2026 Excellence in Practice Award Winners

Fifty-nine practices from 46 organizations earned an Excellence in Practice Award this year. The award recognizes individual practices that have demonstrated clear and measurable results of achieving organizational goals, meet a demonstrated need, have appropriate design values, and clearly align with other performance improvement initiatives.

Branch Career Development Project

Yapı Kredi

This comprehensive, role-based learning ecosystem is closing technical and leadership gaps, strengthening career mobility, and building a future-ready branch workforce through structured learning journeys spanning pre-, during-, and post-assignment development. The initiative uses blended classroom instruction, mentoring, coaching, simulations, digital tools, and a scalable internal academy trainer model.

Building a Targeted Security Empowerment System to Ensure Zero Major Network Operation and Maintenance Accidents

ZTE Corporation

The system integrates risk assessment, three-tier capability building, collaborative co-construction, and continuous iteration to proactively identify high-risk personnel and vulnerabilities through data-driven profiling. Multilingual security coaches, knowledge libraries, and industry partnerships support the initiative.

Case Management Certificate Training

Nova Scotia Career Development Association

The initiative addresses significant inconsistencies and knowledge gaps in case management practices. It is a comprehensive eight-module e-learning program—complete with assessments, videos, tools, and instructor support—that bolsters immediate, real-world application and improves client outcomes. It's grounded in the principles of accessibility, professionalism, and inclusion.

Copilot Training and Adoption Program

Lumen

Partner: Valorem Reply

The enterprise-wide effort closes the AI skills gap by providing immersive training, real-world application scenarios, and sustained community support. By equipping employees in Microsoft 365 Copilot use for content generation, analysis, and ideation, the program drives measurable gains in productivity, innovation, and organizational readiness for AI at scale.

Cultivation Project for Technology-Oriented Leaders

China Telecom

By developing technology-oriented leaders through online-offline training and real-world innovation projects, this program directly advances the company's strategic expansion into cloud, AI, and security markets. It has resulted in upskilling thousands of employees, innovation output exceeding expectations, patent authorizations rising, and emerging-business revenue outpacing industry growth.

Discover a Greater You Academy

MGM China

Partner: Macau Institute of Management

The holistic L&D practice delivers training programs to employees as well as external learners using a 4Cs framework—capabilities, careers, culture, and communities. The initiative combines digital platforms and in-house and external partnerships, resulting in increased employee engagement, internal mobility, and community development.

Gateway to Leadership

AT&T

Partner: Korn Ferry

The program builds a strong, confident leadership pipeline that drives organizational continuity and long-term success. At the heart of the initiative is a rigorous capstone project that immerses emerging leaders in real-world problem solving and culminates in a leadership symposium presentation to senior executives.

Generative AI Professional Development for Higher Education Faculty

University of South Florida

The initiative is a pioneering, fully online professional development experience that gives faculty the capability to responsibly integrate AI into teaching through hands-on tutorials, guided prompting, peer learning, and the creation of actionable course enhancement plans. The program accelerates instructional innovation and positions educators to lead digital transformation in higher education.

Get Role Ready for Opportunities at Work

Cognizant

GROW is an in-house learning and accreditation program that offers more than 100 tailored learning pathways. It uses AI-based application assessments leveraging generative AI technology and integrates skill profiling, gamified dashboards, and community mentorship.

Huangpu Alliance Program

Yongan Futures

Partner: Guofu Asset Management

The joint training program combines theoretical instruction, on-the-job practice, and intergenerational mentoring to address a critical shortage of qualified futures analysts amid rapid market expansion, strengthen collaboration with client entities, and develop postgraduate recruits into industry-ready professionals.

Improving the Mortgage Experience Through Service Excellence

RBFCU

The company used insights from member surveys to launch a learning-driven service transformation. The program features instructor-led classes—both virtual and in person—as well as electronic learning modules. Targeted service skills training, manager coaching, and consistent feedback have helped address service inconsistences and elevate the member experience.

