NEW YORK — The inaugural Young Changemakers award, in partnership with WE Communications, was won by FleishmanHillard HighRoad's Mubashira Farooqi at today's IN2 SABRE Awards in North America. 

The Young Changemakers award celebrates the next generation of communications leaders, helping to launch the careers of up-and-comers, and creating better equity and more opportunity for those in marginalized groups.

Farooqi was praised by judges for her passion for purpose-driven work, and efforts to raise the voices of women of colour in communications. These were evident through her work as founder and host of Colour Me PR podcast, which amplifies the voices of exceptional women of colour in communications, her role as vice president of volunteer services at IABC/Toronto, and her growing presence as a global advocate for young, diverse perspectives in the PR industry.

Farooqi was also named Student of the Year for 2020 by IABC/Toronto, and received the the Gold Award for Student Campaign of the Year from the Canadian Public Relations Society - Toronto.

"Mubashira Farooqi is the epitome of a Young Changemaker," said FleishmanHillard HighRoad senior executives Kent Carter and Jennifer Atkinson. "While you will find her at the frontline of media relations, storytelling, writing, design and strategic communications planning at FHR, her experience and passion for championing diversity, equity, and inclusion is where she really shines. Mubashira challenges everyone she interacts with to think, act, and change for the better. Her smarts, positive attitude, gumption, and dedication truly set her apart from the rest."

Farooqi was selected as the Young Changemaker award recipient by a specially convened jury panel that comprised:

Bonnie McCracken, director of communications, Microsoft
Mary Osako, vice chancellor for strategic communications, UCLA
Barri Rafferty, head of communications and brand, Wells Fargo
Maja Pawinska Sims, associate editor EMEA, PRovoke Media
Alicia Vazquez, senior account executive, WE

The award received several submissions from diverse young communicators in North America, who identify as women. 

"This award is about the chance to create that change and give those kinds of opportunities to people who may not have had them ever before — people who are brave enough really to shout out what all of us here in this room could do better to move the industry forward in bold and new directions," said WE global CEO Melissa Waggener Zorkin.

Awards are given annually – one per region in North America, UK/Europe, APAC/MEA – in alignment with regional SABRE Award ceremonies. Entries for EMEA will open soon.

For more details, please visit the award's FAQ.