Recognizing the next generation of leaders and pacesetters
Announcing the 2024 PRMuseum NextGen Awards
The Museum of Public Relations, in partnership with PRWeek, is announcing a new award program to recognize young public relations professionals who personify the character of trailblazers in the field’s “hidden history” and show high potential of being among the industry’s next generation of leaders and pacesetters.
The PRMuseum discovered the industry’s “Hidden History” when its research into the modern practice’s earliest years revealed practitioners who had pioneered in the field but were overlooked because of their gender, the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, or other factors that caused them to be marginalized.
The first awards will be named after trailblazers in PR’s Hidden History, such as Inez Kaiser who was the first African American woman to own and operate a PR agency, Bayard Rustin, a gay Black man who organized the first civil rights March on Washington, Irene Hirano Inouye who had a long career in philanthropy and social activism, Fernando Valverde Lara, who is said to have been the “father of public relations” in Puerto Rico, and Wilma Mankiller, who was the first woman elected Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation and became a relentless advocate for improved education, healthcare, and housing services.
Inez Kaiser, a pioneering public relations professional from Kansas, broke barriers as the first African American woman to own a PR firm in the United States. Her remarkable career spanned over five decades, leaving a lasting legacy of advocacy, innovation, and leadership in the field.
Inez Kaiser
(1919–2016)
Bayard Rustin was a pivotal figure in the American civil rights movement, known for his expertise in nonviolent protest tactics and organizational skills. He played a crucial role in the organization of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.
Bayard Rustin
(1912–1987)
Irene Hirano Inouye was a prominent leader in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, serving as the founding president of the U.S.-Japan Council and the CEO of the Japanese American National Museum. She dedicated her life to promoting cultural understanding, social justice, and collaboration between Japan and the United States, leaving a lasting impact on both nations.
Irene Hirano Inouye
(1948–2020)
Fernando Valverde Lara is widely considered “the father of public relations” in Puerto Rico. He was an early pioneer in the field and the first practitioner in Puerto Rico to obtain accreditation from the Public Relations Society of America, which later admitted him to its College of Fellows. In 1997, the Association of Public Relations of Puerto Rico launched the Fernando Valverde Award to recognize a practitioner or non-profit that excelled in supporting community improvements.
Fernando Valverde Lara
(1935–2020)
Wilma Mankiller was a groundbreaking leader and the first female Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, known for her advocacy for Native American rights and community development. Her legacy encompasses significant strides in healthcare, education, and tribal sovereignty, inspiring generations with her resilience and commitment to social progress.
Wilma Mankiller
(1945–2010)
Recipients of the PRMuseum NextGen Awards will not necessarily be of the same backgrounds as those for whom their award is named but they will demonstrate the same character, with a record of achievement in the face of personal obstacles and adversity. And, just like these trailblazers, they will show high potential to be among the industry’s future leaders and pacesetters.
Call for Entries
Entry Requirements
The awards are open to public relations people with less than 15 years’ experience at an agency, company, non-profit, government agency, or other institution. Candidates must be sponsored by their immediate supervisor or another senior person in their organization.
DEADLINE: May 7–June 21, 2024, 11:59 pm ET
EXTENDED DEADLINE: June 22–28, 11:59 pm ET
ENTRY FEE: $275
LATE FEE: $350
Late entries will be received until Friday, June 28, 2024. If you need more time, please reach out. All nominations received after 11:59 PM ET on June 21, 2024 will incur a late fee.
Finalists announced
August 14, 2024, in PRWeek
Recognition event
October as part of PRWeek 40 under 40 Awards
Mentors
Awards will be given at an industry event in New York City in October, 2024. And each winner of the PRMuseum NextGen Award will have the opportunity to receive a year of one-on-one mentoring by a current day PR trailblazer, including:
Jano Cabrera, Chief Communications Officer, General Mills
Bill Imada, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer, IW Group
Torod Neptune, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Medtronic
Beatriz Perez, EVP and Global Chief Communications, Sustainability & Strategic Partnerships Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
Sally Susman, Executive Vice President and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Pfizer
Judges
Entries will be assessed by a panel of seasoned public relations leaders of diverse backgrounds and experience.
