Awards 2026

Honoring Organizations Shaping the Future of Work

21st August, 2026 | Bengaluru

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Every organization is navigating change.

New technologies are redefining work. Skills are evolving faster than ever. Employee expectations are shifting, and organisations are being challenged to rethink how they attract, develop, engage and retain talent. At the same time, leadership is being tested to build workplaces that are productive and resilient today, while remaining adaptable to what comes next.

Amid this transformation, one truth remains constant: people are at the heart of every organisation’s ability to perform, adapt and grow.

The PeopleForward CHRO Leadership Awards, presented alongside the PeopleForward CHRO Leadership Forum, recognise the individuals and teams turning this belief into action. The awards celebrate HR leaders who are shaping the people agenda with vision, professionals who are creating measurable impact, emerging leaders who are challenging conventional thinking, and HR teams that are translating people strategy into meaningful organisational outcomes.

From transforming talent and building future-ready skills to strengthening culture, reimagining employee experience, enabling leadership and navigating the human side of technology-led change, these awards recognise contributions that go beyond traditional HR mandates.

Because the future of work will not be defined by technology alone. It will be shaped by the people and leaders who know how to use it to build stronger, more adaptable and more human organisations.

Award Categories

Visionary HR Leader

Recognising a senior HR leader who is shaping the future of people and work through bold thinking, strategic leadership and meaningful organisational impact. The award celebrates leaders who have influenced the broader people agenda, strengthened culture and capability, and connected people strategy with business priorities.
Who can nominate: CHROs, CPOs, HR Heads, HR Directors, VPs and equivalent senior HR leaders.

HR Impact Leader

Recognising an HR professional who has turned ideas into meaningful, measurable outcomes for people and the organisation. The award is open to professionals across HR functions who have made a significant contribution through talent, employee experience, culture, capability, HR technology, rewards, HRBP, people analytics or other areas of HR.
Who can nominate: Mid-to-senior HR professionals and functional leaders across the HR ecosystem.

HR Team of the Year

Recognising an HR team that has worked together to deliver an outstanding people initiative with measurable organisational impact. The award celebrates teams that demonstrate strong collaboration, innovative thinking and exceptional execution in areas such as workforce transformation, culture, talent, employee experience, capability building or technology-enabled HR.
Who can nominate: HR teams, business leaders, HR heads or colleagues from within the organisation.

Why Nominate?

Recognition is more than celebrating an achievement.

It is about giving visibility to the people and teams behind meaningful change, sharing ideas that can inspire the wider HR community, and recognising those who are helping shape the future of work.

The PeopleForward CHRO Leadership Awards provide a platform for HR leaders and teams whose work is creating meaningful impact for their people and organisations.

By participating, nominees can:

Gain recognition among peers, industry leaders, and business decision-makers

Showcase initiatives that have delivered measurable impact

Share ideas that can inspire the profession

Celebrate the people behind transformation

Benchmark against peers and leading HR practices

Be recognised at the PeopleForward Leadership Summit 2026

Who Should Participate?

The PeopleForward CHRO Leadership Awards are open to HR and People professionals across industries, career stages and areas of specialisation.

Whether the contribution is a transformative people strategy, a breakthrough initiative, a new approach to an existing challenge, or a sustained effort that has created meaningful change, the awards seek to recognise the people and teams turning ideas into impact.

Evaluation Criteria

Entries will be assessed by an independent jury comprising industry leaders, business executives, HR practitioners, and subject matter experts.

Submissions will be evaluated on:

Leadership & Ownership

Impact & Outcomes

Innovation & Problem Solving

Execution & Scale

Future Readiness

For Queries

Himani Saroha

+91 99589 86792

himani.saroha@mercadeo.co.in

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