Next of the Best

Category Criteria

The Mediaweek Next of the Best Awards recognise operational leaders delivering measurable impact across the media, marketing and technology ecosystem.

Judges assess entries based on leadership influence, measurable outcomes and industry relevance.

Leaders often influence multiple areas of the industry. Entrants are welcome to submit the same nominee across multiple categories where their leadership meets the criteria.

Brand & Growth Leader

Who It's For:

Marketing leaders driving measurable business growth through brand, marketing and customer strategy.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Commercial impact and measurable business growth
  • Strategic leadership and decision-making
  • Operational influence across teams and partners
  • Industry relevance across brand, media, data and commerce

Publisher & Platform Leader

Who It's For:

Leaders shaping audience, product or commercial strategy within publishers, broadcasters, streaming platforms or technology platforms.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Strategic innovation in audience or platform strategy
  • Revenue growth or commercial transformation
  • Leadership across editorial, product and commercial teams
  • Industry relevance within the evolving media ecosystem

Agency Media Leader

Who It's For:

Agency leaders responsible for media strategy, planning or investment delivering measurable client outcomes.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Strategic media leadership
  • Client business impact
  • Innovation in planning, investment or measurement
  • Influence across clients and internal teams

Agency Creative Leader

Who It's For:

Creative leaders responsible for ideas and campaigns delivering cultural and commercial impact.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Creative excellence and originality
  • Strategic thinking linked to business objectives
  • Cultural resonance with audiences
  • Leadership through creative craft

Partnerships Leader

Who It's For:

Leaders building high-value collaborations between brands, media companies and platforms.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Strategic alignment between partners
  • Commercial or audience value creation
  • Cross-organisation leadership
  • Innovative partnership structures

Retail & Commerce Leader

Who It's For:

Leaders connecting brand and transaction through retail media, commerce and omnichannel strategy.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Measurable commercial or conversion impact
  • Innovation linking media exposure to sales outcomes
  • Cross-team leadership across marketing, trade and commercial functions
  • Industry relevance within retail media and commerce

Product & Innovation Leader

Who It's For:

Product, platform and innovation leaders building solutions across media, marketing and technology businesses.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Originality and usefulness of the solution
  • Strong execution from concept to launch
  • Evidence of adoption and performance
  • Industry relevance of the innovation

Data & Insights Leader

Who It's For:

Leaders translating data and analytics into strategic decisions.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Analytical leadership
  • Strategic application of insight
  • Measurable business impact
  • Evidence the insight influenced strategic decisions or outcomes

Influence & Audience Leader

Who It's For:

Leaders responsible for audience development, creator strategy, community growth or cultural influence.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Clear audience strategy and insight
  • Growth, engagement or behaviour change
  • Cultural relevance
  • Leadership in audience and community building

Audio & Entertainment Leader

Who It's For:

Leaders shaping audio and entertainment formats that build audience habit and engagement.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Strength of concept or format
  • Audience growth and retention
  • Innovation in distribution or monetisation
  • Industry relevance within entertainment and audio

News & Journalism Leader

Who It's For:

Journalists and editorial leaders delivering impactful journalism with integrity.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Editorial leadership and judgment
  • Public or societal impact
  • Integrity and ethical reporting
  • Influence on industry standards

People & Culture Leader

Who It's For:

Leaders responsible for talent, culture, organisational effectiveness or workforce capability.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Cultural leadership
  • Successful delivery of organisational change
  • Measurable improvements in workforce outcomes
  • Influence on organisational performance

Sustainability & Purpose Leader

Who It's For:

Leaders embedding sustainability, ESG or responsible business practices into operational strategy.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Authentic integration into business operations
  • Measurable environmental or social impact
  • Strategic leadership in responsible practice
  • Industry relevance of the work

Sales & Commercial Leader

Who It's For:

Commercial leaders driving sustainable revenue growth and client value.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Revenue growth and retention
  • Strategic selling or go-to-market innovation
  • Leadership of commercial teams
  • Industry relevance in evolving commercial models

Entrepreneur

Who It's For:

Founders building scalable ventures across media, marketing or technology.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Clear market vision
  • Ability to execute and build a viable business
  • Commercial traction and growth
  • Industry relevance of the venture

Change Maker

Who It's For:

Leaders creating meaningful change beyond their own organisation.

Judges Are Looking For:

  • Breadth of industry impact
  • Depth of meaningful change
  • Industry influence
  • Leadership through action