PRSA-NY 15 Under 35 Honorees Reflect on Career Growth, Mentorship and Leadership - Part One

Recognition early in a career can do more than celebrate achievement. It can build confidence, expand professional networks, open doors to new opportunities, and inspire the next generation of leaders.

As PRSA-NY launches the 2026 15 Under 35 Awards program, CommPRO is speaking with past honorees about what the recognition meant to them, how it influenced their careers, and the lessons they hope today's emerging communications professionals will carry forward.

In these reflections, a common theme emerges: while awards recognize accomplishments, their greatest impact often comes from the relationships, mentorship, and sense of community they help create.

For Logan Leavitt, Vice President, Media Strategy & Outreach at HUNTER, being named a PRSA-NY 15 Under 35 honoree represented validation after making a significant career transition.

"Being named a PRSA-NY 15 Under 35 honoree was a major milestone for me. I started my career in broadcast journalism and pivoted to public relations in my late 20’s. To have changed careers, found success in this new field and be recognized in that field in a span of seven years was huge for me. I was especially honored that HUNTER nominated me - it affirmed that my contributions to the agency and my role on our specialized Media Team were noticed and valued."

Leavitt says the recognition arrived at a pivotal point in his professional development as he stepped into greater leadership responsibilities.

"When I received the recognition, I was early in my management journey and stepping into a more senior role at the agency. The honor boosted my confidence and affirmed that colleagues and clients valued my strategic counsel and media-relations expertise. The experience also introduced me to many outstanding PR professionals with diverse career paths - several of whom I’ve stayed connected with as we continue to grow professionally."

The role of mentorship has also been central to his success.

"I’ve been fortunate to learn from two exceptional public-relations leaders at HUNTER: my supervisors Samantha Turtle and Lisa Horn. Both have been instrumental in shaping my approach to media relations and management. Sam challenges me to think bigger and bolder; she embodies HUNTER’s “Always Hunting” mindset, which is now a core part of how I work. Lisa helped me become a clearer communicator and a more effective manager, strengthening my ability to lead a team. I feel so lucky to have worked alongside them, earning consumer attention together for as many years as I have!"

Looking at future nominees, Leavitt believes organizations should cast a wider net when considering candidates.

"I believe it’s important to recognize specialists as well as generalists. While I’m a well-rounded PR professional, my focus is earned media, and I’m grateful to have been acknowledged for success in that area. I hope agencies evaluate specialists and traditional account leaders equally when considering who to nominate - including those who focus on earned and paid media, influencer marketing, social, and everything in between. As the media landscape continues to evolve, these specialists are essential to an agency’s success – remaining closely tapped into emerging platforms, shifting audience behaviors, and industry trends to help clients stay relevant and give agencies a distinct competitive advantage."

For Megan Miller, Vice President at 360PRplus, the recognition arrived during a period of increasing responsibility and leadership growth.

"Being named a PRSA-NY 15 Under 35 honoree was a huge boost for my professional confidence. It came at a point in my career that I was recently elevated to a new role, managing more projects and people directly, so the recognition gave me the confidence to feel like ‘I got this’ and ‘I earned this.’"

She says that confidence helped fuel future success.

"Since then, I’ve led some campaigns that I’m really proud of not just for their results, but for their creativity and impact for my client’s business and my own teams’ success."

The experience also influenced how she approaches leadership and mentorship today.

"The recognition also made me reflect on my leadership skills and ensure I’m instilling the same confidence to rising team members, I see this reflected in them as they grow and flourish and it’s so rewarding. I look forward to nominating them for the same recognition some day!"

For Miller, the award became an entry point into a broader professional community that continues to shape her career.

"Being named in the 15 Under 35 class of 2023 was my introduction to the PRSA-NY community! I helped as a volunteer on the Big Apple marketing committee that year, attended the gala as part of the 15 Under 35 recognition then took full advantage of the free PRSA-NY membership given to recipients. I later served as a co-chair for the Big Apple Awards and still sit on the PRSA-NY board today, all because of 15 Under 35!"

"It’s been so fulfilling to get to know PR professionals from other agencies, practices and backgrounds through my time with PRSA-NY, I’ve learned so much from that community of professionals."

Like Leavitt, Miller points to the importance of mentors throughout her career.

"I can’t pick one! I’ve been lucky to have many mentors and managers who have taught me so much throughout my career, whether they mean to or not – they lead by example and I learn so much by just observing them. And so many of my mentors have been women, which isn’t uncommon in PR as a very female-dominated industry, but it makes me feel proud to work closely with women in positions of power and leadership."

When evaluating potential nominees, Miller believes organizations should look beyond measurable outcomes and consider the qualities that make great leaders.

"I think it’s important to look beyond visible accomplishments and tangible results. Sometimes the biggest impact comes from quiet leadership traits like strengthening team morale, solving problems with a cool head, mentoring other colleagues. When someone demonstrates those abilities, the results and great work will come."

Together, their stories illustrate the broader value of the PRSA-NY 15 Under 35 program. While the award recognizes exceptional achievement, its lasting impact often extends far beyond a single moment of recognition. It creates confidence during pivotal career transitions, strengthens professional networks, highlights the importance of mentorship, and encourages emerging leaders to invest in the success of others.

As nominations open for the 2026 class, Leavitt and Miller offer a reminder that tomorrow's communications leaders come in many forms. Some are visible strategists and storytellers. Others are specialists, mentors, team builders, and quiet leaders whose influence is felt every day by the colleagues and communities around them.

Applications for the PRSA-NY 15 Under 35 Class of 2026 are now open. The program recognizes rising communications professionals who are helping shape the future of public relations and communications through leadership, innovation, professional excellence, and service to the industry.