CoverStory Awards
Power Brands and Leaders
One program, two tracks, three regional editions. Power Brands honours companies and brands; Power Leaders honours the individuals behind them. Every honoree joins The Cover List, and one winner in each edition becomes the cover.
Two tracks
This edition’s categories26 categories
Power Brands
For companies, brands and business units.
- Financial servicesBanks, insurers, payments, wealth and fintech.
- Technology and digitalSoftware, platforms, AI, data and digital services.
- Real estate and constructionDevelopers, builders, proptech and urban projects.
- Healthcare and life sciencesProviders, pharma, medtech and digital health.
- Consumer, retail and e-commerceConsumer brands, retailers and online commerce.
- Manufacturing and industrialIndustrial groups, factories and engineered products.
- Energy, infrastructure and mobilityEnergy, utilities, transport and mobility.
- Hospitality, travel and leisureHotels, airlines, tourism and entertainment.
- Education and skillsInstitutions, edtech and workforce skilling.
- Professional and business servicesConsulting, legal, marketing and outsourcing.
- Emerging Power BrandBrands under ten years old with exceptional momentum.
- Family Business of the YearFamily-owned groups renewing across generations.
- Sustainability LeadershipBrands with measurable environmental or social results.
- Power Brand of the YearChosen by the jury from the category winners.
Power Leaders
For the individuals who lead them.
- Business Leader of the YearCEOs and managing directors of established organisations.
- Founder of the YearFounders leading the company they built.
- Woman Leader of the YearWomen in top leadership roles.
- Emerging LeaderLeaders aged 40 or under on the ceremony date.
- Family Business LeaderLeaders of family-owned groups.
- Chief Financial Officer of the YearFinance leaders.
- Chief Marketing Officer of the YearMarketing and brand leaders.
- Chief People Officer of the YearHR and people leaders.
- Chief Technology Officer of the YearTechnology and product leaders.
- Sustainability LeaderLeaders delivering environmental or social results.
- Lifetime AchievementBy jury nomination only.
- Power Leader of the YearChosen by the jury from the category winners.
ReadMethodologyEligibility, criteria and weights, the seven-stage process, and the independence rules.
MeetJuryWho decides. Named jurors with their roles and the categories they judge.
AskFrequently asked questionsWho can enter, what to submit, deadlines and what honorees receive.
What honorees receive
Recognition, and the story that goes with it. Every honoree receives the award and its citation, a permanent honoree page on this site, the honoree badge, a published profile in Insights, a place on The Cover List, and ceremony photography and video. One winner in each edition becomes the cover of the magazine.
Sponsorship, advertising and attendance never influence eligibility, shortlisting or results.