Recognizing outsized early-career impact
Rising Leader in Public Service
Definition, evidence, and examples of what qualifies for recognition in this category.
Category definition
High-potential leaders who demonstrate exceptional initiative, delivery, and measurable impact early in their public service career — beyond what their role typically demands.
What judges look for
- Clear ownership and delivery of measurable outcomes
- Influence across teams and stakeholders
- Strong judgment, integrity, and public-service mindset
- Evidence of leadership behaviors (mentoring, enabling others)
- Trajectory: sustained performance and growth
Strong evidence
- Project outcomes with metrics and scope
- Peer/leader references and documented responsibilities
- Implementation artifacts (plans, runbooks, playbooks)
- Evidence of sustained results beyond a single effort
- Examples of enabling others or building capability
Examples of measurable outcomes
- Delivered a high-impact initiative under constraints
- Improved operational reliability or service experience measurably
- Led cross-functional work to completion with outcomes
- Built governance/process that improved execution
- Demonstrated resilience and accountability during incident response
Nominate in this category
Ready to nominate a leader for Rising Leader in Public Service?
Go to nomination form Back to categoriesTip: Include metrics, scope, constraints, and evidence. Avoid general praise without outcomes.