Among thousands of international applicants, 4 leadership programs that the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)® developed in partnership with clients have been honored by the research and advisory firm Brandon Hall Group through its 2026 Human Capital Management (HCM) Excellence Awards.
Our recognized programs showcase our work in developing stronger leaders, equipping executives to navigate complex challenges, and advancing women’s leadership to create greater impact across organizations.
DBS and CCL were awarded the Gold award for excellence in the Best Leadership Development for Women category for their partnership in developing the Women’s Leadership Program. The program, which was designed based on DBS’ unique business needs and research into the challenges women leaders face in the Asia-Pacific region, was created to develop a pipeline of women leaders ready to take on senior leadership roles and further advance DBS’ efforts to build a strong, sustainable, and diverse workplace culture. It has graduated 4 cohorts and has had a transformative impact on individual careers and DBS senior leadership.
Our partnership First Citizens Bank was recognized with a Gold Award for excellence in the Best Executive Development Program category for our partnership in developing the Elevate program. This initiative is a multi-phase executive development journey that combines curated development experiences, real-world enterprise challenges, senior leader sponsorship, and practical application opportunities that enable participants to build and demonstrate proficiency in the leadership capabilities essential to the organization’s future. The program focused on both horizontal and vertical development, features CCL’s 70-20-10 framework, and was also recognized with a Silver award in 2025.
HDFC Bank and CCL were awarded a Gold award for excellence in the Best Leadership Development Program category for the Ignite program. Developed in partnership with CCL, the program was designed to prepare future leaders and middle managers with the leadership skills needed to advance and succeed in senior leadership roles. It was launched to meet the bank’s strategic talent priorities based on enterprise strategy and shifting market conditions and has evolved into a high-impact, in-demand program that builds leadership capability and boundary-spanning relationships across the enterprise.
Our partnership with Gresham Smith was awarded a Gold award for excellence in the Best Leadership Development Program category, recognizing the impact of the Leadership Evolution and Advancement Program (LEAP). The program brings together leaders from across the firm to build meaningful connections, expand their perspectives, and enhance their effectiveness. During the year-long program, participants engage in immersive in-person summits, collaborative small-group experiences, and targeted learning sessions focused on real-world leadership challenges.
Award entries were evaluated by a panel of independent senior industry experts, Brandon Hall analysts, and executives based on criteria including program design, functionality, innovation, alignment to organizational needs, and measurable results. The award-winning programs will be recognized at Brandon Hall Group’s HCM Excellence Conference in January.
We are proud to partner with these clients on award-winning programs that contribute to our mission of advancing leadership in workplaces around the world.
These client partnerships are among the many awards and accolades CCL has received from the Brandon Hall Group and others in recent years.
About Brandon Hall Group
Brandon Hall is a professional development company that provides data, research, insights, and certification to Learning, Talent, and HR executives and organizations. The company has been operating for 30 years and has influenced the development of over 10 million employees and executives. It’s well known for its HCM Excellence Awards®, known as the “Academy Awards of Human Capital Management.” Learn more about Brandon Hall.
At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we’ve pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.
At the Center for Creative Leadership, our drive to create a ripple effect of positive change underpins everything we do. For 50+ years, we’ve pioneered leadership development solutions for leaders at every level, from community leaders to CEOs. Consistently ranked among the top global providers of executive education, our research-based programs and solutions inspire individuals at every level in organizations across the world — including 2/3 of the Fortune 1000 — to ignite remarkable transformations.
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