Nominations are officially open for HR’s Rising Stars of 2026, a prestigious competition presented by HR Executive that recognizes emerging leaders who are profoundly shaping the future of human resources. The annual program aims to spotlight professionals who expertly navigate the rapidly evolving HR landscape, demonstrating exceptional leadership capabilities and sharp people acumen. This year’s competition introduces significant enhancements, including new judging categories based on organizational size and a heightened emphasis on data-driven impact in candidate contributions. The deadline for nominations is July 6.
The Evolving Strategic Imperative of Human Resources
In an era characterized by unprecedented technological shifts, dynamic market conditions, and a heightened focus on talent, the Human Resources function has transcended its traditional administrative boundaries to become an indispensable strategic partner within organizations. Modern HR leaders are no longer merely custodians of compliance and payroll; they are architects of culture, drivers of organizational effectiveness, champions of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and key advisors in digital transformation initiatives. This profound transformation underscores the critical importance of identifying and nurturing the next generation of HR talent capable of steering organizations through complex challenges and leveraging human capital as a competitive advantage.
According to recent industry reports, companies that strategically invest in their HR capabilities and foster a strong HR leadership pipeline consistently demonstrate superior financial performance, higher employee engagement, and enhanced innovation. For instance, a study by Deloitte’s Human Capital Trends highlighted that organizations with mature HR functions are 3.5 times more likely to report superior business outcomes. Similarly, Gartner research indicates that proactive talent management strategies, often spearheaded by innovative HR professionals, can reduce employee turnover by up to 20% and significantly boost productivity. It is against this backdrop of escalating strategic importance that competitions like HR’s Rising Stars gain paramount relevance, serving as a critical platform to acknowledge and elevate those professionals who are truly driving progress and demonstrating measurable impact.
A Legacy of Recognizing Excellence: The HR’s Rising Stars Competition
HR Executive, a leading authority in the human resources media landscape, established the HR’s Rising Stars competition to illuminate the innovative work of mid-career HR professionals who are making significant contributions to their organizations and the broader HR field. Since its inception, the competition has consistently identified individuals who embody the spirit of progress and leadership, reflecting HR Executive‘s long-standing commitment to tracking and reporting on the most impactful trends and individuals in HR.
Each year, the competition draws nominations from a diverse range of industries and organizational structures, showcasing the breadth and depth of talent within the HR community. Past winners have gone on to achieve further career milestones, often becoming thought leaders and influential figures within their respective sectors. The competition not only offers a prestigious accolade but also provides a vital platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and professional development, reinforcing the idea that recognizing individual excellence contributes directly to the advancement of the entire profession. By celebrating these rising stars, HR Executive aims to inspire current and future HR professionals to push the boundaries of what is possible, fostering a culture of innovation and strategic thinking within the function.
Key Innovations and Enhanced Focus for 2026
The 2026 HR’s Rising Stars competition introduces several significant updates designed to refine the evaluation process and better reflect the diverse landscape of modern organizations. These changes underscore the competition’s commitment to continuous improvement and its responsiveness to industry feedback.
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Organizational Size Categories: A primary enhancement for this year is the introduction of two distinct judging categories based on organization size: above and below 1,000 employees. This structural change acknowledges that the challenges, resources, and strategic priorities for HR professionals can vary dramatically between large enterprises and smaller, rapidly growing companies. For professionals in organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees, innovation often means resourcefulness, agility, and the ability to build foundational HR structures from the ground up, often with limited budgets. Conversely, HR leaders in organizations exceeding 1,000 employees typically navigate complex matrix structures, global workforces, and sophisticated talent ecosystems. By creating separate categories, the competition aims to ensure a fairer and more relevant evaluation, allowing candidates to be judged against peers operating within similar operational contexts. This differentiation ensures that the unique impact of an HR professional in a startup environment, for example, is weighed appropriately against that of a leader in a multinational corporation.