Mass Markets New Hire Call Center and Technician Training Programs

Lumen

The comprehensive onboarding solution rapidly advances new customer care and field technician employees from novice to job ready through integrated virtual instruction, hands-on practice, and guided support. It has resulted in significant reductions in ramp-up time, improved retention, and faster achievement of performance goals.

Navigating IT Global Change Requests

Lumen

The compliance knowledge base and training program equips employees with clear guidance on documenting and managing IT changes to strengthen audit readiness and reduce operational risk. With high engagement and measurable reductions in undocumented changes, it has become a critical component of the organization's compliance framework.

#Tech4Leaders

Allianz SE

This in-house, self-funded program transforms senior executives into digitally fluent leaders. It has broken down business-IT silos through the creation of a shared language and purpose; driven measurable strategic outcomes such as increased AI adoption and enterprise-wide data upskilling; and increased customer satisfaction and employee engagement.

Accelerated Management Development Program

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation

The initiative is a tiered, strategy-aligned leadership pipeline designed to fast-track high-potential managers and close critical succession gaps while sustaining strength across legacy operations. Through blended learning, mentoring, cross-functional projects, and applied workplace experiences, the program has driven measurable gains in promotion rates, retention, and leadership capability.

Elite Warrior Program

Far Eastern New Century

The nearly three-year program assessed and trained managerial-level employees through leadership courses, action learning projects, cross-functional collaboration, and internal coaching. It focused on developing key talent with environmental, social, and governance awareness to build a pipeline of individuals with expertise in green manufacturing. It also delivered actionable solutions to core business issues.

Emerging Leaders Program

Cognizant

The in-role development program meets managers' unique challenges, providing them with critical leadership tools to thrive in a hybrid workplace. The initiative aims to create an environment where everyone feels valued, empowered, and motivated as well as elevates business by cultivating a growth mindset and collaborative relationships.

Emerging Leader Summit

Caesars Entertainment

The yearlong leadership development experience identifies and develops high-potential manager- and director-level talent. With its combination of executive exposure, cross-functional collaboration, and applied learning through a project that tackles real business challenges, the program has become a cornerstone of the organization's leadership pipeline and succession strategy.

Fast-Track Leadership Development Initiative

Panda Restaurant Group

The reimagined and accelerated leadership development program reduces time to promotion readiness by identifying high-potential candidates and offering them personalized development experiences. The initiative advances learning experiences that the company has optimized around priority competencies and accelerated to reduce overall course length and time away from the restaurant.

Fly-Up Program

Huizhou Desay SV Automotive Company Limited

The leadership development program is a response to business expansion, combining 70-20-10 training, applied coaching, and ongoing evaluation to prepare a cohort of midlevel managers within 24 months. The program's purpose is to address emerging capability gaps, build a sustainable talent pool, and enhance organizational effectiveness.

Frontline Leaders Program

Cognizant

To improve leadership transitions within the company, the initiative focuses on building a high-performance culture, cultivating growth mindsets, and fostering collaborative stakeholder relationships. The company identifies current gaps in leadership capabilities, role demands, and learning preferences to design effective solutions.

Leadership Excellence

Bell Partners

The scalable, end-to-end development journey equips leaders, from first-time managers to executives, with core leadership skills. It guides leaders through an e-learning series followed by an advanced virtual instructor-led cohort. The program has resulted in increased tenure, higher promotion rates, and reductions in turnover.

Lead From Any Seat Leadership Development Program

American Bankers Association

The program's rigorous, yearlong, cohort-based design blends custom 360-degree assessments, individualized coaching, facilitated learning, and applied development activities to build essential leadership behaviors across the organization. Culminating in a team-based capstone presented to executive leadership, the program strengthens the culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability.

Organizational Capability Development Program

Mars China

The enterprise initiative strengthens decision-making excellence across all business units through a rigorous 6D partnership model and a focused, application-driven, four-week learning journey. With a robust 70-20-10 design, the program has produced measurable improvements in decision speed, strategic agility, and business outcomes.

