Call for Entries Deadline:

This program is now closed.

Learn more about current programs here.

Recognizing exceptional human resource professionals

Employees are the most important asset of any organization and are a main driver of organizational reputation and bottom-line success. Human Resource executives understand this and are on the front lines every day ensuring that quality, productivity and morale are at its highest.

As with most careers, though, women in HR strive for recognition within their organization. They both champion pay equity and seek it for themselves, and they aspire to leadership roles and career advancement. That’s why Ragan is recognizing the Top Women in HR to shine a spotlight on the outstanding contributions by female HR professionals at all stages of their career.

Ragan’s Top Women in HR will be those who are leading the charge when it comes to performance management, diversity & inclusion, organizational development, talent recruitment and retention, compensation and benefits, human resources information systems, training and development, coaching and corporate leadership.

A Top Woman in HR inspires those around her—she is fearless and an indefatigable contributor. You likely work with her. It might even be you.

As the leading information resource for internal communicators, Ragan has been chronicling for more than 50 years the challenges and opportunities for those communicating with employees across the organization. These awards are a recognition of the blurring lines between Internal Communications and Human Resources and the role that both play in organizational growth.

Tell us about your Top Women in HR so we can showcase the best of the best. To enter this awards program, we are leaving it up to you to use the 500 words wisely in the entry form to highlight each Top Woman in HR. Judges will select multiple winners for each category, creating the industry’s premier go-to list of leaders.

Ragan will honor the first class of the Top Women in HR lat an awards gala, with special editorial coverage on Ragan.com, PR Daily and beyond. Due to COVID-19 concerns, the date and location are TBD.

Help us highlight the accomplishments of your peers and shine a spotlight on organizations that support female advancement and leadership. Entry deadline is June 3.

CATEGORIES

 Bridge Builder

She forges internal and external connections like a master.

 Coach

She's the first to dive in and teach her peers, putting them on the path to success.

 Community Giver

She is giving of her time to people and places outside her employer.

 Culture Czar

She is instrumental in creating a welcoming place for all and fostering a workplace that inspires employees.

 Dynamic Do-er

She rolls up her sleeves and gets it done. And then some.

 HR Rising Star (30 Years Old or Younger)

She is an up-and-coming comms pro, primed to climb the ranks quickly.

 Leader

She leads with conviction and empathy, and her team and employees look up to her.

 Mentor

She takes future leaders under her wings and teaches them how to fly.

 Strategist

She always has a plan in place and knows how to achieve her goals.

 Technology Whiz

She embraces the benefits of digital tools and makes them work for her—and her organization.

 Trailblazer

She creates a new path that others want to follow.

 Hall of Fame

The entry should describe specific measurable achievements and/or examples of the nominee’s impact within her department and beyond. We are not looking for women who are just doing their job; we are looking for women who go above and beyond, and have challenged the status quo.

HOW TO ENTER

Tell us in 500 words about your nominee’s accomplishments in the previous 12 months. The winning list of Top Women will be those who have distinguished themselves among their peers with meaningful achievements. Choose a category that best describes the nominee and submit your short essay along with any supporting materials you feel will be helpful to the judges. Ragan’s panel of judges will select multiple winners from each category and reserves the right to place your nominee in the category that best fits her accomplishments.

We will recognize women who are champions of the employee, who build bridges between internal departments and stakeholders; HR professionals whose passion contributes to a great workplace; who roll up their sleeves and get more done than imaginable; women who lead with purpose; women who have developed better mouse traps; women who lead great teams.

Supporting documents that can’t be uploaded to the system should be mailed to: 

Brendan Gannon
Ragan Communications 
10 S. LaSalle St., Suite 310
Chicago, IL 60603

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  • The nominee must work in a human resource role or spend at least 50% of her time in HR.
  • You can nominate up to 10 women from your organization.
  • Hall of Fame entries honor lifetime achievements. All other the entries reflect the nominee’s successes in the past 12 months.
  • The time period: May 2019 – April 2020.
  • You can self-nominate or nominate a client or peer from your organization or another organization.
  • This is a global award; nominations are accepted from all countries.
  • We will notify you and the winning honorees in August 2020.

If you have questions, or need help entering, contact Brendan Gannon at 312-960-4407 or brendang@ragan.com.

This year’s program is open to any work executed between May 1, 2019, and April 1, 2020, inclusive.

ENTRY FEES

The price of each entry is $425.

For entries submitted after June 3, 2020, there will be a $199 late fee added per entry. Payment in full must accompany the entry.

W-9 Form / Tax ID Number Request

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should you apply?

It is increasingly important to recognize the important role of HR within an organization. This awards program allows you to prove your value. A Top Women in HR reflects on the entire organization.  As a winner, you’ll earn publicity for your brand across our websites and social media audiences, a custom write-up about your campaign and a trophy.

Who can enter?

Entries may be submitted by organizations worldwide. The only requirement is that entries be submitted in English. This awards program is open to corporations, agencies, nonprofits, associations and government organizations.  

What does it take to be a winner?

We look for clearly articulated submissions that showcase why the nominee is deserving of this honor. Supporting materials, such as testimonials, examples of the nominees’ work are helpful. Please look at our past award winners to see what gets recognized and rewarded. We encourage you to submit the nominees to multiple categories, if you feel they are relevant. Doing so increases your chances of winning.

What are the entry requirements?

The entry form requires that you submit a synopsis of the honoree, including her current role, achievements in the past 12 months, and justification for why she should receive an award from us. 

Why are some deadlines extended?

We extend deadlines based on applicant needs and upcoming promotional opportunities.

When will I find out results?

We try to announce a list of finalists six to eight weeks after the close of the program. The announcement of the winners comes about three to four weeks after the announcement of the finalists. Each announcement will be made with a headline on our website, in our daily email newsletter and on our social media platforms. Emails notify entrants in advance of these announcements. As deadlines are extended, so are expected announcement dates. 

Additional Questions

If you have any questions about the program or problems submitting your entry, please call Brendan Gannon at 312-960-4407 or email him at brendang@ragan.com.

Sponsorship Opportunities

If you are interested in sponsoring one of Ragan Communications’ award programs, please contact Hannah Lavelle at 513-331-0104 or email hannahl@ragan.

Ragan Communications is not responsible for international shipping fees related to Winner trophies.