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Streamlined Nomination Portal: To facilitate a more user-friendly experience for nominators, a new, streamlined nomination portal has been launched. This digital platform centralizes all submission materials, simplifying the process of uploading candidate information, supporting documents, and testimonials. The intuitive design aims to reduce administrative burden and encourage a broader pool of nominations, ensuring that outstanding HR professionals are not overlooked due to complex submission requirements. This improvement reflects a wider trend in professional awards programs to leverage technology for efficiency and accessibility.
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Emphasis on Data-Driven Impact: Perhaps the most pivotal change for the 2026 competition is the heightened emphasis on demonstrating impact through data. The nomination form now explicitly prompts submitters to outline candidates’ most significant contributions with quantifiable evidence. This shift directly aligns with the strategic evolution of HR, where data analytics and metrics are no longer optional but essential tools for proving value, informing decision-making, and securing executive buy-in. Candidates will be expected to illustrate how their initiatives have led to measurable improvements in areas such as employee retention, engagement scores, recruitment efficiency (e.g., time-to-hire, cost-per-hire), diversity metrics, talent development ROI, or organizational productivity. For instance, a nominee might highlight how a new talent development program, under their leadership, reduced skill gaps by 15% and increased internal promotions by 10%, leading to significant cost savings in external recruitment. This focus on data not only elevates the rigor of the judging process but also reinforces the importance of evidence-based HR practices across the industry.
Eligibility and Application Process
Prospective candidates for HR’s Rising Stars of 2026 must meet specific criteria to be considered. Nominees are required to have between 3 and 15 years of experience in the Human Resources field, ensuring a focus on professionals who have moved beyond entry-level roles but are still considered "rising" within their careers. Additionally, candidates must have been employed at their current organization for a minimum of one year, demonstrating a sustained commitment and impact within a specific corporate environment.
Crucially, HR’s Rising Stars must not hold the top-ranked HR professional position within their organization. This criterion is designed to ensure the competition truly identifies emerging leaders and high-potential individuals who are making significant contributions from within the HR function, rather than honoring those who have already achieved the pinnacle of HR leadership, such as a Chief HR Officer (CHRO) or VP of HR. This distinction ensures the award serves its purpose of recognizing individuals on an upward trajectory, poised for greater influence.
All nomination materials, including detailed descriptions of contributions and supporting data, must be submitted through the new online portal by the deadline of July 6. Further details about the competition and access to the nomination portal can be found on the HR Executive events website.
An Esteemed Panel of Industry Judges
The selection of HR’s Rising Stars for 2026 will be entrusted to a distinguished panel of judges, comprising both seasoned industry veterans and previous Rising Star recipients who bring a diverse range of expertise and perspectives to the evaluation process. This blend of experience ensures a comprehensive and insightful assessment of each nominee’s qualifications.
The 2026 judging panel includes:
- Prerna Ajmera: General Manager, HR Digital Strategy and Innovation at Microsoft. Ajmera is a notable alumna of the competition, having been recognized as a 2025 HR’s Rising Star herself. Her expertise in digital transformation and innovation within HR offers a forward-thinking lens to the judging process.
- Xan Daniels: Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity and Employee Engagement at Alight Solutions. Daniels, a 2024 HR’s Rising Star, brings invaluable insights into critical areas of DEI and employee experience, reflecting the modern HR imperative for creating equitable and engaging workplaces.
- Gregory Hessel: Managing Director, Global HR Practice at Korn Ferry. As a leader at a premier global organizational consulting firm, Hessel offers a broad, strategic view of HR leadership, talent management, and organizational effectiveness across various industries.
- Heather Vogel: Chief Talent Officer at Children’s Home Society of Florida. Vogel, a 2023 inductee into HR Executive‘s HR Honor Roll, brings deep experience in talent strategy, development, and the unique challenges and opportunities within the non-profit sector.