The Future Leaders Program

Hon Hai Precision Industry Company Limited

Partner: DDI

The comprehensive development practice is based in an aim-accelerate-achieve framework, beginning with alignment on leadership vision and values. It hones analytical insight and performance through rigorous assessments, targeted capability building, and supported on-the-job application. The initiative cultivates leaders who can advance organizational growth and long-term success.

Choice Map

Community Choice Credit Union

The financial wellness program prepares team members to confidently deliver personalized financial guidance to stakeholders through a 14-week certification program and a two-day interactive workshop. Team members learn to identify financial challenges, set goals, and guide members with empathy and accuracy.

GREAT Customer Service and Coaching Program

HD Supply

The behavior-based onboarding and training initiative targets new-hire associates across eight customer-facing business units. Through six structured modules, new hires receive instructor-led training, virtual learning, and ongoing coaching to develop consistent customer service skills. The company reinforces training through monthly evaluations, recognition, and performance incentives.

Pro Enablement

Resideo

During a 12-month initial transformation, the company re-established a global training service that equips professional installers, distributors, and end users with skills to effectively use its products. L&D integrated knowledge assets such as context-specific help, tutorials, and technical literature, which guide users toward more formal learning opportunities.

The Company Service Excellence Program

MGM China

Partner: Macao Tourism Office

This ongoing, organization-wide customer service initiative combines comprehensive training with cultural competency initiatives to ensure staff meet all customers' needs. The company identified new service competencies and strategies to win over customers, including cultural sensitivity training. The results have been tangible, including a significant percentage increase in market share.

Wave

Worten

Partner: Abylos Trends & Consulting

The company created the program to reinvent customer experience across all channels. It trains advisors and leaders in a modular behavior model built around key service moments and backed by digital tools, coaching, and customer feedback. Over three years, the initiative became a cultural movement, delivering strong gains in satisfaction, sales, and pride.

Agile Transformation

Setur

The organization-wide change initiative established Agile as foundational for how the company operates. Through cross-functional Agile squads, executive role modeling, and redesigned processes, the company shifted from hierarchical, siloed practices to an adaptable, feedback-driven culture, which has accelerated digital growth and made the organization more adaptable to future change.

Change enABLEment

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Partners: Accenture and Ernst & Young

The ABLE model is an evidence-based, enterprise-wide framework that enables the organization to proactively navigate and sustain change through four scalable phases: align, build, lead, and embrace. Coaching, curriculum, and project management tools support the initiative. The results include measurable improvements in patient care and strengthened employee confidence in change.

iEvolve 2.0: Leaders As Levers

ITC Limited - Food Business Division

Partner: Flyntrok Consulting Private Limited

The large-scale change management initiative supports a rapid expansion of the manufacturing function, engaging more than 1,300 employees to address challenges in collaboration, supply chain planning, safety, and well-being. The program delivers a unified, future-ready manufacturing vision that strengthens operational alignment and organizational readiness.

SprintRay's People Strategy

SprintRay

Amid rapid global expansion, the company implemented a six-phase, enterprise-wide transformation to define and embed a high-performance, relationship-centric culture. Employees co-created the program, which the company integrated across the employee life cycle and reinforced through real-time data and leadership accountability. The results: accelerated onboarding productivity, decreased turnover rates, and improved employee satisfaction.

Diversity and Inclusion Plan

Worten

The program is based on employee input in four key areas: gender equality, inclusion of people with disabilities, parental protection, and work-life balance. The robust plan, supported through training, engagement, monitoring, and executive buy-in, has contributed to a more diverse talent pipeline and improved employee engagement.

Harmony Initiative

Pegasus Airlines

The organization-wide initiative aims to promote inclusion in culture, systems, and daily behavior. Starting as an employee-led effort to unify existing practices around gender equity, it has evolved into a strategic framework addressing multiple dimensions of diversity delivered through working groups, inclusive communication, leadership key performance indicators, policy revisits, and continuous data tracking.

