2026 PRSA Strategies & Tactics
Women of Impact Awards
2026 Women of Impact Awards
2026 Women of Impact Awards
Program Overview
The PRSA Strategies & Tactics Women of Impact Awards celebrate extraordinary women whose leadership, results, and integrity elevate the communications profession. Honorees will be recognized across multiple categories in two groupings: Sector Impact, spotlighting excellence within specific industry verticals, and Leadership & Expertise Impact, honoring individuals for their distinctive contributions and achievements. Entries will be evaluated holistically against the description outlined for each category.
Who Should Be Nominated
Nominees may be executives, mid-career leaders or rising stars in any communications and public relations industry vertical whose contributions have delivered measurable impact, inspired teams, advanced inclusion and upheld the highest ethical standards. Self-nominations and peer nominations are welcome.
Award Categories
Award Categories
Sector Impact Categories
- Agency Excellence — Honors those working in agencies who drive remarkable client outcomes, foster culture and shape the future of consultancy.
- Association/Nonprofit — For communicators advancing mission-driven impact in associations and nonprofits.
- Corporate Communications — Celebrates leaders who serve as the organizational voice across corporate reputation, executive visibility and issues.
- Counselors to Higher Education — For senior communicators in colleges and universities advancing institutional reputation and stakeholder trust.
- Education — Honors educators shaping the next generation of communicators through teaching, research and mentorship.
- Entertainment — For excellence in entertainment communications, partnerships and audience engagement.
- Fashion — For excellence in fashion communications, partnerships, engagement.
- Financial Communications — Honors experts guiding communications in financial services, investor relations and fintech.
- Health & Life Sciences — Honors communicators bringing clarity, compassion and compliance to health, pharma and life sciences.
- Independent Practitioners — Celebrates solo and boutique practitioners delivering outsized impact for clients.
- Internal Communications — Recognizes leaders engaging employees, strengthening culture and driving change through internal comms.
- Public Affairs & Government — For communicators influencing public policy, civic engagement and military/government stakeholder relations.
- Sports — For excellence in sports communications, partnerships and fan engagement.
- Technology — Honors leaders advancing communications for technology companies, platforms and innovations.
- Travel & Tourism — Recognizes excellence in destination, hospitality and travel brand communications.
- Agency Leader — Recognizes agency owners and senior agency executives for excellence in firm leadership and client service.
- Brand Storyteller — Honors compelling, consistent narratives that elevate brand meaning and drive engagement.
- Crisis & Issues Navigator — Honors poise under pressure and decisive, ethical leadership in crises or complex issues.
- Data & Insights Leader — Recognizes mastery of research, analytics and measurement to inform strategy and prove impact.
- DEI Champion — For sustained, measurable progress advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in communications.
- Global Communications Leader — For professionals executing cross-border strategies with cultural fluency and measurable international impact.
- Industry Champion / Thought Leader — For influential voices elevating the profession through speaking, writing, standards and community impact.
- Innovation Use of AI & Comms Tech — Recognizes smart, responsible integration of AI or communications technology to improve performance.
- Media Relations & Reputation Builder — Recognizes exceptional earned media strategy, reporter relationships and reputation outcomes.
- Mentor & Coach — Celebrates women who invest deeply in developing talent and building teams.
- Purpose & Community Impact — Honors leadership in delivering impactful social, sustainability or community outcomes.
- Rising Star — Spotlights rising talent (≤5 years experience) demonstrating leadership, craft excellence and results.
- Social Influencer — Honors those who have leveraged social media channels to amplify campaigns, engage audiences and deliver outcomes.
Leadership & Expertise Impact Categories
Guidelines & Tips
Guidelines & Tips
How to Enter
- Upload a nomination narrative (750 words or less) telling why the nominee deserves recognition, along with supporting materials. Peer and self-nominations are welcome.
- Nominee bio (up to 200 words).
- Nominee headshot for use if nominee is selected as a winner (JPEG or PNG).
- Up to 3 supporting items (links or PDFs), e.g., coverage highlights, dashboards, sample content, testimonials or letters of support, short video (max 90 seconds) summarizing the nominee’s impact.
Eligibility
- Open to individuals who identify as women and work in communications/public relations, marketing communications, public affairs or related disciplines.
- Work must be primarily conducted in the past 24 months; career-long impact may be considered for lifetime recognition categories.
- Nominees may be from any industry sector (e.g., agencies, brands, nonprofits, academia, government or independent practices).
- There is no limit to the number of nominations one may submit; separate entries and fees are required per category. People may be nominated in multiple categories where appropriate. PRSA Strategies & Tactics reserves the right to re-assign entries into new categories when appropriate.
Entry Deadlines and Fees
Entry Deadlines and Fees
Entry Deadlines
Early Deadline: March 27, 2026
Late Deadline: April 10, 2026
Entry Fees
| Type | Early Entry | Final Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Member | $450.00 | $595.00 |
| Nonmember | $550.00 | $695.00 |
2026 WOMEN OF IMPACT PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
To learn more about partnership opportunities please contact:
Alexandre Bouché
PRSA | VP, Business Development and Alliances
Phone: +1-212-460-0301
120 Wall Street, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10005
abouche@prsa.org | www.prsa.org