The shortlist for Campaign’s Inspiring Women Awards 2026 has been unveiled, spotlighting a powerhouse lineup of female trailblazers reshaping advertising, media, marketing, and technology across North and South America. Now in its fourth year, the awards honor five exceptional women in key categories including creativity, leadership, positive change, media, technology, and rising stars, with the ceremony set for March 11 in a celebration of industry innovation and resilience.
This year’s shortlisted nominees represent the vanguard of progress, selected by a distinguished panel of judges from nominations that poured in before the November 21, 2025 deadline—or the extended cutoff on December 12 with added fees. Eligibility spanned women identifying as such in the Americas, including those with global roles, underscoring the awards’ commitment to broad representation. Nominations demanded detailed submissions: 300-word accounts of job history, outside accomplishments, industry contributions, and compelling cases for selection, bolstered by at least one client or colleague reference and high-resolution headshots. Standard fees started at $400 for most categories and $125 for Rising to the Top, reflecting the program’s investment in visibility for these leaders.
Among the shortlist heavyweights are executives from tech giants like Google, media powerhouses such as The New York Times, and creative agencies including Leo Burnett UK, alongside brands like Kraft Heinz, Heineken, and Bartle Bogle Hegarty—though spanning 13 categories in total for this edition. In Conquering Creativity, nominees have set new benchmarks for excellence, delivering campaigns that blend bold storytelling with commercial impact. Leading the Charge honorees, subdivided into creative, media, PR, and tech, command companies through turbulent markets, their subcategories highlighting nuanced expertise.
Championing Change shortlistees stand out for boundary-pushing efforts, fostering cultural shifts and workplace revolutions amid industry challenges. Making Media Matter recognizes strategists revolutionizing planning and buying, while Transforming Technology salutes data pioneers driving ethical innovation. Breaking Brand Barriers elevates marketing mavericks propelling brands forward, and Rising to the Top spotlights emerging talents in their first five years, proving legacy isn’t prerequisite for heroism. These categories capture the multifaceted ways women are not just participating but dominating sectors long dominated by outdated norms.
The awards’ resonance extends beyond recognition. As Effie Kanyua, founder of We Are Warriors PR, notes, they shatter glass ceilings in female-majority fields, fostering connections that amplify overlooked excellence. Nominees’ stories—shared publicly via profiles and event programs—highlight personal triumphs alongside professional feats, from charitable endeavors to academic pursuits, humanizing the drive behind their achievements. This transparency ensures inspiration ripples outward, motivating the next generation as the Campaign US team intends.
With the March 11 ceremony approaching, anticipation builds for the final five honorees, whose wins will cap a rigorous judging process emphasizing measurable impact. Past iterations have elevated figures who’ve transformed ad tech, championed diversity, and redefined leadership, and 2026 promises similar disruption. For out-of-home (OOH) advertising professionals, the shortlist offers prime inspiration: women like those in media and brand categories are reimagining public-facing campaigns, leveraging OOH’s immersive scale for cultural conversations. Heineken and BBH entrants, for instance, exemplify how bold creativity translates to street-level engagement, turning billboards into movement-starters.
Entry logistics underscored seriousness: organizations nominated multiples, but each required full responses and references, with late fees deterring procrastination. Optional second endorsements strengthened cases, often tipping scales in competitive fields. The result? A shortlist embodying the awards’ ethos: visibility for those “reshaping the industry and inspiring the next generation.”
As OOH evolves with digital integrations and data-driven placements, these women provide blueprints. Media leaders on the shortlist innovate buying strategies that maximize OOH’s reach, while tech transformers pioneer tools for hyper-targeted outdoor experiences. Creativity conquerors craft narratives that thrive beyond screens, proving OOH’s enduring power in a fragmented landscape.
The March 11 gala will not only crown winners but unite a community pushing progress. In an era demanding agility, Campaign’s Inspiring Women Awards affirm that women at the helm deliver. Their shortlisted journeys—from rising stars to change champions—remind the industry: true inspiration lies in action, not aspiration. With tickets poised to sell out, the event promises unforgettable moments, cementing 2026 as a pivotal chapter for female leadership in advertising’s future.
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