"For me, winning a PPA 30/30 award was an opportunity for me take time out of my busy schedule to reflect on how far I’ve come in such a short time. In three years, I’ve gone from a Sales Exec to a Commercial Director. It meant so much to me that my Managing Director and colleagues wanted to put me up for the award and wrote a glowing testimonial. Of course, I was thrilled to win as well! The award gave me the industry’s stamp of approval, which was powerful not only for me, but for my team and the wider business. I’m really pleased to have represented EMAP this way."

"Being recognised by an association that is so deeply rooted in publishing was overwhelming. To be given the prestigious accolade among so many applicants, for the entire industry to see, has certainly been one of my career highlights so far. The recognition externally then spread internally as so many of my colleagues then went on to congratulate me within my organisation - it was like winning an Oscar for publishing!"

“I’ll always remember the night I won the 30 under 30 award. It was an amazing night celebrating all the hard work I’d put in at Shortlist, but also an opportunity to look ahead to, hopefully, a long, successful career in the industry.”

"I was thrilled to win a PPA 30 Under 30 award in 2018 – it’s one thing to be recognised by colleagues you work with daily, but another to be acknowledged by industry greats. My application focused on how I have embedded myself within the digital world of Country Living, and I hope the results of that were what made me eligible for an award. The event itself was great, and it was amazing to stand alongside so many other talented, young media minds."

"To be recognised as the PPA’s Student of the Year, alongside my fellow MA Magazine Journalism course mate from City, University of London, Selena Randhawa, was a huge honour. It really was a surreal moment when I heard my name called – I was overjoyed! What’s crazy is that at the beginning of my master’s, my class was told about the PPA and its prestigious industry awards, and I thought to myself, “Next year, I’m going to win the Student of the Year Award!” It really was the benchmark that drove me and me motivated throughout my course as a goal I wanted to achieve. Now my trophy has pride of place in my room and I look at it every day! I feel very proud of everything I’ve accomplished so far – not only in my academic life, but also my professional life. To be surrounded by the very best of the best in the industry at the 30 Under 30 event at the stunning LSO St Luke’s was inspiring to say the least. There are so many different routes you can take to get into publishing. For example, I now work in content marketing at Redwood on the Virgin TV Edit. It wasn’t an area I was massively aware of before, but it turned out to be perfect for me. With the PPA Student of the Year Award under my belt, it helped to get my writing and me noticed and I haven’t looked back since!"

Laura Rutkowski

“It was such a honour to be named as one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 in 2018. It’s been a dream of mine to win a PPA award and to do it at 25 was amazing. I think I won because of my commitment to diversity in the industry and making media more inclusive, as well as my exciting content ideas and executions. I loved meeting the other winners, being invited to speak at PPA Live and building up my name in the industry. Thanks, PPA!”

"Peer recognition is what you strive for the most when awards are being handed out. This is a great initiative in giving such prominent recognition early on in your career, and a great motivator to achieve more. It certainly has been for me. You feel eyes are on you in that room, and that it really matters. It does. In some ways, age doesn't even come into it - great work is just great work no matter how old you are."