This year’s Future Leader winners show how a new generation is redefining business impact. They are turning once-tactical roles into growth engines, using data and performance insights to drive measurable results while applying innovation to solve practical challenges. Just as importantly, they are building trust through authenticity and audience-first thinking, while leading beyond their formal roles through collaboration, mentorship and cultural influence. Together, these winners reflect a modern model of leadership grounded in results, purpose and long-term growth.
Jordan Harper earned Rising E-commerce Leader for turning Barefaced from a garage startup into an eight-figure skincare brand in five years. Built on her “Less but Better” philosophy, the company has sold more than 2 million units while achieving a 90% customer return rate and more than 190,000 active subscribers. A board-certified nurse practitioner, Harper used clinical expertise to simplify skincare routines and build trust through education rather than heavy ad spending. Her success highlights a new model of e-commerce growth driven by authenticity, loyalty and product performance.
Two standouts from The Sociable Society were recognized. The first, Kiana Davis, earned Rising Creator for building a loyal audience through focused, trust-driven content in the beauty space. Across three accounts with more than 3 million followers, she has become a leading voice on curly hair care by offering practical guidance, transparent product reviews and realistic routines. Rather than chasing broad trends, Davis identified a gap in honest textured-hair education and turned it into a scalable community resource. Her steady growth and strong credibility reflect a new generation of creators defined by expertise, consistency and genuine connection with their audiences.
Lexi Keller earned Rising Sales Leader for delivering sustained growth at The Sociable Society while helping shape the creator partnership market. Since joining in 2021, she has grown revenue year after year, including gains of 181% early in her tenure, while increasing annual campaign volume from 35 deals to more than 500. Managing a roster of six creators, Keller has built a reputation for pairing talent with brands in ways that support long-term value and creator trust. Her results reflect a scalable, disciplined approach to sales in the creator economy.
As associate director of social strategy at Digitas, Ameera Masud earned Rising Social Leader for helping brands translate online culture into lasting audience engagement. In her role at Digitas, she has led creator and community programs that connect brands with fandoms across entertainment, fashion and internet culture. Her work on the Digitas-Crocs innovation partnership produced award-winning activations and collaborations that extended brand relevance beyond campaign cycles. Masud has also built internal tools that turn platform trends into actionable strategy and championed more inclusive marketing frameworks. Her work reflects a modern social approach rooted in trust, participation and cultural fluency.
Explore all the winners of this year’s Future Leader Awards below.
Rising Agency Leader
Raquelle Kleiman – January Digital
Rising AI Leader – NEW
Anushka Salinas – Nanit
Rising Audio Leader – NEW
Emily Dyer – Macmillan Publishers
Rising Brand Leader
Bailey Leffler – Purdue Brand Studio
Rising Content Marketing Leader – NEW
Emily Duncan – tvScientific
Rising Creator – NEW
Kiana Davis – The Sociable Society
Rising Design/Creative Leader – NEW
Anna Weddle – Hook
Rising E-commerce Leader – NEW
Jordan Harper – Barefaced
Rising Finance Leader – NEW
Danielle Lauzon – Fintel Connect
Rising Founder – NEW
Andi Cross – Edges of Earth
Rising Influencer Marketing Leader – NEW
James Reid – Collectively
Rising Innovator – NEW
Dr. Victoria Rose Veytsman – Rose Code, Inc.
Rising Marketing Leader – NEW
Sammi Fischer – Ad Council
Rising Media Buying and Planning Leader – NEW
Michelle Lantz – Attention Arc
Rising Media Leader
Natasha Macri – TIME
Rising Merchandising Leader – NEW
Brittany Ainslie – SAYN
Rising Operations Leader – NEW
Jaclyn Maclean – Viral Nation
Rising People Leader – NEW
Heather Dugan – billups
Rising PR Leader – NEW
Haley Norton – Nebo Agency
Rising Product Leader – NEW
Dean Phillips – ClickUp
Rising Retail Leader – NEW
Cecilia Snider – Five Below
Rising Sales Leader – NEW
Lexi Keller – The Sociable Society
Rising Social Leader – NEW
Ameera Masud – Digitas
Rising Technology Leader
Pratyush Mulukutla – MediaMint
Rising Video Leader – NEW
David Mwila – Equativ
