The class of 2026
Every year, we name the 25 most influential professionals in each of 26 industries — from AI Leadership and Executive Coaching to PropTech, Cybersecurity, and Non-Profit & Social Impact. Each list is the product of independent evaluation: professional presence, published output, community impact, and industry recognition over the past 12 months.
We Mapped Where 650 Industry Leaders Actually Live
01 New York — capital of influence · 02 San Francisco — owns the technical professions · 03 London — Europe's only serious contender · 04 Los Angeles — Real Estate and Life Coaching, almost exclusively · 05 Sales Leadership — has no global capital · 06 Australia — punches above its weight in cybersecurity · 07 United States — some industries barely exist elsewhere · 08 The World — 29 countries, one map
How recognition works
1
Anyone
can nominate
Nominations are free and open to everyone — you can nominate yourself or someone whose work deserves attention. There is no fee at any stage.
2
We evaluate independently
Our editorial team assesses every candidate on publicly verifiable activity: LinkedIn presence and engagement, published output, media visibility, community impact, and industry recognition over the preceding 12 months.
3
The lists are
announced annually
25 names per industry. Most nominees aren't selected — that's what makes selection mean something.
Selection cannot be bought, requested, or fast-tracked.
No commercial relationship with The Industry Leaders has any bearing on who makes a list.
One is earned. One is a partnership. They never mix.
Two ways to appear in The Industry Leaders
No. 1 - RECOGNITION
Be recognised
Think you — or someone you know — belongs on a Top 25 list? Nominations for the Class of 2027 are free, and every nomination is evaluated independently.
No. 2 - PARTNERSHIP
Build your visibility
Premium interviews, a Leadership Columnist profile, or a fully managed executive visibility programme — clearly disclosed paid partnerships that put your expertise in front of a professional audience. Paid content never influences our lists.
Be First to Know
New Top 25 lists as they publish.
First alert when Class of 2027 nominations open.
The occasional piece of original research worth your inbox. Nothing else.
"Getting content published with The Industry Leaders has been great for us and our clients!"
Roxanne Ducas, 5WPR New York
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