Inspiring Workplaces names 2026 Inspiring Leaders winners

The Inspiring Workplaces Group has named the 2026 Inspiring Leaders Awards winners, recognizing people-first executives and senior leaders across multiple sectors. The company also opened entries for the 2027 Inspiring Place to Work Awards, with a Feb. 24, 2027 deadline.

Why it matters: - The awards spotlight leaders who shape workplace culture through trust, belonging and employee empowerment. - The winners were selected from employee testimonials, making the program a people-based measure of leadership impact. - The announcement also signals the start of the next awards cycle, with 2027 entries now open.

What happened: - The Inspiring Workplaces Group announced the winners of the 2026 Inspiring Leaders Awards on Nov. 12, 2026. - The program is run in partnership with RADICL. - The awards recognize PeopleFirst leaders who make a difference to employees, organizations and workplace culture. - Winners were named in alphabetical order across CEO and senior leadership categories.

The details: - The 2026 winners include CEOs from Everise, Visiting Angels, Lhasa Limited, Business Press Srl Societa Benefit, MaxContact, Lennox, HRCI, Surface, Rayito de Sol, Primary Health Network, Altus Group, OutSolve, Strictly Speaking Group, Norgine, Proper Roofing & Remodeling and Victory Home Remodeling. - The senior leadership list includes executives from Contact Energy, KRUK Espana, PitchBook, Perceptive Communicators Limited, Pureprofile, POD Marketing Inc, Orion Construction Ltd., Breaktime Media, OneSchool Global, Trimedx, GlobalLogic, Philip Morris International, The Pollack Group, Ocean State Job Lot, UPSTARS, MaxContact, Kids Operating Room, ScalePad and DFI Retail Group. - Matt Manners, CEO and founder of The Inspiring Workplaces Group, said leadership is about creating an environment where people feel valued and can reach their full potential. - Manners said the 2026 winners show the impact one leader can have on the people around them and thanked them for putting people first. - The awards complement the Inspiring Place to Work™ Awards program, which recognizes organizations for building strong workplace cultures. - The group said the leaders were chosen for their ability to inspire belief, build trust, create belonging and empower others. - The program highlights four leadership qualities: connecting people to a shared mission, leading with authenticity, championing inclusive cultures and giving employees a voice.

Between the lines: - The awards reinforce a broader workplace trend: leadership is being judged less by hierarchy and more by employee experience. - The use of employee testimonials suggests the program is designed to reward culture outcomes, not just business performance. - The mix of global companies and smaller organizations shows the awards are aimed at a wide range of employers.

What's next: - Entries are now open for the 2027 Inspiring Place to Work Awards. - Organizations can compete across Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, Middle East and Africa, North America, and the UK and Ireland. - The deadline to enter is Feb. 24, 2027. - Organizations interested in partnering with Inspiring Workplaces can contact matt@inspiring-workplaces.com. - More information is available on the company’s LinkedIn page.

The bottom line: - The 2026 awards put employee-backed leadership in the spotlight and set up the next round of global workplace recognition.