2026 Rally Awards Recognize Recruitment Marketing and Employer Branding Leaders

Rally Recruitment Marketing announced the winners of the 2026 Rally Awards on July 23, 2026. The awards honor outstanding work in recruitment marketing and employer branding, reflecting advancements in how companies attract talent.

The competition, now in its seventh year, spotlights practitioners and teams pushing the field forward and demonstrating the measurable business impact of recruitment marketing. This year's record number of entries signifies the growing importance of these strategies in the competition for talent.

"Every year, this competition raises the bar for what great Recruitment Marketing looks like," said Lori Sylvia, Founder & CEO of Rally. "This year's winners are proof that the discipline has matured – they're using data to make smarter decisions and storytelling to build authentic connection with candidates."

Among those honored were Brittany Washington, named 2026 Recruitment Marketing Rising Star, and Sam Wood, recognized as 2026 Recruitment Marketer of the Year. Their accolades reflect a broader industry trend of organizations establishing dedicated recruitment marketing and employer branding functions, creating specialized career paths.

Winners were selected by an independent panel of 19 industry leaders based on strategy, creativity, execution, and business impact. Awards were presented across categories such as Best Employer Brand Video and Best Use of Organic Social Media in Recruitment Marketing.