Powering the People

This award recognizes Ambassador teams that deploy a streamlined recruitment and onboarding strategy, empowering members to overcome barriers, promote inclusive leadership, and contribute to personal career growth through robust HQ and Region engagement.

Criteria

  • Open Minds: Create a diverse and inclusive NextUp Membership base (gender, age, ethnicity, career level) through inspiring membership kick-offs, events, and ongoing communication. Maximize NextUp resources to foster increased collaboration and thought leadership.
  • Develop Capacity: Promote professional growth of NextUp members by ensuring active participation in NextUp’s community, programming, and events, leading to positive personal and/or business results.
  • Create Opportunity: Developed and executed a dynamic recruitment and strategic plan to attract and retain top talent, providing associates with opportunities to develop skills for mid-level management and senior leadership roles.

2024 Award Winner

Sanetra Wilson, Walmart

Sanetra’s teammates describe her as “an exceptional champion of women’s development…especially for frontline associates.” She’s worked with NextUp to enhance the learning journeys for female leaders and allies, elevating the content and programmatic offerings for both early-career professionals and senior directors, to ensure opportunities for continuous learning are available at all levels.

She’s empowered women in her organization to take charge of their own development with a mentoring circles program that has impacted the lives of employees across corporate campuses, stores, clubs, and distribution and logistics centers. Her exceptional leadership, resilience, and dedication have led to increased engagement and a stronger talent pipeline for women.

Previous Winners

2023 Recipients

The PepsiCo NextUp Ambassador Committee – Janelle Rowe, Meredith Wiktoroski, Marla Daudelin, Katie Wallace, Julie Smevoll, Julie Smanda, Lauren Masotti, Lauren Andrews, Jeni Lockhart, Emma Smith, Kasey House-Yates, Sara Martindale, Natalia Lauren, Carmen Fahrenthold, Tori Caton, Dana Jacklin, Toral Kothari, Larissa Jarvis, Amanda Brill, and Chris Uyehara

2022 Recipients

  • Brittany Hull, Advance Auto Parts
  • Melanie Peyton, Visa

2021 Recipients

  • Kallie Millar, Crossmark
  • Katie Wallace, PepsiCo

2020 Recipients

  • Janelle Rowe, PepsiCo
  • Carla Bailey, Danone North America

Inclusive Networking

Elevating today's leaders and creating tomorrow's

Become a Member

Building a member-first community of partner allies

Become a Partner