The winners of the 2026 Leadership Development Awards were announced during HR.com's Future of Coaching and Mentoring for Leadership Virtual Event. The awards honor outstanding achievements in developing employees through coaching, mentoring, and training initiatives, highlighting programs that strengthen leadership and build more effective leadership pipelines. This recognition matters because it identifies forward-thinking strategies that cultivate the next generation of leaders and drive meaningful organizational impact, providing models for other companies seeking to enhance their leadership development efforts.
This year's award recipients showcase solutions, programs, and individuals who demonstrate innovation, excellence, and a steadfast commitment to developing people and growing organizational success. The American Management Association received the Leadership Development Solution Award for its program "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.
Clarion Events – North America earned 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, positioning leadership development as a true growth lever rather than just a training initiative. Anna Jeffries of La Fosse received 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.
Jeffries' three-pillar framework boosts self-leadership, team leadership, and strategic impact, driving measurable gains in engagement, retention, and organizational culture. HR.com CEO Debbie McGrath stated that these award winners are redefining leadership development through forward-thinking strategies and creative approaches. The complete list of award winners is available at www.hr.com/awards. These awards are significant because they highlight practical approaches to leadership development that deliver tangible business results, offering valuable insights for organizations worldwide seeking to build stronger leadership pipelines and improve employee development outcomes.
