CHICAGO (May 11, 2026) – DHR Global, a premier talent advisory firm, today announced that CEO Priya Taneja has been named the 2026 Austinite of the Year and winner in the People and Operations category at the Austin Under 40 Awards.
Taneja, the first leader from outside DHR’s founding family to serve as CEO in the firm’s nearly four-decade history, was recognized for her professional achievement, leadership, and community impact.
Hosted annually, the Austin Under 40 Awards honor leaders who are shaping the future of Austin through excellence in their careers and meaningful service to the community. Austinite of the Year is the program’s highest honor, awarded to one individual whose success is matched by a deep commitment to making Austin stronger.
The honor recognizes both Taneja’s professional journey and her commitment to building organizations and communities where people are given the opportunity to thrive.
The daughter of Indian immigrants, Taneja joined DHR in 2013 in Human Resources and built her career across operations, strategy, culture, and enterprise leadership before being named CEO in 2025. Her approach has been defined by a belief that people rise when they are given opportunity, challenged with purpose, and supported by cultures that foster excellence.
At DHR, that belief helped shape a global cultural transformation rooted in engagement, mentorship, leadership development, accountability, and performance. Under Taneja’s leadership, the firm strengthened its culture, elevated its people, and earned four consecutive Inc. Best Workplaces honors, along with recognition from Forbes, Newsweek, and Hunt Scanlon.
“When I joined DHR in 2013, I was building an HR function. Today, I’m leading the firm,” said Taneja. “That arc only happens in a company that believes in people, invests in them, and creates room for them to grow and lead. This recognition is personal, but it also reflects the power of what can happen when companies and communities create opportunity for others.”
As COO and CEO, Taneja has helped lead DHR through one of the most dynamic growth periods in the firm’s history, including expansion into nine new markets, five acquisitions, and the promotion of internal leaders into partner roles. Across each phase of her leadership, she has remained focused on building a firm where growth and opportunity move together.
“Priya is one of the most exceptional young leaders in our industry,” said Geoff Hoffmann, Chairman of DHR and CEO of Hoffmann Family of Companies. “When we faced our biggest decisions around expansion, acquisitions, and succession planning, Priya was the person I wanted in the room. She combines long range judgment with a real instinct for people, and that combination is rare at any level.”
Beyond DHR, Taneja has made service and community investment a meaningful part of her work in Austin. She serves on the Advisory Council of Saint Louise House, a nonprofit supporting women and children transitioning out of homelessness, and has chaired multiple Saint Louise House fundraising events, most recently the organization’s first women’s luncheon, which raised more than $400,000 to support housing, stability, and services for women and children in Austin.
Taneja has also supported fundraising initiatives for Generation SERVE and Austin Angels, contributing to efforts that expand volunteerism, strengthen support for foster families, and create opportunities for children and families across Central Texas.
For Taneja, community leadership is an extension of the same belief that has shaped her career: when people are given stability, support, and opportunity, they can rise.
About DHR Global
DHR Global is a premier talent advisory firm delivering executive search, leadership consulting, and emerging leader search services across 60+ markets in 22 countries. The firm brings expertise across 30+ industries, with long-standing client partnerships at the core of its business. DHR partners with organizations to make critical leadership decisions, supported by consultants with deep, firsthand sector experience. DHR has been recognized by Forbes, Inc., Aetna, Newsweek, and Hunt Scanlon for its performance, culture, and growth. Founded in 1989, DHR is part of the Hoffmann Family of Companies.