Why Enter
Winning an HR Icons Award goes beyond recognition—it’s about visibility, pride, and momentum. This is your opportunity to:
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Honor your team’s impact on culture, strategy, and innovation
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Showcase your success in front of the HR community at HR Tech 2025
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Build your employer brand and amplify your organization’s story
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Celebrate the people who make HR better every day
If your team is driving real change, it’s time to share that story.
Who Can Nominate
Companies with 500 or more employees are invited to nominate outstanding HR teams, programs, or initiatives across any of the seven award categories.
Key Details
Deadline to Nominate is June 6, 2025.
Finalists will be notified by July 14, 2025, and invited to the HR Icons Awards Evening on September 15 at HR Tech in Las Vegas.
Submission fee: $45 per entry (non-refundable)
HR Icons Awards Categories
Best Workplace Culture
Recognizes employers that have cultivated an exceptional workplace environment, where employees feel authentically valued, empowered and inspired to thrive.
Winning submissions will showcase how organizations weave purpose and belonging into everyday work life—and reveal clear evidence of meaningful impact on people and performance.
Entry Criteria
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Employers with standout workplace cultures rooted in values, inclusion and employee experience.
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Must provide testimonials, survey data or external recognition supporting cultural impact.
Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Recognizes HR teams that have demonstrated a clear commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.
Winning submissions will showcase recent programs and practices that have fostered transparency, accountability and dedication to continuous improvement in DEI, thereby driving business success.
Entry Criteria
- Open to organizations with robust DEI strategies and initiatives that have been active in the past 12-24 months.
- Must include qualitative and/or quantitative data showing improvement or innovation in DEI.
Excellence in Employee Engagement
Celebrates HR teams that have developed and implemented innovative strategies to foster a highly engaged workforce.
Winning submissions will showcase the commitment, collaboration, data-driven decision-making and results required to improve employee engagement within an organization.
Entry Criteria
- Open to organizations with programs or initiatives that have significantly improved employee engagement or experience based on strategies active within the past 12 months.
- Must include pre- and post-program data or other feedback metrics.
Excellence in HR Tech Innovation and AI
Recognizes HR teams that are pioneering the use of cutting-edge technologies or AI-powered solutions to transform their operations.
Winning submissions will showcase the team’s success implementing innovative technology that aligns with HR goals, promotes user adoption and achieves measurable efficiency gains.
Entry Criteria
- HR teams that have implemented new technologies or AI-powered solutions in HR using solutions built in-house or in partnership with vendors.
- Must show the impact on HR operations, employee experience or strategic decision-making.
Excellence in Talent Development
Celebrates HR teams that are redefining how employees learn, through a deep commitment to forward-thinking development initiatives.
Winning submissions will demonstrate strong participation, positive learner outcomes and strategic learning investments that have helped create a stronger, more agile workforce that is positioned for long-term success.
Entry Criteria
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HR teams that have made significant investments in employee learning, leadership development or upskilling initiatives within the last 24 months.
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Must show data and measurable outcomes of the initiatives on their workforce.
Excellence in Talent Strategy
Honors visionary HR teams that have designed and executed innovative talent strategies to deliver significant business impact for their organization.
Winning submissions will showcase the team’s success implementing innovative technology that aligns with HR goals, promotes user adoption and achieves measurable efficiency gains.
Entry Criteria
- HR teams that have implemented new technologies or AI-powered solutions in HR using solutions built in-house or in partnership with vendors.
- Must show the impact on HR operations, employee experience or strategic decision-making.
Team of the Year: Excellence in HR Transformation
Recognizes an HR team that has successfully led a large-scale transformation that aligned with and delivered on business goals.
Winning submissions reveal programs and initiatives that go beyond traditional approaches to elevate the employee experience, strengthen organizational agility and position their companies for long-term success.
Entry Criteria
- HR teams with outstanding talent strategies spanning workforce planning, employer branding, attraction or retention.
- Must show strategic foresight and alignment with business goals.
