The DESIGNER | INVENTOR Award recognizes an individual for her excellence in product or property design including creativity, originality and iconic value, and who has made a significant contribution to innovation in the toy, licensing, and entertainment industries.

The LICENSOR | ENTERTAINMENT Award recognizes an individual who is an industry innovator exhibiting creative ways to bring brands to life with consumers through partnerships, curated retail programs in traditional and/or non-traditional distribution channels.

The LICENSEE | MANUFACTURER Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated industry leadership to develop and launch a new product or brand, modify existing product line, or develop a business process that dramatically improves how a product is delivered.

The MARKETING | PR Award recognizes an individual who has achieved outstanding and proven results with marketing communications that have impacted on consumer engagement and improved performance of a brand – including strategy, creativity, branded content, communications effect, and ROI.

The RISING STAR Award recognizes an individual whose contributions have impacted the toy, licensing or entertainment industry during the first 5-10 years of her career, has demonstrated significant promise as an emerging leader and exhibits an ingenuity of thought with potential for substantial and lasting influence on the industry. Eight Rising Star Awards will be presented in the following categories:

• Licensor/Entertainment
• Licensee/Manufacturer
• Marketing/PR
• Social Good
• Covid Hero
• Designer | Inventor
• Storyteller
• Deal Maker
• Unsung Hero

The SOCIAL GOOD Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated leadership or made outstanding contributions to purposeful, mission-driven programs that make the world a better place. Their efforts or products may include philanthropic, sustainability, diversity and inclusion or other initiatives, and may:

• Help our planet
• Act as a catalyst for change
• Solve an important problem

The COVID HERO Award recognizes an individual or company who has led or made an outstanding contribution to initiatives or programs to benefit others during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examples may include manufacturing PPE, making donations, establishing initiatives to engage children, or any other programs geared toward positively impacting the community or other individuals during this challenging time.

The DEAL MAKER Award recognizes an individual for her vision and skills in structuring deals and negotiating agreements. Whether an agent brokering relationships, a salesperson establishing programs and exceeding sales goals, or a retailer creating break-through retail programs, this person has made a significant contribution by forming powerful collaborations that impacted the bottom line.

The STORYTELLER Award recognizes an individual for her ability to create engaging content or visuals that become powerful stories, whether an influencer, ad exec, content creator, writer, illustrator, or animator. The award recognizes excellence in storytelling, including creativity, originality and long-lasting iconic value.

The UNSUNG HERO Award recognizes power players who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make the magic happen! Whether in operations, finance, costing, logistics, research, or legal, the Unsung Hero plays an integral role in her company and industry.

The WONDER GIRL Award recognizes an individual under the age of 18 whose creative vision, business savvy, entrepreneurial drive or compassionate heart shine bright beyond her youthful years. She’s either a kid entrepreneur who has started her own business or philanthropy, an influencer, or someone who has created and sold an idea, and/or made a meaningful contribution to the world.