The winners of the 2026 Leadership Development Awards were announced during HR.com's Future of Coaching and Mentoring for Leadership Virtual Event on March 4. The awards honor outstanding achievements in developing employees through coaching, mentoring, and training initiatives. This year’s award recipients showcase outstanding solutions, programs, and individuals who are strengthening leadership and building more effective leadership pipelines. They demonstrate innovation, excellence, and a steadfast commitment to developing people and growing organizational success.
The Leadership Development Solution Award went to American Management Association for its program titled “From Expertise to Influence: A Sustained Leadership Development Journey for Emerging Leaders.” This initiative goes beyond traditional leadership training by guiding high-performing contributors into influential leaders. Through sustained learning, real-world scenarios, and skill-building in strategy, presence, and influence, AMA develops leaders who inspire, drive performance, and deliver measurable organizational impact.
Clarion Events – North America received the Best Leadership Development Program award for setting the standard in leadership development with an enterprise-level, scalable program that aligns with business strategy. The program drives measurable behavior change, leadership readiness, and internal capabilities. Its innovative and strategic approach positions leadership development as a true growth lever rather than just a training initiative.
Anna Jeffries of La Fosse earned the Leadership Development HR Visionary Award for developing the Lead the Future program, which blends leadership theory with experiential learning, peer coaching, and real-world application. The program's three-pillar framework boosts self-leadership, team leadership, and strategic impact, driving measurable gains in engagement, retention, and organizational culture.
“These award winners are redefining leadership development,” said HR.com CEO Debbie McGrath. “They use forward-thinking strategies and creative approaches to cultivate the next generation of leaders and drive meaningful organizational impact.” The recognition of these programs highlights a significant shift in how organizations approach talent development, moving from traditional training models to integrated, strategic initiatives that demonstrate clear return on investment.
For business and technology leaders, these award-winning approaches offer valuable insights into effective leadership development strategies that can enhance organizational performance. The emphasis on measurable outcomes, strategic alignment, and sustained learning represents a maturation of leadership development practices that directly address current business challenges. The full list of award winners is available at https://www.hr.com/awards.