The inclusion of past Rising Stars on the judging panel is particularly significant, as they have firsthand experience with the rigorous demands of the competition and embody the qualities the award seeks to recognize. "Our judging panel represents the pinnacle of HR leadership and innovation," stated a representative from HR Executive. "Their collective wisdom and diverse experiences ensure that the 2026 Rising Stars are truly exceptional individuals who are not only making a tangible difference today but are also poised to lead the HR function into the future."
Rewards and Recognition: The HR Tech Conference
The winners of the 2026 HR’s Rising Stars competition will receive significant recognition for their achievements. Each winner will be awarded a complimentary expo pass to the highly anticipated HR Tech Conference in Las Vegas, scheduled for October 20-22. This conference is widely regarded as the world’s leading event for HR technology, drawing thousands of attendees, exhibitors, and speakers annually. It serves as an unparalleled platform for learning about the latest innovations in HR software, networking with industry peers, and gaining insights into emerging trends that are shaping the future of work.
Beyond the expo pass, the Rising Stars will be formally recognized during the HR Tech Conference, providing them with a prominent platform to celebrate their accomplishments among a global audience of HR professionals and industry leaders. This visibility can be a powerful catalyst for career advancement, opening doors to new opportunities, collaborations, and thought leadership platforms. The association with HR Executive and the HR Tech Conference significantly enhances the prestige of the award, positioning winners as key influencers in the HR domain.
Spotlight on Past Success: The 2025 Rising Stars
The impact of the HR’s Rising Stars competition is best exemplified by the caliber of its past honorees. The 2025 cohort of winners demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation across a spectrum of HR disciplines and organizational contexts. These individuals represent the leading edge of HR talent, driving critical initiatives within their respective companies.
The 2025 HR’s Rising Stars included:
- Prerna Ajmera (Microsoft): Recognized for her strategic vision in HR digital transformation and innovation, contributing to Microsoft’s advanced people-centric technologies.
- Drew Howell (World Wide Fulfillment by Amazon and North America Selling Business Programs): Honored for his contributions to optimizing HR operations and talent management within complex, large-scale global logistics and business programs at Amazon.
- Mai Lan Nguyen (Schneider Electric): Celebrated for her impactful work in global talent strategies and fostering an inclusive environment within a multinational energy management and automation company.
- Gabrielle Rodman (Dell Technologies): Acknowledged for her leadership in developing and implementing progressive HR programs that enhance employee experience and drive business outcomes at a leading technology giant.
- Sarah Tilley (ServiceNow): Recognized for her innovative approaches to HR strategy, leveraging technology to streamline processes and empower employees within the cloud computing company.
These past winners serve as inspiring examples of the diverse ways in which HR professionals are contributing to organizational success, from pioneering digital strategies to fostering inclusive cultures and optimizing global talent pipelines. Their achievements underscore the evolving and increasingly strategic nature of the HR function.
Broader Implications for the HR Profession
The HR’s Rising Stars competition, particularly with its refined focus for 2026, holds significant implications for the broader HR profession. By emphasizing data-driven impact and creating categories tailored to organizational size, HR Executive is not only recognizing excellence but also actively shaping the benchmarks for future HR leadership.
This initiative reinforces the growing expectation that HR professionals must be adept at leveraging analytics to demonstrate tangible business value. It encourages a shift from reactive, intuitive HR to proactive, evidence-based strategic decision-making. For individuals aspiring to leadership roles, this competition signals the necessity of developing strong analytical skills alongside traditional people management competencies.
Moreover, by shining a light on these emerging leaders, the competition helps to elevate the perception of HR within the executive suite. It provides concrete examples of how HR can directly contribute to profitability, innovation, and organizational resilience. This recognition can inspire more professionals to pursue careers in HR, attracting top talent to a field that is increasingly critical to business success. In an environment where companies are grappling with talent shortages, the future of work, and the imperative for diverse and inclusive workplaces, the role of agile, strategic, and data-savvy HR professionals has never been more vital. The HR’s Rising Stars competition plays a crucial role in identifying and celebrating these architects of the modern workforce, ensuring the continued evolution and impact of the human resources profession.
