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 program 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. Innovative and strategic, it positions leadership development as a true growth lever, not just a training initiative.
The Leadership Development HR Visionary Award was presented to Anna Jeffries of La Fosse for developing the Lead the Future program, which blends leadership theory with experiential learning, peer coaching, and real-world application. Its three-pillar framework boosts self-leadership, team leadership, and strategic impact, driving measurable gains in engagement, retention, and organizational culture. Additional information about all HR.com awards can be found at HR.com Awards.
“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 shift in how organizations approach leadership development, moving from traditional training models to sustained, strategic initiatives that create measurable business results and build stronger leadership pipelines for future organizational success.
For HR vendors, these award winners represent a growing market demand for comprehensive, scalable leadership development solutions. Programs that integrate coaching, mentoring, and real-world application are becoming essential for organizations seeking to build internal leadership capabilities and improve retention. Vendors should take note of the emphasis on measurable outcomes and strategic alignment, as these are key factors driving purchasing decisions. The shift toward sustained development journeys rather than one-off training sessions offers opportunities for vendors to offer multi-modal, long-term engagement platforms.
As the industry evolves, HR vendors who can demonstrate clear ROI and align their offerings with business strategy will be best positioned to capture market share. The recognition of programs like AMA's and Clarion Events' underscores the importance of scalable, enterprise-level solutions that drive behavior change and leadership readiness.
