ADWEEK’s Brand Genius award recognizes the most dynamic and innovative brand thinkers working today. In a business environment as competitive as it is unpredictable, brands succeed only with the guidance of true achievers who are brave enough to take chances, willing to break with convention and able to read opportunities in the market.

Our Brand Geniuses play a range of key roles—founder, serial entrepreneur, marketer and chief executive. Today more than ever, some began as public figures with the business savvy to have leveraged their followings to create and develop successful brands.

Our past honorees have included music impresario Pharrell Williams, who founded skincare brand Humanrace and went on to become Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director, and Ryan Reynolds, the actor who expanded his writing and producing bona fides to include digital marketing agency Maximum Effort, wireless carrier Mint Mobile and premium spirits brand Aviation Gin.