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ANNOUNCEMENTS

2024 Talent Trailblazers Award Entries Opening Soon

Mark your calendar! The 2024 Chief Talent Officer Talent Trailblazers award entries open Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.

Key Dates:

Entry portal opens: Monday, Aug. 12, 2024
Entry portal closes: Monday, Nov. 7, 2024
Notify Finalists: Monday, Jan. 6, 2025

Questions

Questions?

If you have questions about the awards, selection process or entry form, click here to contact us.

ABOUT

Now in It's Second Year...

The Talent Trailblazers program will honor and celebrate high-potential emerging leaders making their mark on the HR and talent profession. The world of work is constantly changing and it’s vital to prioritize the engagement and connection of our employees, helping them feel a sense of belonging and purpose within our organizations. As the best and brightest talent in HR emerges, we want to recognize the industry’s innovative rising stars for their positive impact.

If you have questions about the awards, selection process or nomination form, click here to contact us.

Judging

Judging

Judges include senior practitioners, talent and HR experts and Chief Talent Officer editors. Each nomination is reviewed by multiple judges. Winners will be determined by averaging scores assigned by judges to each entry. In the event of a tie, a select group of judges will review competing entries to determine winners. Complete this form to be considered.

APPLICATIONS

How to Enter

2024 Talent Trailblazers award entries open Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.

  • Step 1: Log in to the nomination entry portal.
  • Step 2: Select the category you wish to enter.
  • Step 3: Submit details for each entry. You will be required to enter nominee information (the person being nominated for an award), nominator information (the person to contact regarding status of the nomination) and answers to a set of nomination questions.
  • Step 4: Pay entry fee and finalize submission.
Questions

Questions?

If you have questions about the awards, selection process or entry form, click here to contact us.

CATEGORIES

What Categories Are Available?

The Talent Trailblazer Awards are presented annually to high-potential emerging leaders making their mark on the HR and talent profession within their organizations. Gold, silver and bronze awards are awarded in each category. One nominee will be selected to receive the distinguished Trailblazer of the Year Award.

Check Mark

Trailblazer of the Year: For the emerging leader who is without peer in developing and executing talent development strategies, marshaling and managing resources and achieving measurable success. The Trailblazer of the Year award recognizes this high-potential leader for their body of work over the course of their career.

Check Mark

Assessment & Measurement Trailblazers: For emerging leaders who have implemented a significant measurement or evaluation program that has demonstrated exceptional business impact from their talent development programs. Potential results may include measures of employee retention, revenue growth, employee satisfaction or cost reduction, among others.

Check Mark

Culture Trailblazers: For emerging leaders helping to create a positive and healthy culture throughout their organization, through efforts such as diversity management and measurement, ensuring psychological safety, employee engagement, work/life balance, flexibility in hybrid/ remote working options, mental health support, employee benefits and more.

Check Mark

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Trailblazers: For emerging leaders effectively demonstrating commitment and intentionality when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in their organization.

Check Mark

Performance Management Trailblazers: For emerging leaders who have developed innovative and effective programming around performance management in areas such as core competencies, behavioral assessments, performance reviews and more.

Check Mark

Talent Acquisition Trailblazers: For emerging leaders who have developed effective programs around employee recruitment, onboarding, retention or succession planning.

Check Mark

Technology Innovation Trailblazers: For emerging leaders who have delivered new and unique applications of emerging technology to facilitate employee connection and collaboration throughout the organization.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What are the Talent Trailblazer awards?

The Talent Trailblazers Awards program honors and celebrates high-potential emerging leaders making their mark on the HR and talent profession. The world of work is constantly changing and it’s vital to prioritize the engagement and connection of our employees, helping them feel a sense of belonging and purpose within our organizations. As the best and brightest talent in HR emerges, we want to recognize the industry’s innovative rising stars for their positive impact.

The Talent Trailblazer Awards are presented annually to high-potential emerging leaders making their mark on the HR and talent profession within their organizations. Gold, silver and bronze awards are awarded in each category. One nominee will be selected to receive the distinguished Trailblazer of the Year Award.

Who do I contact if I have any questions about the Talent Trailblazer Awards?

Inquiries can be directed to customerservice@betterworkmedia.com.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Talent Trailblazer Awards are intended for high-potential emerging leaders making their mark on the HR and talent profession. We’re excited to highlight a new generation of leaders, shedding light on those who champion organizational culture and drive the design, development and execution of the best talent management programs, using the latest technology to facilitate employee collaboration, and doing it all with an equity lens.

All awards, with the exception of the Trailblazer of the Year Award, recognize emerging leaders for initiatives conducted within the past year. So, for the 2024 awards, initiatives conducted anytime in 2023 up through November 2023 are eligible. Initiatives that were started earlier are eligible as long as demonstrable results can be documented in the current award nomination period.

How do I apply?

Online applications are filled out through our nomination entry portal. The nomination period for the 2024 Trailblazer Awards opens Aug. 12, 2024. 

Download an example award application in advance to preview questions.

Is there a cost to apply? How do I pay?

There is a $495 application processing and handling fee. When you complete the online application and click submit you will be required to pay the application fee with a credit card. Your application is not finalized until payment.

When you complete the online application and click submit, you will be required to pay the application fee with a credit card. Your application is not finalized until payment is received. 

Members Save! Become a member today to save $100 on your application – and gain access to many other great benefits!

Become a Member

Who are the judges?

Judges include senior practitioners, learning and development experts, Chief Talent Officer editors and past award winners. Each nomination is reviewed by multiple judges to minimize bias.

What is the judging process and criteria?

A panel of judges is established for each of the 7 categories of awards to ensure the entries can be judged consistently and fairly. Winners are determined by averaging scores assigned by judges to each entry. In the event of a tie, a select group of judges will review competing entries to determine winners.

The scoring has been set up to be consistent across the award categories and judges will provide numerical scores for each of the following criteria:

Leadership: The degree to which the practitioner led the initiative, demonstrated by behaviors such as setting clear goals, providing guidance, coaching and support, working through obstacles and/or celebrating success.

Challenge: The scope, difficulty and size of the initiative.

Award-specific criteria: See Categories for descriptions of awards.

Each of the three award criteria is judged on a scale of 1 to 7:

6-7 (Breakthrough and/or role model): For practitioners considered “breakthroughs” and/or “role models” for the talent industry. The challenge is considered to be extreme (across an entire industry) or global (large numbers of learners, many stakeholders, very difficult to accomplish), and the nominees have demonstrated role-model leadership.

4-5 (Outstanding): For practitioners who did an outstanding job, met or exceeded all of the criteria as described and accomplished all goals. The complexity was significant and/or the nominees demonstrated clear leadership.

1-3 (Meets the criteria): For practitioners whose initiatives met the criteria but did not or could not provide clear or reliable evidence to identify initiatives as breakthrough or outstanding.

0 (Does not meet the criteria): Did not meet the criteria established or failed to document how the criteria were met.

Judges, you can download and view additional instructions here.

How are the winners determined?

Winners will be announced during a special virtual ceremony, which will take place in early 2025.

When are the winners announced? How are winners notified?

Awards will be announced during a special virtual ceremony, date TBD.

What do award winners receive?

Award winners will receive a specially designed award, which will be mailed to them following the virtual awards ceremony.

Questions

Questions?

If you have questions about the awards, selection process or entry form, click here to contact us.