Introducing the 2026 Emerging Culture Creators

In an era of constant change, data has become the compass for the modern workplace. This category celebrates experts in the art and science of insight – visionaries who are unifying engagement and performance signals into a cohesive narrative called culture. By anchoring organizational strategy in human-centric data, they provide leaders with the clarity and confidence to act – showing us that navigating the future of work requires an understanding of the workforce that powers it.

While many see AI as a challenge to the place of humans in the future of work, these visionaries see it as a force multiplier for human meaning. By guiding their organizations through the AI frontier, this year’s recipients are ensuring that the digital revolution is, at its heart, a human evolution. With their work, they take us a large step forward towards a future where digitally-equipped, people-ready workforces amplify human impact.

In an increasingly complex global landscape, the boundary between people strategy and business strategy has vanished. This year, we are honoring the change makers who have dismantled the myth of HR as a support function. Instead, they’ve harnessed people data and deep organizational insights to transform culture into a trusted strategic partner for senior leadership.