Q: What award did Stella Rising recently win?
A: Stella Rising was named Media Agency of the Year, Silver at the 2025 Ad Age Small Agency of the Year Awards. This is a prestigious recognition in the advertising industry that celebrates excellence among independent agencies.
Q: What does this award mean for Stella Rising?
A: According to CEO Andrea Van Dam, "This award reflects the power of a culture that puts people first and never stops innovating. At Stella, we're on a mission to become the most admired independent agency in the world—and this award is a proud milestone on that journey." The recognition affirms that Stella Rising is building the media agency model of the future.
Q: What sets Stella Rising apart in the media agency landscape?
A: Stella Rising distinguishes itself through tech innovation and a people-first culture. As a woman-led agency with four consecutive Ad Age Best Places to Work wins, we combine precision, predictive insights, and powerful storytelling to accelerate profitable growth for our clients.
Q: What kind of brands does Stella Rising work with?
A: We proudly manage media, strategy, and advanced analytics for top brands including Coldwell Banker, Amorepacific, and Power Crunch, working with both legacy and challenger brands to deliver measurable outcomes.
Q: What innovative tools has Stella Rising developed?
A: Through our research council, Stella Labs, we've launched multiple AI-powered innovations including:
Q: Can you share examples of successful client outcomes?
A: For Suave, our Halo tool was central to a strategy that solved for declining household penetration. Through exciting, innovative activations like the Paris Olympics and a Pinterest Halloween takeover, media drove a 3.2% increase in point-of -ale purchases and achieved 59% topline growth on Amazon.
For Coldwell Banker, we conducted deep analysis of their marketing mix model during a volatile, often challenging real estate market. Our work isolated the factors driving sales and channel performance. By shifting strategy to mix reach and performance tactics with event sponsorship, we predicted closing the ROAS gap significantly.
Q: How many innovation pilots has Stella Rising launched recently?
A: In Q1 2025 alone, we launched 10 active innovation pilots through Stella Labs, demonstrating our commitment to continuous innovation and staying ahead of industry trends; that trend has accelerated, with an additional 8 pilots to date in 2025 and more in our pipeline.
Q: What's next for Stella Rising?
A: This award celebrates our journey, but we're just getting started. We continue to innovate, putting our people first while delivering exceptional results for our clients. We're building toward our mission of becoming the most admired independent agency in the world.
Q: How can brands work with Stella Rising?
A: We're always looking to partner with brands that value the blend of culture, innovation, and performance. Companies interested in elevating their brand with data-driven strategies and cutting-edge tools can connect with us to explore how we can accelerate their growth.
About Stella Rising: We're a woman-led independent media agency that drives media, strategy, and advanced analytics for top brands. With four consecutive Ad Age Best Places to Work awards and now 2025 Media Agency of the Year/Silver, we're powered by excellence, driven by ingenuity, and grounded in humanity.