A baker’s dozen of HR teams at leading companies have been named finalists for the 2025 HR Icons Awards. All will be honored in September for their outstanding achievements leading workplace transformation through innovative strategies and practices.

Among the submissions being recognized as finalists are a talent acquisition effort that cut time-to-fill by 50%, a development program for high-potential employees with a 98% retention rate and a learning investment designed to set the foundation for a company-wide digital transformation.

Representing ‘the spirit of innovation’

The HR teams being recognized as finalists are from the following companies:

• Avery Dennison, a global materials manufacturer headquartered in Ohio with about 37,000 employees;
• Banc of California, a financial services company based in Los Angeles with about 2,000 employees;
• Blackstone, a financial services company based in New York City with about 5,000 employees;
• Bristol Myers Squibb, a biopharmaceuticals firm based in New Jersey with about 33,000 employees;
• BVI Medical, a medical devices and surgical ophthalmic business based in Massachusetts with about 1,600 employees;
• Cornerstone, an HR technology firm headquartered in California with about 4,000 employees;
• Dow, the chemical manufacturing company based in Michigan with about 36,000 workers;
• Ernst & Young (EY US), a professional services firm based in New York City with about 54,000 employees;
• Fortitude Re, a reinsurance company based in Bermuda with about 550 employees;
• Johnson Controls International, an Ireland-based manufacturing company with about 104,000 employees;
• LRS, a waste and recycling company based in Illinois with about 2,400 employees;
• Marriott International, a hospitality company headquartered in Maryland with about 800,000 workers; and
• Sequoia Living, a senior living non-profit based in San Francisco with about 725 employees.

“Inside every thriving workplace, there is an HR team that is reimagining talent strategies and implementing breakthrough technologies,” said Elizabeth Clarke, executive editor of HR Executive. “With the HR Icons Awards, we’re proud to honor the teams whose innovation and impact are redefining what’s possible and shaping the future of work.”

Winners will be announced in September

Given by HR Executive, HR Icons Awards will be honored in the following six categories: Best Workplace Culture; Excellence in Employee Engagement; Excellence in HR Tech Innovation and AI; Excellence in Talent Development (Learning and Growth); Excellence in Talent Strategy; and Team of the Year: Excellence in HR Transformation.

“The HR Icons Awards are a powerful extension of what HR Executive and HR Tech have always stood for: recognizing the people and practices driving meaningful change in the workplace,” said Katherine Childress, vice president, HR Community, at the Arc network. “These finalists exemplify the spirit of innovation that we aim to capture, and we’re thrilled to celebrate their achievements on this year’s stage.”

The winners will be announced at the inaugural HR Icons Awards Evening in Las Vegas on Sept. 15, the night before HR Tech 2025. The event will also honor the recipients of HR Executive’s other longstanding awards, including Top Products of the Year.