Welcome to the 2026 Top Women in Media & Ad Tech Call for Entries! 

Early Rate Entry Deadline:  July 17, 2026 

The Top Women in Media & Ad Tech Awards recognize, celebrate, inspire and bring together the women who are making an impact in the greater digital media and advertising technology community. The Top Women in Media & Ad Tech Awards spotlight exceptional women at every stage of their career. 

In an industry driven by innovation, creativity, and impact, women are shaping the future of media and ad tech. To honor this transformative leadership, we’re excited to announce new award categories exclusively recognizing the achievements of powerful women like you.

Whether you’re redefining storytelling, revolutionizing ad strategies, or leading teams to unprecedented success, these categories are designed to celebrate your contributions and amplify your voice. Do you know a woman who is innovating media and ad tech in new ways and guiding her business into new markets? Then she deserves to join the ranks of Top Women in Media & Ad Tech Honorees like Angelina Eng, IAB; Jen Wong, Reddit; Jackie Swansburg Paulino, Pixability; Jill Nickerson, Horizon Media; Sneha Thomas, Google; Elyssa Byck, NBCUniversal; Sara Acker, Human Security; Karen Babcock, Comcast Advertising; Jackie Day, WPP Media; Kate O'Loughlin, SuperAwesome; Katherine Yager, LG Ad Solutions; Chardia Christophe-Garcia, TIME; Kristen DiCorleto, CVS Media Exchange; Priti Ohri, Advertible; Christina Barlowe-Villano, AMC Networks, Noor Naseer, Basis Technologies; Johanna Bauman, PubMatic; Amy Lehman, The Wald Disney Company and hundreds more!

On November 3, 2026, AdExchanger will present awards to the 2026 Top Women in Media and Ad Tech Honorees at the fun and inspiring Top Women Awards Gala in New York City. Honorees will be recognized on stage and will receive industry-wide coverage and recognition on AdExchanger web and social platforms, and marketed to the AdExchanger and Chief Marketer email database. The prestige of joining the ranks of this exceptional group of women will last a lifetime!

