Judges praised the winners’ varied skill sets, creative innovation across platforms, and the impact they are already making on the industry. View the full list of winners here.

A highlight of the evening saw Sajeeda Merali, CEO of the PPA, in conversation with Next Gen alumni, Laurence Mozafari, on his impressive career journey – from Intern at FHM and Digital Editor of Heat Magazine to Editor in Chief of Digital Spy and now Editorial Director for Youth Audience at Reach.

Read the key takeaways from the conversation below.

Faking it until you make it – “you have to create opportunities as well as grab them”

“At the start of my career, I had to navigate rooms I didn’t feel built for – but I learnt you have to act confident and then confidence will follow… Invest in yourself and it will pay dividends – one thing I wish I had done earlier is build my personal social, especially during this age of the creator economy.”

On the importance of diversity and inclusion

“I should’ve realised earlier that it’s essential to move away from tokenism. It’s important to show up authentically throughout the year, not just for Black History Month, for example. Don’t just show up and then disappear again.”

“It’s on us to make sure [this industry] can thrive and survive”

“Be clear on the why and make sure everyone is pulling in the same direction. I love this job. It’s part of my identity. But boundaries are important too – my opinion on hustle culture has changed – I’m learning a lot from Gen-Z.

You also need to be open to inspiration when it comes; you can’t just lock yourself in a room with loads of Post-it notes. Small steps can make a big difference – focus on little acts of heroism every day.”

The Next Gen Awards were an opportunity for great conversation, new connections and a chance to celebrate the future of our industry. Photos capturing the event’s highlights can be found here.