Finance & Success
Talmyn Pick: Michael Fiddelke for Talmyn CEO of the Year
An editorial spotlight on Target's new CEO, whose turnaround plan bets on doing fewer things well instead of trying to…
Talmyn CEO of the Year
An annual recognition for a CEO — not necessarily the founder — whose leadership decisions this year genuinely changed their company's trajectory.
What this offers
A profile about decisions, not just titles
The feature focuses on specific calls the CEO made this year and what happened because of them.
Nominee recognition either way
Strong nominees are featured on the current nominees list even if not the year's final pick.
No cost to nominate
Free, whether nominating yourself or someone else.
Open to turnarounds and steady growth alike
We're as interested in a hard turnaround as a smooth scale-up.
Who this is for
CEOs of companies of any size — public, private, hired-in, or promoted internally — who made a real, specific decision this year worth writing about.
How it works
- Submit a nomination. Who, what company, and the specific decision or moment.
- An editor researches the story. We look for the actual decision and its consequences.
- Strong nominees are featured. Added to the nominees list for the current year.
- The year's pick is announced. A full feature on the decision that earned it.
Rules & eligibility
- This is free to enter, and always will be — we never charge a submission fee.
- No age, location, industry, or follower-count requirement. Selection is about the work itself, not who you are.
- Submitting doesn't guarantee publication or a reply beyond the automatic confirmation — we get more submissions than we can feature, and we'd rather say that upfront than overpromise.
- One nomination per person or company at a time. If yours isn't selected this round, you're welcome to be nominated again later.
- Selection is editorial, not a public vote — we're not obligated to name a winner every single cycle if nothing meets the bar.
How do I actually apply?
I describe one specific decision this CEO made — a restructuring, a strategic bet, a culture change — and what happened as a result, rather than a general "strong leader" nomination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything to submit?
No. It's free to submit to Talmyn CEO of the Year, and free to be featured if selected. We don't charge for consideration, and we never will.
How long does it take to hear back?
If your nomination is selected, you'll hear from an editor directly. If it isn't, we don't send a rejection notice — the volume we receive makes that impractical.
Can I submit on behalf of someone else?
Only with their knowledge and involvement — we want the real details, and that usually means hearing from the person or team directly.
What happens if I'm not selected?
Nothing gets published without being selected first. Unselected submissions simply aren't used, and you're welcome to submit again later.
Does this run every year?
Yes — Talmyn CEO of the Year is evergreen. It runs all year, every year, with no deadline to catch.
Selection is editorial and unpaid on both sides — no one is charged to submit, and no one is paid for work we publish. Talmyn's editorial standards apply the same way here as everywhere else on the site.
Submit
Current nominees