Start A New Entry>>

CATEGORIES

  • ADVOCATES FOR INCLUSION:  Women who have had an exceptional impact on diversity and inclusion in their teams, companies, and the digital media industry as a whole.
  • AGENCY TRAILBLAZER (NEW):  Women at agencies — holding companies, independents, and specialists alike — who are redefining what great agency work looks like in the modern media landscape. From leading trading desks and investment strategy to transforming media planning, client relationships, and agency operations, these women are raising the bar for the entire buy side and delivering results that set the standard for the industry.
  • AI MEDIA INNOVATORS (NEW):  The visionary leaders, strategists, technologists and innovators driving meaningful change across the industry. From pioneering new applications of AI in media and marketing to shaping ethical, effective and business-changing solutions, these women are setting the standard for what’s next.
  • CHANGE-MAKERS:  Women who have successfully altered the course of their brands or the industry for the better in the last year. Select from the following new Changemaker subcategories:
    • Revenue Growth  
    • New Product Launch
    • Team Leadership
    • Corporate Growth Innovator
  • COMMERCE MEDIA MAVENS (NEW): This award celebrates women who are redefining advertising at the intersection of media, data, and commerce. Commerce Media Mavens are the strategic leaders and technologists turning shopper insights, retail media, and performance signals into measurable business growth. From building and scaling commerce and retail media ecosystems to connecting media exposure with real-world sales, these women are shaping how brands influence, convert, and retain consumers in a commerce-first world.
  • DATA DEMYSTIFIERS:  Women with expertise in data science or analytics, using their prowess to inform decision-making, prove out business cases or test new ideas.
  • ENTREPRENEURIAL ACHIEVEMENT:  Women who have launched or rebuilt brands or companies and continue to work tirelessly towards their success.
  • INSPIRATIONAL MENTORS:  Women who have made an extraordinary effort and impact on the careers of their colleagues. Women who are sending the elevator back down!
  • INNOVATIVE BRAND MARKETER: Brand-side women in CMO or senior leadership who have spearheaded remarkable digital advertising strategies for their brand portfolio.
  • MEDIA ORCHESTRATOR:  For the strategist who designs campaigns with measurable impact, skillfully orchestrating ad placements to maximize reach, engagement, and ROI. This award celebrates those who build impressions that last.
  • PRIVACY POWERHOUSES:  Women who are confidently steering their media brand's ship amidst the changing tides of privacy regulation. From privacy managers and compliance officers to corp counsel, or business affairs, these are the women who are leading their company's data privacy, legal policies, and practices.
  • PROGRAMMATIC STORYTELLERS: From ad tech product to programmatic sales and ops, these women are expert translators who use marketing and content to simplify messaging, or use their sales mastery to make the programmatic case to their partners.
  • PUBLISHER REVENUE INNOVATOR (NEW):  Women at media companies, publishers, and content platforms who are rethinking how quality media gets monetized. Whether developing audience-first strategies, building new revenue streams, forging innovative brand partnerships, or navigating the tension between editorial integrity and commercial growth, these leaders are proving that great content and smart business are not mutually exclusive.
  • SELL-SIDE TECH TRAILBLAZERS:  The tech-focused women who are creating and improving ad tech and media products. They break through walls of success in product and engineering--the most male-dominated sectors of the media and advertising industry. 
  • BUY-SIDE TECH TRAILBLAZERS: The tech-focused women who are creating and improving ad tech and media products. They break through walls of success in product and engineering--the most male-dominated sectors of the media and advertising industry. 
  • TRANSFORMATIVE TECH MARKETERS: Women CMOs within the ad tech industry who are taking their company’s B2B/SaaS marketing to the next level.
  • UP AND COMERS: Women in ad tech who are on the rise and making their mark within their first 10 years in the industry.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Nominees must meet the following criteria: 
a) Identify as a woman.
b) Work within the digital media or ad tech industry, including but not limited to: a media company, digital-only media company, brand, technology/SaaS company, marketing or advertising agency, association, or work as a consultant or other services-provider to the industry.

Guidance:

  • Nominees may be nominated (and win) multiple times, in multiple years. Each year’s submissions are judged independently for their merit. 
  • Nominees are encouraged to submit their application in multiple categories. Each category is judged independently. 
  • The program is open to national and international nominees. 
  • The program is for women in digital media & ad tech at every stage of their careers! Please see category descriptions. 
  • Self-nominations are welcome!

ENTRY DEADLINES AND FEES

  • Early Rate:  $425 Through July 17, 2026 
  • Standard Rate:  $495 July 18-24, 2026  
  • Final:  $575 July 25-31, 2026  

WHAT DO I NEED TO HAVE PREPARED?

  1. Nominator contact and company information (the point person for the nomination)
  2. Nominee contact and company information (the person who is being nominated for an award)
  3. Justification - Synopsis of why the nominee should win an award in that category. Can include any specific traits and abilities that make this person stand out among peers and how this person’s influence extends beyond her company. (500 word max)
  4. (3) Career Achievements – Please provide a description that includes 3 specific accomplishments and milestones achieved by the nominee that support both your justification and the category they're being nominated for. (300 word max each)
  5. Headshot of the nominee (Hi-res; no text or logos; no screenshots)
  6. Nominee short bio for promotion (1000 character max; written in third person)
  7. OPTIONAL – Supporting documents (any supporting documents, videos, or URLs to support your entry)

To begin your entry, click START A NEW ENTRY and proceed with the below. (If you already have an account, simply sign-in on the left):

  1. Select the category you would like to enter from the drop-down.
  2. Answer the questions regarding the nominee and entry contact.
  3. Complete the entry form. Upload any supporting materials, and select SAVE at the bottom of the page.
  4. If you'd like to submit the same nominee into an additional category select "I'd like to enter this submission in another category". Once saved, click ADD TO CART.
  5. To add another entry, select "START A NEW ENTRY."

After all entries are complete, return to your cart. Select CHECKOUT to enter your payment information and then PROCESS to officially submit your entries.

Questions? Contact  events@adexchanger.com. Happy nominating!

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