Manager for International Teams Program

Sungrow Business Institute

Partners: DDI and Beijing Quanlei Sports Culture Development

The 24-month, bilingual (English/Chinese) cross-cultural leadership program advances leaders through a three-phase journey—from individual cultural competence to high-performing global team collaboration and strategic execution. Through immersive tools, executive roundtables, 360-degree feedback, and business simulations, the program converts cultural awareness into measurable business impact.

RISE Women Leadership Development Program

Cognizant

Through 2.5 months of hybrid networking and learning experiences, midmanagement participants build confidence, develop essential leadership skills, prepare for higher management positions, and share best practices. The program has contributed to a more inclusive and equitable work environment.

Integrated Talent Management Strategy

Pegasus Airlines

The company designed the initiative to strengthen succession planning, retain key talent, and enable career growth. Each segment of the workforce receives tailored development journeys, mentoring, e-learning, and performance-linked growth plans. The framework is an integrated people strategy embedded into performance management, learning systems, and leadership planning.

Leadership Star: Star Youth Development Program

Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group Company Limited

The initiative transforms young talent into high-performing, culturally grounded leaders through its STARS (set direction, take responsibility, adapt to change, result orientation, synergy enhancement) competency model, cross-team project work, and cultural creation modules. It has resulted in increased retention, strong promotion outcomes, and new business and cultural solutions.

PRUVenture Development Programme

Prudential Hong Kong Limited

Launched in 2022, the program aims to increase profit through enhanced productivity. It combines tailored recruitment, structured onboarding, and continuous learning, leading to a high retention rate among participants. The program addresses critical business challenges, engages stakeholders, and ensures sustainable outcomes.

Strategic Upgrade-Oriented Development of Interdisciplinary Talent

Bader China Limited

Distinguished by its three-dimensional competency model and rigorous capstone-style development cycle, the program cultivates multidisciplinary talent equipped for cross-domain problem solving and innovation. Its blend of on-the-job learning, cross-functional mentorship, and structured capability building has strengthened knowledge transfer, boosted engagement, and fueled the company's strategic competitiveness.

3H-5V Onboarding Training for Gen-Z University Graduates

China Baowu Steel Group

The one-year onboarding program for newly recruited university graduates uses a three-prong framework—integration, immersion, and honor—to accelerate participants' transition from students to "steel people." Blending cultural onboarding, hands-on business exposure, and structured growth pathways, the program has developed young talent across three decades.

Bell Beginnings

Bell Partners

The program distinguishes itself through its supportive, immersive onboarding experience that creates immediate clarity, connection, and confidence for new hires. The program's five-day onboarding journey pairs with a parallel manager track; the design seamlessly integrates new hires into the culture, accelerates their readiness, and boosts retention.

Executive Onboarding Program

MediaTek

Responding to global competition and accelerated growth, the company launched a one-year executive onboarding program to integrate externally recruited senior leaders into pivotal roles driving business expansion and technological advancement. The program is grounded in a 4I framework—interaction, involvement, influence, and impact—and has achieved notable gains in innovation and revenue performance.

LIFT Onboarding Programme

AIA Group

The 12-month program has four learning sprints: learn, integrate, focus, and thrive. It includes structured touchpoints, leadership engagement, buddy systems, and digital tools to support learning and integration. The initiative has resulted in lower turnover, higher employee Net Promoter Scores, accelerated time to productivity, and a deepened employee connection to company culture.

Individual Development Plans

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

The structured yet personalized approach to this program empowers associates—particularly Native American tribal members—to own their career growth, bridge skills gaps, and define clear advancement pathways. The program's AI-enhanced planning system—which streamlines development processes—reduces administrative burden and encourages sustained engagement through annual updates.

Nurturing the Leaders of Tomorrow

MGM China

The program centers on strategic career development and talent localization to rebuild and strengthen the local workforce in Macau's gaming and hospitality industries postpandemic. It integrates comprehensive training, mentorship, and partnerships with vocational institutions to nurture new talent and upskill existing staff. In addition, the program emphasizes continuous learning, leadership development, and cross-departmental collaboration.

