This award is presented to an individual from outside of or on the periphery of the talent development profession. Nominees should demonstrate commitment, advocacy, and actions in support of talent development within or outside an organization. Those actions will have influenced audiences, organizations, or society. You may self-nominate or nominate someone else for this award. You do not need to be an ATD member to apply.
Watch this short video to learn more.
Congratulations to the 2024 recipient:
Marshall Goldsmith
Bestselling Author
Executive Leadership Coach
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This award has been presented to:
Erica Dhawan, author, speaker, executive leader, entrepreneur
Joe Folkman, author, psychologist, science journalist
Brené Brown, author, researcher
Amy Edmondson, researcher
Daniel H. Pink, author and thought leader
Dr. Jeff J. Clawson, "Father of Emergency Medical Dispatch"
Carol Dweck, professor of psychology and author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Liz Wiseman, author Multipliers
Chris Anderson, TED
Azim Premji, chairman, Wipro Limited
Salman Khan, founder, Khan Academy
Doug Conant, founder and CEO of Conant Leadership
Ram Charan, business consultant
Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III, founder and CEO of Safety Reliability Methods
John Seely Brown, independent co-chair of Deloitte's Center for the Edge
Robert Kaplan and David Norton, creators of the Balanced Scorecard
Jim Collins, researcher and author
Frances Hesselbein, chairman of the board of governors, Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute
Danny Wegman, CEO of Wegmans Food Markets
Steven Piersanti, president of Berrett-Koehler Publishers
Frederick W. Smith, CEO of Federal Express
John Chambers, CEO of Cisco Systems
William Taylor and Alan Webber, founding editors of Fast Company
Robert W. Galvin, chairman of the executive committee of Motorola
Thomas A. Stewart, board of editors of Fortune magazine
John F. Welch, chairman and CEO of the General Electric Company
Nominations will be evaluated on the scope and depth of documented advocacy, commitment, and actions that have promoted talent development.
Evidence of wide-reaching or global support of talent development, upskilling the workforce for the future, and/or learning at work through actions, ideas, writing, or speaking.
Proof of influencing audiences and/or organizations.
Proof of a sustained commitment to talent development, reskilling the workforce, or workplace learning as a key driver of organizational impact.
Evidence the nominee promotes the value of learning and the development of talent as a strategic differentiator for organizations or society.
Evidence the nominee’s own work demonstrates this commitment.
Eligibility:
Eligible candidates are individuals from outside the talent development field. Past winners have included authors, CEOs/business leaders, researchers, and thought leaders. Elected officials are not eligible.
Submission Process (for 2025 recognition):
Deadline to submit: December 16, 2024
Submit your entry through our online awards portal.
Entrants notified by March.
Submit questions to:
Erin Strider
[email protected]
The award winners will be honored at the awards ceremony held during the ATD International Conference & Exposition. Announcements of the award will be in ATD publications and on the ATD website.