The votes are in! Explore the 2025 Impact Awards honorees and finalists — leaders across marketing, media, and tech recognized for driving responsible change in our industry. Each category winner received a $500 donation to the nonprofit of their choice, celebrating their impact beyond the workplace.
Want to be part of the 2026 Impact Awards? Whether you’re looking to nominate, sponsor, or attend, get the details here:
People Categories
Purpose Pioneers
The senior leaders who have a proven history of purposeful work and have made significant contributions
to advance the industry over the past year.
Top 3 Honorees
Ben Erwin
Charitybuzz
CEO
Nichole Henderson
Spotify
Manager, Global Audiobook & Podcast Marketing
Marissa Jarratt
7 Eleven
EVP, CMO, Chief Sustainability Officer
Responsible Rookies
The people who are under 10 years into their careers and paving the path forward as the next generation of
responsibility-focused leaders.
Top 3 Honorees
Fatima Chaudhry
Initiative
Director, Client Analytics and Solutions
Kylee McKinney
Mediahub
Associate Media Director
Jenise Ogle
Omnicom Media Group
Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Action-Focused Advertisers
The brand marketers who are advocating for more responsible advertising practices and taking the risk to
test more purposeful initiatives.
Top 3 Honorees
Donna Dozier Gordon
H&M Americas
Head of Inclusion and Diversity
Jessica Padula
Nespresso
VP of Marketing
Heather Roff
L’Oreal
AVP, Media
Values-Based Vendors
The tech titans and mindful media executives who are creating new solutions to accelerate industry growth, pushing their teams to look beyond glitzy activations, and rethinking event experiences through the lens of sustainability and social impact.
Top 3 Honorees
Kerel Cooper
GUMGUM
CMO
MINORITY REPORT PODCAST
Co-Founder
Crystal Foote
Digital Culture Group
Founder
Ali Wendroff
Sharethrough
VP of Demand Partnerships
Intersectionality Champions
The underrepresented and strong allies who broaden their impact and spearhead societal causes outside of those directly tied to their identity, breaking down the silos of responsibility and embracing the power of intersectionality. For example, a person of color focused on environmental issues, a queer person committed to fighting hunger, a leader who commits to working with minority-owned businesses, etc.
Top 3 Honorees
Tony Franklin
A Black Executive Perspective
Podcast Founder & Host
Cheryl Guerin
Mastercard
EVP, Global Brand Strategy & Innovation
Santia Nance
Mediahub
VP, Media Director
Organization Categories
Inception of Impact
Every journey starts with a single step, and sometimes that first step can be the hardest. This category recognizes companies that are at the beginning of their path toward more responsible practices. It highlights organizations making a positive impact through new initiatives or by expanding existing programs, even with limited resources.
Top 3 Honorees
Ogilvy
Spark Foundry
XR Extreme Reach
Responsible Representation
Representation is critical in marketing and advertising. This category will spotlight the organizations that have not just created DEIB policies, but have actually instilled representative team members across the entire operation.
Top 3 Honorees
"A Black Executive Perspective" Podcast
Colossus SSP
Omnicom
Data Defenders
Protecting consumers, their data and privacy is foundational to the future of the digital media and marketing industries. Adhering to industry guidelines surrounding data protection and privacy policies is the bare minimum. This category will showcase the companies that have seen positive results from transparent data initiatives and privacy-by-design policies with consumer protection at the core.
Top 3 Honorees
KINESSO
LiveRamp
Snowflake
Resourceful Responsibility
Every little bit counts when pushing for the greater good and many companies are determined to drive a positive impact, regardless of the resources at their disposal. This category will celebrate the companies that creatively used limited resources to drive meaningful results.
Top 3 Honorees
Initiative
Omnicom Media Group
TechBae
Sustainable Stewards
We all have a responsibility to contribute to greener practices and better health for the planet, whether that means reducing carbon emissions, combatting over consumption or lowering overall waste. This category will honor the companies that have achieved substantial results from sustainability initiatives or campaigns over the past year.
Top 3 Honorees
IPG Mediabrands
OpenX
Scope3
Partners
Industry Partners
Table Sponsors
