Why Your Nomination Matters More Than You Think

Breaking down the why, who, and how to nominate for the Four Under 40 Awards

Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce

Take a moment and think about the people or person who believed in you early in your career.

The manager that offered you that promotion.
The mentor who advised you to use your voice.
The coworker that encouraged you to step outside your comfort zone.

Often, young professionals don’t realize the impact they are making until someone tells them. That’s where the Four Under 40 Awards step into play.

A single nomination for the WAVE Young Professionals Network’s Four Under 40 Awards can alter the way someone sees themselves, how others see them, and where their career goes next.

So, in this blog, we are breaking down the who, the what, and the how of nominating an individual for the Four Under 40 Awards.

NOMINATION DEADLINE: JUNE 30, 2026

Why nominate?

Submitting a nomination is a meaningful way to recognize a young professional who is making an impact. Beyond that, it indicates supporting the next generations of leaders.

Strong nominations go beyond titles or employment. They tell the story of who someone is, what they’ve accomplished, and how they influence those around them.

It gives recognition where recognition is due AND amplifies a generation of young professionals within our businesses and communities. We want young professionals to see themselves not only as the leaders of tomorrow, but also as the leaders of today.

And if you’re the young professional that is a leader of today: doing meaningful work, leading initiatives, serving your community, or growing professionally…don’t wait for someone else to tell your story. We encourage self-nominations.

Who Should Be Nominated?

Open to those age 18-39 who live and work in the Brainerd Lakes Area, we seek out individuals showcasing Professional Excellence, Leadership, Community Impact, and Potential for future success. Those are the award criteria for the Four Under 40 Awards.

When consider nominating or applying, try asking yourself these questions:

What leadership qualities are they displaying?
How are they inspiring and motivating others to achieve success?
How are they demonstrating a high level of expertise and accomplishment?
What are they doing outside of work? How are they volunteering/dedicating their time in the community?
What’s next for them? How might they grow in the future?
Why does this person stand out right now?

Our panel of anonymous judges made up of community members, chamber members, and WAVE members wants to want to understand who this person is and the impact that they are making, not just that they’re liked.

Within the form, each award criteria is broken down. Judges will be looking for specific examples to help understand your nominee.

WAVE or Chamber membership is not required for nominators or nominees.

So, What Makes a Good Nomination?

Asking what makes a good nomination might be harder to identify that a weak nomination. To start, let’s walk through an example of what makes a weak nomination and why.

“Sarah is a great leader who always goes above and beyond. Everyone on the team respects her and she works hard every day.”

While it’s great to know that Sarah is being recognized as a leader, it doesn’t paint the full picture. You’re given traits — leader, hard worker, and respectful — but it’s missing the specifics.

If you took away her name, would you be able to know who the nomination is referring to?

We don’t know what makes her stand out.

Strong nominations don’t just tell us what someone does — they help us understand who they are.

Now, let’s review a strong example.

"During a period of significant staffing shortages last winter, Sarah recognized that communication breakdowns between departments were creating delays and frustration for both employees and clients. Rather than waiting for leadership direction, she took initiative by organizing weekly cross-department check-ins, creating shared workflow documents, and personally training three new team members to help stabilize operations. As a result, project turnaround times improved and team morale noticeably increased during an otherwise stressful period. What stands out most about Sarah’s leadership is her ability to lead with both accountability and empathy. Multiple coworkers regularly seek her out for guidance because she listens without judgment, follows through on commitments, and consistently makes others feel supported and valued."

Can you tell the difference here?

The second example:

Gives context
Includes actions taken
Demonstrates impact/results
Speaks to leadership style and character
Helps judges visualize the person

AI Guidance

Notice how this section uses the word guidance.

We do not ban the use of AI as it can be a helpful tool for organizing thoughts, improving grammar, or refining writing. We understand that writing isn’t everyone’s strength. Plus, embracing technology is kind of the young professional vibe.

That being said, the strongest nominations are authentic, specific, and rooted in real examples and experiences.

Before You Submit

A Checklist to get you ready.

All right, so you know the who, and you’re ready to nominate. Here’s a quick checklist of things to prepare when nominating:

Nominee Name
Nominee Phone
Nominee Email
Name of Nominee Employer
Nominee Birthdate*
Confirm if live and work in the Brainerd Lakes Area
Review the award criteria
Prepare specific nominee examples demonstrate the Four Under 40 award criteria

*to be eligible, nominees must be between 18 and 39 years at the time of the WAVE Gala on October 21, 2026.

Other Helpful Tips

Start Early
Strong nominations and applications take time. Starting early gives you the opportunity to reflect, gather examples, and fully answer each section thoughtfully. It also allows time to identify leadership experiences, accomplishments, or community involvement that may still be developing.

Draft Your Responses Outside the Form
Consider writing your responses in a Word document or notes app before submitting. This makes it easier to organize your thoughts, revise your answers, and ensure each section clearly highlights the nominee’s impact, character, and accomplishments.

Bonus: It also helps prevent losing work if you need to step away and come back later.

Focus On Specific Examples, But Don’t Make It a Checklist

We want to get to know the person. Write about their accomplishments and character like a friend would.

AI is a tool, not a replacement
Generic responses are easy to spot. Specific, personal examples are what stand out.

Ask Others for Input
For Applications, others may help brainstorm accomplishments, identify leadership examples, proofread, and provide strengths that you may overlook yourself.

For nominations, collaborating with others can help paint a fuller picture of the nominee’s impact and character — especially if different people have seen different aspects of their leadership and community involvement.