Even after having read her bio, studied her career, and watched the TV show inspired by her life, nothing could have prepared me for what it felt like to present an award to the inimitable Judy Smith. Many awards were presented that night, but when it came time to honor Judy, there was a palpable shift in the room. We all knew we were in the presence of greatness.
In September, our industry proudly celebrated Judy as the recipient of the 2026 PRSA-NY Barbara Way Hunter Trailblazer Award, recognizing an icon whose career redefined what leadership looks like in our industry. Established in 2023, the award honors the legacy of Barbara Way Hunter, the pioneering woman whose name our agency proudly carries.
Barbara built and led two public relations agencies at a time when women were rarely welcomed into positions of power. In the 1960s, she eliminated the gender pay gap at her agency decades ahead of her time, proving it didn’t require committees or task forces – just the will to do it.
Barbara's greatest legacy is the generations of leaders she championed and inspired, myself included. She believed in leading with intelligence, fairness and a commitment to “care harder,” using her influence to create opportunities for others.
In Judy, we recognized that same pioneering spirit.
Few communications professionals have operated at the intersection of power, public opinion and reputation quite like Judy Smith.
Her career began in law, where she served as a federal prosecutor before entering the White House as Deputy Press Secretary to President George H.W. Bush. She later founded Smith & Company, establishing herself as one of the world's most sought-after crisis strategists.
For more than 25 years, Judy advised presidents, world leaders, Fortune 50 CEOs and influential organizations through moments when reputations, careers and public trust hung in the balance.
Her work helped establish crisis communications as more than reactive damage control. It demonstrated the importance of strategic judgment to navigate the complex legal, reputational, and human considerations.
Judy's influence also transcended the profession. Her career inspired the hit television series Scandal, and as its Co-Executive Producer, she helped introduce millions of viewers to the high-stakes world of crisis management and forever changed what it means when someone declares “it’s handled.”
Long before becoming one of America's most recognizable communications advisors, Judy was breaking barriers. While attending American University, she became the first Black woman to serve on the Executive Board of its Law Review.
Throughout her career, she entered spaces where women – particularly women of color – had rarely held power. She not only earned her place in those rooms – she commanded them.
That was what made Judy such a fitting recipient of an award bearing Barbara's name.
Both women challenged the conventions of their time, earned influence through exceptional judgment and an unwavering commitment to their work, and both expanded the possibilities for generations of women who followed.
In honoring Judy, we celebrated a woman whose legacy will continue to inspire those who come next.
