Our editorial team reviews every nomination and evaluates candidates against six criteria. Understanding these will help you make the strongest possible case for your nominee.

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Online Presence & Engagement — We look at the size and quality of their professional audience, how consistently they show up, and whether their content generates genuine conversation rather than passive consumption.

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Thought Leadership Output — Books, articles, podcasts, courses, keynotes, and new frameworks released in the past 12 months. We weight recent output heavily. A decade-old bestseller counts for credibility, not for this criterion.

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Professional Reputation & Track Record — The calibre of organisations and individuals they work with, their credentials and institutional affiliations, and measurable outcomes where publicly verifiable.

Media & Online Visibility — Press features, major podcast appearances, and how easily discoverable they are for their area of expertise. We look for visibility earned, not purchased.

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Community Impact & Philanthropy — Charitable work, pro bono contributions, mentorship programmes, and community initiatives they have been actively involved in during the past 12 months.

Industry Recognition — Awards, honours, and peer recognition received in the past 12 months from credible professional bodies, publications, or institutions.

 

Nominations are free. Submitting a nomination does not guarantee inclusion. All selections are made at the sole editorial discretion of The Industry Leaders based on publicly available information.

Nominations for our 2027 lists close 31 January 2027.