The Finalists Revealed: Rising Star of the Year
The future of social media is shaped by the people bringing fresh ideas, energy and ambition to the industry. Rising Star of the Year celebrates emerging talent already making an impact and showing exactly why they're ones to watch.
From developing creative ideas and building communities to pushing social strategies forward, this category recognizes individuals making their mark early in their careers. It's about talent, initiative and the potential to help shape where social goes next.
The finalists for Rising Star of the Year are:
- Jaz Daley - Delta Air Lines
- Tori Stevens - SCALIS
- Steven - Northwell Health
- Jiayi Zhu - ReelShort
- Danielle Kelleher - Rize Collective LLC
The winner will be revealed live at the Social Media Marketing Awards USA 2026, 5th November, where we'll celebrate the people, teams and campaigns setting the standard for social media marketing. Grab a ticket to attend the event and celebrate together!
Congratulations to all of this year's finalists!!