Skill-Based Career Management Project

TSKB

The initiative transformed a title-centric advancement model into a transparent, dual-career pathway system grounded in clearly defined skills, competencies, and critical experiences. By embedding equitable, biannual promotion processes and data-driven career conversations into daily practice, the initiative increased internal mobility, reduced turnover, and aligned individual growth with evolving business priorities.

Building an Agile Learning Ecosystem to Enable Organizational Transformation

Novo Nordisk (China) Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Partner: UMU

The learning ecosystem supports frontline employees and incorporates AI, agile learning programs and platforms, and an online community of practice. By combining adaptive learning with short-cycle business optimization, it improves both workforce capabilities and business outcomes while responding quickly to complex business challenges and retaining new business knowledge assets.

Consultative Wealth Advisory Sales Transformation

Cathay United Bank

By elevating relationship managers into holistic wealth advisors through targeted knowledge, consultative selling, and cross-border capability development, this practice delivers a competitive edge in Asian wealth management. It has resulted in increased Certified Financial Planner certifications and fee income growth as well as decreased turnover, establishing sustainable advisory excellence and regional market leadership.

Sales Excellence Boarding

Mercado Libre

Partner: BTS

Launched in July 2023, the blended onboarding initiative for commercial teams across eight countries combines interactive e-learning on core commercial strategies with live sessions that build strategic advisory skills. The program rapidly develops both technical sales expertise and consultative capability, thus accelerating ramp-up time and strengthening commercial impact.

Advanced Trade Fraud Course

US Customs and Border Protection

To combat increasingly sophisticated trade fraud fueled by the surge in e-commerce, the agency implemented an upskilling program that equips trade specialists with advanced fraud investigation, analysis, and enforcement capabilities (previously requiring escalation), thereby expanding frontline law enforcement capacity and accelerating case resolution. The investment drove an increase in trade enforcement collections.

Innovators of Future Digital Intelligence

Sungrow Business Institute

Partners: Tencent, ByteDance, Alibaba, and Cheetah Mobile

Reaching employees across frontline, middle, and senior levels, this enterprise-wide initiative systematically advances digital and AI capabilities through hands-on application, incubation, intelligent agent development, expert-led learning, and benchmarking. The program strengthens organizational agility and competitive advantage via a closed loop of skill adoption, business enablement, and future-ready talent development.

Immersive Virtual Reality Crime Scene Investigation

Dubai Police

The training program addressed inconsistencies, safety concerns, and cost inefficiencies in traditional forensic training. It used realistic, scenario-based simulations, real-time performance tracking, and competency-based learning frameworks, leading to improved field performance and increased learner engagement and confidence.

Scaling AI Literacy Through AI-Powered Learning

China Telecom

Partner: DarkMatter AI Technology

The initiative deploys an AI-powered "learning-practice-simulation-certification" system enterprise-wide that has elevated the AI literacy of all staff. By boosting average literacy scores, raising certification pass rates, and reducing per-capita training costs, the program has become a cornerstone of the group's AI transformation strategy.

Academy Org Design

Ferguson Enterprises

Partner: Gartner

The organization unified its L&D function into a single enterprise academy to align talent development with business strategy. The previously fragmented learning ecosystem—comprising HR-based L&D teams and functional/district-level trainers—now delivers consistent learning, a common measurement framework, and scalable access to development for all employees.

Cement Academy

Limak Cement

The centralized corporate academy aligns learning operations with strategic transformation, delivering powerful development experiences across levels and regions. Over three years, the academy strengthened workforce capability, elevated compliance and technical training, and advanced sustainability and digitalization initiatives—positioning learning as a strategic enabler of performance and growth.

Mendix Skill Development Program

Cognizant

The program empowers Internet of Things associates with low-code skills through structured training, certifications, and hands-on learning for its learners. A live hackathon enables real-time demos and accelerates learning via subject matter expert guidance, fast query resolution, and mentoring. The collaborative ecosystem ensures learners gain certification, confidence, and practical fluency.