2025 PEER of the Year Awards

Awards & Criteria

Date TBD | The Walt Disney Concert Hall

Championing People, Inspiring Change.

The Culture Creator Award

Criteria:

  • Masterfully designs and nurtures a workplace culture aligned with organizational values and business goals.
  • Prioritizes inclusion and equity, creating an environment where every individual feels empowered to bring their full, unique selves to work.
  • Develops initiatives that foster thought-diversity, collaboration, innovation, inclusion, and a strong sense of community.
  • Prioritizes employee well-being by implementing intentional mental health and wellness programs.
  • Demonstrates measurable improvements in employee satisfaction, retention, productivity, and overall well-being.

Shaping the Future of Work, Today.

The HR Innovator Award

Criteria:

  • Demonstrates exceptional leadership in reimagining and transforming business operating models for the future of work.
  • Develops progressive HR policies that address modern workforce and organizational challenges.
  • Anticipates and adapts to emerging trends in talent management, skills development, organizational agility, and workforce technology.
  • Willingly takes calculated risks and champions a "fail fast, adjust faster" mindset to accelerate innovation.
  • Makes a lasting impact on the HR industry through thought leadership, research, and/or public engagement.
  • Influences and inspires the broader HR community by sharing best practices, insights, and bold new ideas.

Powering Performance, Perfecting Processes.

The Operational Excellence Award

Criteria:

  • Streamlines HR operations to reduce complexity, eliminate redundancies, and drive sustainable growth.
  • Implements scalable systems, tools, or processes that enhance both the employee experience and business performance.
  • Uses data-driven insights to inform decisions, measure outcomes, and continuously optimize HR functions.
  • Elevates the employee journey by seamlessly aligning back-end systems with front-line needs—balancing efficiency with empathy.
  • Demonstrates a strong commitment to operational consistency, accountability, and excellence.
  • Builds HR infrastructures that are resilient, adaptable, and future-ready to support evolving organizational needs.

Building Bridges, Creating Opportunity.

The Community Impact Award

Criteria:

  • Recognizes an HR leader who has made a tangible difference in underserved communities through inclusive hiring, outreach, and workforce development initiatives.
  • Develops programs that provide career access, mentorship, and advancement opportunities for underrepresented groups.
  • Builds partnerships with local organizations, schools, or nonprofits to create pipelines for economic mobility and workforce inclusion.
  • Implements policies that drive meaningful change in workplace equity, such as pay equity audits, inclusive benefits, and leadership development for diverse talent.

Leading with Strength Through Uncertainty.

The Resilient Leadership Award

Criteria:

  • Leads with courage and clarity during times of widespread change, such as public health crises, social movements, economic uncertainty, and shifting workforce expectations.
  • Builds and sustains a resilient workforce prepared to thrive in the face of evolving societal and economic trends.
  • Embeds adaptability, wellbeing, and resilience into leadership development, change management, and organizational culture.
  • Empowers teams with the tools and mindset needed to navigate broad disruptions while maintaining engagement and performance.
  • Champions proactive strategies that strengthen the organization’s long-term ability to evolve with societal shifts and industry transformations.