HR Executive recognizes excellence in the next generation of HR leaders with our annual HR’s Rising Stars awards. Nominees must be up-and-coming stars in the profession who have demonstrated extraordinary leadership skills and an ability to tackle difficult business challenges while enhancing the role of the HR function. Candidates must be leading—but not senior-most—HR executives at their organizations or the heads of major HR disciplines. They also must work at businesses with at least 500 employees.
HR professionals near the top of their organization’s human resource function who have demonstrated leadership, the ability to successfully launch significant HR initiatives and programs, and the ability to tackle major HR-related challenges are eligible to be nominated. We seek candidates who have accomplished significant achievements in three areas, including a relevant area related to the most pressing issues facing leaders today.
Meet the 2025 winners. Check back next year for the 2026 nomination form.
Learn about previous winners below:
2024: Recognizing five visionary HR’s Rising Stars
2023: Announcing the 2023 HR’s Rising Stars
2022: Meet the 2022 HR’s Rising Stars
2021: Meet HR’s Rising Stars
2020: Rising to the Challenge
2019: Innovating for the Future
2018: Agents of Change
2017: The Fixers
2016: Ever Upward
2015: Shining Examples