Steve Barrett oversees content operations across Haymarket Media’s flagship business titles PRWeek and Campaign US. Before entering journalism, he was sales and marketing director of digital media agency Brand New Media, whose clients included HJHeinz and Barr Soft Drinks.
Steve Barrett, Editorial director, PRWeek
Christina Chan is a distinguished leader in the biotechnology industry, renowned for her contributions to scientific innovation and corporate strategy. As Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Communications and Citizenship at Regeneron, she spearheads initiatives that promote transparency, community engagement, and the advancement of healthcare solutions worldwide.
Christina Chan, Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Regeneron
Ray Day is known for his strategic leadership and innovative approaches to corporate communication. As the former Chief Communications Officer of Ford Motor Company, he played a pivotal role in shaping the company's public image and navigating through various challenges in the automotive industry.
Ray Day, Vice Chair, Stagwell
Carmella Glover, currently serving as President and CEO of the Diversity Action Alliance (DAA) and Vice President at Page, has a background in Chemical Engineering and a focus on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) consulting. She also teaches courses on DE&I and Strategic Communication at Georgetown University and Baruch College.
Carmella Glover, President, Diversity Action Alliance
As president of the PR Council, Kim Sample helps the leaders of 140 member agencies work smarter to grow talent, revenue and profits and elevate the PR profession overall. Kim was previously the founder/CEO of Emanate, an international marketing communications agency, which PR WEEK named Agency of the Year and CRAIN’S Best Places to Work in NYC.
Kim Sample, President, PR Council
Barby K. Siegel is the chief executive officer of the global integrated communications agency Zeno Group with operations across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. In 2020, Siegel launched Act Together, a series of initiatives to urgently advance a more equitable and inclusive workforce and bring more people of color to the agency and profession.
Barby K. Siegel, Global CEO, Zeno
Shelley Spector is co-founder and president of the Museum of Public Relations, the world’s only museum serving the Communications industry. In 1991 she founded PR firm Spector & Associates, which has represented many of the world’s biggest brands and has won more than 50 industry awards. In 2022 Spector received the the Page Society's Distinguished Service Award.
Shelley Spector, Co-founder, Museum of Public Relations
Oscar Suris, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Duke Energy
Chuck Wallington, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, Cone Health
Teneshia Jackson Warner, Founder and CEO, EGAMI Group
Judging Criteria
The judges will look for evidence that entrants have the same character as trailblazers in PR’s Hidden History and show high potential of being among the industry’s next generation of leaders and pacesetters. The judges will be particularly attentive to evidence that entrants overcame obstacles in their personal or professional lives to achieve their current position.
Entrants will be assessed on the following characteristics:
Self-starter. Shows unusual initiative and readily accepts responsibility.
Change Agent. Record of pushing the boundaries of culture and making brave changes within their workplace or industry.
Deeply Curious. Unusually broad interests and perspectives. Fast learner.
Enemy of the Routine. Highly creative. Sees opportunities others miss. Innovative.
Strong Leader. Unusual ability to motivate others in achieving ambitious goals. Celebrates success. Learns from mistakes.
Resolute. Determined and has overcome personal obstacles and adversity.
Submissions
All nominations for the PRMuseum NextGen Award should be made here. Use the form below to remit your entry fee. Upon submitting the fee, the Nomination Form will open where you will enter your candidate’s information. Receipt of your nomination will be acknowledged by email within five business days. We will be in touch if we need more information. Finalists will be announced in September.
Please send an email to nextgen@prmuseum.org if you have any questions or have trouble with your online submission. That’s also the email to use if you’re interested in sponsoring the PRMuseum NextGen Awards or any other PRMuseum initiative.
Thanks for your interest in the next generation of public relations leaders.
