Emily Murray named a 2026 Ragan Top Woman in Marketing

Emily Murray, Norfolk Southern's Assistant Director of Creative + Brand, has been named a 2026 honoree in Ragan's Top Women in Marketing Awards in the Brand Marketers category. The recognition honors women whose leadership, innovation, and measurable contributions are making a meaningful impact within their organizations and across the marketing profession.

The award recognizes Murray's leadership in shaping Norfolk Southern's brand strategy and marketing efforts during a period of transformation and growth. Her work has helped strengthen connections with customers, employees, and communities while delivering measurable business results.

What they’re saying
"Emily's leadership has helped Norfolk Southern strengthen its brand and deliver measurable results that support our business objectives. She brought a business-to-consumer mindset to the railroad that has resulted in creative ad campaigns that not only resonate with key audiences but also drive meaningful outcomes for the company. This recognition reflects the impact she has made and the high standard of excellence she brings to her work every day." — Betsy Talton-Buck, NS Vice President and Chief Communications Officer

Among her accomplishments, Murray led Norfolk Southern's first unified brand campaign, helping establish a cohesive brand presence across the company's channels. The campaign generated 27 million impressions, nearly 100,000 prospective customer website visits, and a 72% year-over-year increase in inbound contacts. She also oversees paid media strategy, where integrated campaigns brought qualified sales leads and customer engagement.

In addition to driving marketing performance, Murray is recognized for her collaborative leadership style and ability to build strong partnerships across business functions and agency teams. Her work has helped elevate Norfolk Southern's storytelling, strengthen brand credibility, and support employee engagement initiatives.

"This recognition reflects the incredible team of people I have the opportunity to work alongside every day. Great marketing doesn't happen in a vacuum. It happens when talented people come together around a shared purpose, challenge one another to think differently, and stay focused on delivering meaningful results. I'm honored to receive this recognition on behalf of the entire team."
 — Emily Murray, Assistant Director, Creative + Brand

Murray will be recognized during Ragan's Top Women in Marketing Awards Luncheon on Oct. 22 in New York City alongside other marketing leaders from across the country.

By Kasandra Jenkins, Communications Manager 

Kasandra Jenkins assists with external communications for Norfolk Southern, focusing on community impact, awards, and media relations. Kasandra joined NS in 2025, with more than 10 years of media relations, and corporate/crisis communications experience.