The World 50 Group has officially announced the winners of the 2026 World 50 Impact Awards, recognising organisations and leaders who are redefining workplace culture, inclusion and business impact on a global scale.
Held in New Orleans, the awards spotlight forward-thinking companies that are embedding inclusive practices, advancing employee experience and delivering measurable progress through innovation and collaboration.
CELEBRATING WORKPLACE EXCELLENCE
The World 50 Impact Awards have quickly become a benchmark for organisations striving to transform workplace culture. This year’s winners demonstrated exceptional leadership in turning values into action – from leveraging AI to identify inclusion gaps to scaling global education initiatives and redesigning talent systems.
These awards recognise organisations and leaders who are advancing inclusion, culture and innovation to create meaningful change in the workplace and beyond. They celebrate organisations not just talking about change, but delivering it. The 2026 winners exemplify how inclusion, innovation and strategy intersect to create stronger businesses and more equitable workplaces.
2026 WORLD 50 IMPACT AWARDS WINNERS
This year’s World 50 Impact Awards winners, by category include:
Culture Shifter Award: Highspot
Highspot earned recognition for its initiative “From Unconscious Bias to Unconscious Inclusion.” By embedding inclusion into hiring, leadership behaviours and performance management, the company has leveraged AI and data to identify exclusion “hotspots.” Early results show strong inclusion scores and measurable cultural impact.
Open Doors Award: Arm
Arm’s Inclusive Pathways programme impressed judges with its global reach, connecting schools, universities, and nonprofits to expand access to STEM education. The initiative has impacted millions of learners, creating meaningful entry points into technology careers.
Designed for Opportunity Award: EY
EY was honoured for its systemic approach to neuroinclusion. By redesigning hiring processes, job roles and support systems, the firm has hired over 1,000 neurodivergent professionals and achieved a remarkable 92% retention rate – with its model now adopted worldwide.
Power in Community Award Winner: Phillips 66
Phillips 66 stood out for its Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), which play a strategic role in fostering belonging. Enhanced governance, storytelling and data-driven insights have driven increased engagement and measurable cultural impact.
Innovation in Action Award (In partnership with Medtronic): Verizon Communications
Verizon was recognised for its blockchain-based dispute resolution platform, enabling over 2,000 SME partners to access fair, transparent systems. The innovation reduced dispute resolution time from 120 days to just 7 – a major leap in efficiency and equity.
Inclusive Leadership Award (In partnership with Best Buy): Dr Sally Saba
As Global Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Medtronic, Dr Sally Saba was honoured for embedding inclusion into executive accountability. Her leadership helped achieve an industry-leading Inclusion Index of 81%, while mobilising teams globally through initiatives like Quarterly Diversity Reviews.
Culture Catalyst Team Award: Phillips 66
The Phillips 66 culture team was recognized for leading a company-wide transformation aligned with strategic goals. Their work improved employee engagement, belonging and connection across all levels of the organisation.
Legacy of Impact Award: Humana’s Douglas Edwards
Douglas Edwards was celebrated for his lasting contributions to inclusion and equity at Humana. His leadership drove significant outcomes, including increased supplier diversity, workplace transformation, and improved well-being for over 60,000 employees.
DRIVING MEASURABLE PROGRESS & IMPACT
A defining theme among this year’s winners is measurable progress. From reduced operational inefficiencies to increased retention and global education outreach, each initiative demonstrated tangible results, reinforcing that inclusive practices are not just ethical, but economically powerful.
Industries represented ranged from technology and healthcare to energy and telecommunications, highlighting the universal importance of inclusive innovation in today’s business landscape.
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