CINCINNATI (April 20, 2021) – Today, The Webby Awards announced Empower as an official Webby Honoree for episode one of its docuseries Grind Before You Shine in the category of: Advertising, Media & PR: Video Ad Longform. The video introduces Empower’s Search Specialist, Annette Echikunwoke and her dream of competing on the Nigerian Hammer Throw team in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. Watch as she pushes past her limits and teaches a valuable lesson: we can all break through our boundaries. Do the work, get the reward. Grind before you shine.
“Honorees like Empower are setting the standard for innovation and creativity on the Internet,” said Claire Graves, Executive Director of The Webby Awards. “It is an incredible achievement to be selected among the best from the nearly 13,500 entries we received this year.”
Empower’s Grind Before You Shine is among the top 10 pieces of work being recognized nationally in its category. Earning the distinction of Webby Honoree, as recognized by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS), is a significant achievement—granted to only the top 20% of the thousands of projects entered in the 25th Annual Webby Awards.
“When we found out we had an Olympian-in-the-making at Empower, it was a no brainer to capture Echikunwoke’s journey to Tokyo,” said Rob FitzGerald, president and chief operating officer at Empower. “She embodies Empower’s values with her determination, grit and passion. Her story inspires us each and every day and she’s got 200+ people rooting for her,” he said.
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet. IADAS, which nominates and selects The Webby Award Winners, is comprised of Internet industry experts including Mozilla Chairwoman Mitchell Baker; MOMA Senior Curator Paola Antonelli; Host of NPR’s Code Switch Shereen Marisol Meraji; R/GA Global Chief Creative Officer Tiffany Rolfe; Co-Inventor of the Internet Vint Cerf; DJ and Founder, Club Quarantine D-Nice; Co-host Desus & Mero on Showtime Desus Nice; SVP of Content at Twitch Michael Aragon; Twitter Senior Director, Product Design Richard Ting; and Founders of VERZUZ Swizz Beatz and Timbaland.
About The Webby Awards
Hailed as the “Internet’s highest honor” by The New York Times, The Webby Awards is the leading international awards organization honoring excellence on the Internet, including Websites and Mobile Sites, Video, Advertising, Media & PR, Apps and Software, Social, Podcasts, Games, and Virtual & Remotes. Established in 1996, this year’s Webby Awards received nearly 13,500 entries from all 50 states and 70 countries worldwide. The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). Sponsors and Partners of The Webby Awards include: WP Engine, Marketerhire, Brandlive, Slack, YouGov, BASIC, KPMG, Wall Street Journal, AIGA, Podcast Movement, Fast Company, and Social Media Week. Find The Webby Awards Online: Website: webbyawards.com | Instagram: @TheWebbyAwards | Twitter: @TheWebbyAwards | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/the-webby-awards
Facebook: Facebook.com/TheWebbyAwards and YouTube: youtube.com/webby.
About Empower Media
America’s largest woman-owned media agency
Our advantage is simple: Clients first – not shareholders.
From the day we opened our doors in 1985, Empower has always challenged the media status quo.
Empower is a highly awarded and respected media agency. We are a multi-year recipient of “Agency of the Year” from MediaPost and Campaign US with honors from Ad Age and Adweek.
Our senior and experienced integrated team of Communications Strategy, Media Innovation, Media Planning and Buying, Creative, Marketing Scientists, Influencer Marketing and Data-Analytics work in collaboration on our client’s business daily.
Empower’s client tenure rate is unmatched–3X the industry average. Our clients include Tempur Sealy, Wendy’s, Brooks Running, Fifth Third Bank, Gorilla Glue, O'Keeffe's, E.W. Scripps, Jack Link’s, VTech, Bush Brothers, Zaxby’s, GNC, Famous Footwear, Ashley, LIXIL, O-Cedar, Rust-Oleum and RoC Skincare.
Empower Media is woman-run (67% female) and woman-owned – making it the largest woman-owned media agency in America.
Our offices are in Chicago, Cincinnati, Atlanta, New York, Houston and Palm Beach.
Find us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and online.