve your spot to network with your colleagues beforehand and honor them for their contribution to the public relations and related fields. Special early-bird pricing is in effect until April 30, 2025.