About
In an industry leaning harder into automation, Givsly is pausing, for the third year running, to celebrate what automation can't replace: people and companies leading with intention and human connection, driving real business results because of it.
These categories aren't built around a single good headline or campaign. We're looking for the leaders proving that trust isn't something you protect once and move on from. It's something you build every day.
Submissions open Monday, October 5 at 9am ET and close Friday, October 30 at 11:59pm ET. Submitting is free and open to anyone in the industry. Givsly will review every submission and select five honorees per category.
Every honoree will be invited to The Givsly Partner Summit, February (date TBA): a closed-door gathering of 100 decision-makers, no media, kicking off the year with real conversation. It's not a networking event. It's a gut check, a chance to compare notes on where the industry's heading before the year gets away from you, and a touchpoint for relationships to actually flourish, not just start.
2027 Award Categories
Take a moment to review this year's categories and who we're looking to honor. Each one outlines what to include in your submission below.
Walk the Talk: Leaders who lead with conviction and take action.
This category honors a leader who drives real business results through intention and human connection. This is the person who has proven that trust isn't something you protect once and move on from. They hold the line when survival mode says to cut corners, and they treat customer trust as a line item, not a line in a deck.
Level: Senior
Submission Requirements
- Why should this nominee be honored with this award? Point to a specific moment where they chose values under real pressure to do otherwise.
- Describe up to 3 key decisions or initiatives this past year where this leader held the line on trust or values, with tangible results.
- Attachments: Headshot, Company Logo, Supporting Materials* (*optional)
Rising Voices: The next generation, raised inside automation, striking the balance to keep it human.
This category spotlights people early in their careers who are digitally native and came up inside the automation wave, but are actively striking the balance between efficiency and the strategic lens only humans can bring. They're proof that the next generation of leadership won't have to choose between speed and human connection.
Level: Junior
Submission Requirements
- Why should this nominee be honored with this award?
- Describe up to 3 key initiatives this nominee has driven in their early career (fewer than 10 years in industry) with tangible results.
- Attachments: Headshot, Company Logo, Supporting Materials* (*optional)
Women Redefining Leadership: Women whose leadership is reshaping how this industry does business.
This category honors women driving business results through human-centered leadership, at a moment when that kind of leadership is more valuable than ever, and more overlooked than it should be.
Level: Mid-senior
Submission Requirements
- Why should this nominee be honored with this award? Point to a specific moment where they chose values under real pressure to do otherwise.
- Describe up to 3 key internal or external initiatives this nominee has driven over the past year with tangible results.
- Attachments: Headshot, Company Logo, Supporting Materials* (*optional)
Meaningful Mentors: Senior leaders who bring others up with them.
This category honors leaders who treat mentorship as a core part of how they do business, not an afterthought. They create real access, visibility, and growth opportunities for people earlier in their careers. It's not about coffee chats. It's about putting people up for the room, the client, the promotion. Their commitment to developing talent is both generous and strategic, because an industry that invests in its people stays sharper and more competitive.
Level: Mid-senior
Submission Requirements
- Why should this nominee be honored with this award? Point to specific people they've developed, not just a general reputation for being generous with their time.
- Describe up to 3 specific ways this nominee has created access, visibility, or growth opportunities for others this year (a promotion advocated for, a client introduction, a room they made space in).
- Attachments: Headshot, Company Logo, Supporting Materials* (*optional)
2027 Featured Honorees
Givsly is taking a moment to honor our partners for their work this past year. These two honorees are selected directly by Givsly and are not open for public submission.
The Values-Achievement Award
A partner who keeps showing up.
→ This honor celebrates one organization whose partnership has consistently reflected what we believe this industry can be: values-driven, human-centered, and built on trust that holds up under pressure.
Impact Achievement Award
A leader who keeps showing up, for people, not just for the industry.
→ This honor celebrates one individual whose values and consistent actions, the kind that can't be automated, have shaped how our industry shows up for one another: in action, generosity, and how people, nonprofits, and communities are treated, not just talked about.
Key Dates
October 5
Submissions Open
9:00 AM EST
October 30
Submissions Close
11:59 PM EST
November 16
Winners
Announced
February TBA
The Givsly Partner
Summit
