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AWARDS
ENTRIES OPEN MAY 19
The Ad Age 40 Under 40 list recognizes talented individuals who have been responsible for helping to advance a business or a brand at an advertiser, agency, media, tech or marketing company in a demonstrable way within the last 12 months. At a time of economic uncertainty as brands weigh the impact of tariffs and a potential recession on advertising budgets, the need to innovate and stay ahead of the curve is more critical than ever.
This list honors the best of the best: AI artists, savvy social managers, Gen Z geniuses, new-business rainmakers, data scientists and entrepreneurs as well as rising stars in more established companies. Examples might be the brand manager who turned around an ailing business or the creative director who masterminded a campaign that struck a cultural nerve.
Final deadline
The final deadline for nominations is Thursday, July 24 at 5 p.m. EDT. Honorees will be notified in September.
Questions?
Visit our FAQs and important information sections. If your question isn't answered, please contact awards@adage.com.
INFO
Ad Age’s 40 Under 40 recognizes talented individuals in the world of media and marketing. A successful candidate is one that is personally responsible for helping to advance the business or the brand in some demonstrable way in the last 12 months. Honorees will be notified in September. The 2025 Ad Age 40 Under 40 list will be published Oct. 20, 2025.
Entry requirements
In 350 words or less, tell us why you believe your entry is a candidate for 40 Under 40. We are looking for people who will be 39 or under on Oct. 20, 2025, and who have made a significant contribution to the worlds of media, advertising or marketing within the last year. We are looking for paradigm breakers, smart thinkers and thought-leaders who are really making a difference and who are tipped to climb company ladders. The goal is to identify the people who are reshaping marketing and making important contributions to a company or business, so please be specific in outlining their accomplishments.
International nominations are accepted.
Please note: Past Ad Age 40 Under 40 honorees, regardless of title or company, are not eligible for entry.
Pricing & Deadline
The program has tiered entry fees:
Regular pricing:
$325 per entry. Ends Monday, June 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EDT
Final deadline pricing:
$375 per entry. Deadline Thursday, July 24, 2025, at 5 p.m. EDT
There will be no deadline extensions beyond the timeline outlined above.
Please pay strict attention to all the entry requirements as fees are non-refundable once entries are submitted.
FAQs
This is not a lifetime achievement award; specifically, we look for meaningful or measurable accomplishments within the past 12 months.
International entrants are accepted; all entries must be made in English. No team entries will be accepted. If you have more than one candidate, please submit them as a separate entry.
You’ll also be able to include examples, such as case studies from work, creative pieces (images, videos) or links to product demos. However, these supporting pieces must be from the past 12 months. Please also be judicious with your selections—it’s better to provide a shorter but dense picture of the entrant’s accomplishments than a laundry list.
Ad Age 40 Under 40 nominees do not need to be from a big-name brand; past honorees have come from new startups, small agencies and nonprofits as well as established, heritage brands or organizations.
MENTOR PROGRAM
We’re excited to announce the return of our mentorship program with Columbia University School of Professional Studies. The program is designed to address the industry’s challenges around recruitment and retention, and create impactful connections between students and rising leaders from the Ad Age 40 Under 40 class of 2025.
Entrants will have the opportunity to opt into the program in the entry form. For additional information, please email awards@adage.com.
For sponsorship inquiries, please reach out to the Ad Age sales team at aasales@adage.com.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please pay close attention to all the entry requirements as fees are non-refundable once entries are submitted.
Please keep in mind: Anything you submit, including results of the work, may be published. Do not submit anything you wish to withhold as private information or that you do not have permission to share publicly. This also includes ghost campaigns or imaginary or inflated revenue figures.
As part of Ad Age’s diversity efforts, we encourage all those entering to carefully consider those on your team from diverse backgrounds, as well as the work they have done, when you assess submissions. This is an opportunity to shine a light on all your talents, especially those who may have not received recognition in the past.