The 17th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards
Powered by The M&A Advisor, the 17th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards spotlights the rising innovators who are under 40. These changemakers aren’t waiting for permission to lead- they’re already transforming the future of M&A, Financing, and Turnaround. Join us as we celebrate the bold, the brilliant, and the new breed of leaders shaping the next era of M&A.
This Awards program will feature winners in each of the following four categories:
Dealmaker
Buyers, Sellers, and M&A Advisors, including Investment Banking Professionals; Private Equity, Hedge Fund and Family Office Professionals; Corporate Development Professionals; and Corporate Executives
Legal Advisor:
External and In-House Counsel
Service Professional:
Suppliers of services to M&A, turnaround and financing professionals, including Consulting, Accounting, Lending, Valuation, Research, Virtual Data Rooms, Publishing, Real Estate, Insurance & Risk, Investor & Public Relations, etc.
Marketing, Communication and Business Development Professional:
Professionals in media relations, marketing, communications, and business development who support corporate development, private equity, investment banking, legal services, and other sectors connected to M&A, restructuring, and corporate finance.
I. QUALIFICATION PERIOD
All professionals born on or after January 1, 1986, who are actively engaged in M&A, Financing, or Restructuring, are eligible for the 17th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards. Proof of date of birth must be submitted with your nomination form.
II. NOMINATION CRITERIA
- a.) Nominees must have been born on or after January 1, 1986, and be under 40 years of age as of December 31, 2025. Proof of date of birth must be included with your nomination form.
- b.) Previous winners of the 1st through 16th M&A Advisor Emerging Leaders Awards (2011–2025) are not eligible for this year’s awards.
- c.) Eligible candidates may submit a nomination themselves or be nominated by their company, colleagues, friends, or family.
- d.) Nominations must be fully completed for the nominee to be eligible for the 17th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards.
- f.) All nominations must be submitted online through this website.
- e.) A separate nomination form must be submitted for each professional nominated.
III. NOMINATION DEADLINES
NOMINATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED for this year.
IV. PAYMENT PROCESS AND FEES
A nominal processing fee applies to all nominations.
- Base Fee: $195.
- Timing Adjustments: Depending on the submission date, a $50 discount will be applied to early submissions, whereas late submissions are subject to a $50 fee.
Full payment is required for nominations to be processed. For your convenience, we accept credit card payments. To pay by invoice, please contact The M&A Advisor at awards@maadvisor.com or +1 (212) 951-1550.
V. SUBMISSION PROCESS
- To submit a nomination, please prepare the following information:
- Nominee Contact Information
- Proof of Age: A copy of the nominee’s birth certificate or driver’s license in .jpeg, .gif, or .png format
- Biography: Up to 150 words (for publishing purposes)
- High-Resolution Photo: 300 dpi, .jpeg format
- Communication Contacts
- Responses to Four Confidential Short Essay Questions: Typically covering career accomplishments, professional expertise, community or charitable involvement, and any unique circumstances
- Steps to Submit:
- 1.) Create an Account: Manage your nomination(s) online. You can save your progress and return to complete your submission at your convenience.
- 2.) Complete the Online Nomination Form: A separate form must be submitted for each nominee.
- 3.) Provide Payment Information: Credit card details are required to finalize the submission.
VI. JUDGING PROCESS
All nominations will be evaluated by an independent committee of industry leaders in M&A, Financing, and Turnaround. Judges will assess nominees based on career accomplishments and professional expertise, with additional consideration given to community service, philanthropic contributions, and any unique circumstances.
All judging will take place on a secure datasite using trusted technology, ensuring that every nomination is processed and evaluated confidentially.
Judging Criteria
- Career Accomplishments: 40% of total score
- Professional Expertise: 30% of total score
- Community and/or Charitable Activity: 20% of total score
- Unique Circumstances: 10% of total score
VII. CONFIDENTIALITY
The M&A Advisor and its independent judges will uphold the highest standards of confidentiality for all sensitive information provided. Nomination forms will remain private. Once Award Winners are selected, only the nominee’s name, title, firm, photograph, and submitted biography will be publicly shared.
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If you have questions regarding the awards program, contact: