Get ready for the ET HR Excellence Awards 2027

The ET HR Excellence Awards 2027 is introducing a new category called "People-First CEO of the Year" to recognize leaders who prioritize employees in their business strategy. This shift in leadership measurement moves beyond traditional metrics like revenue and profits to focus on how well a business supports its people to perform, grow, and succeed.

A people-first leader is someone who integrates employee experience into core business decisions, even when it conflicts with immediate business pressures or goals. This goes beyond superficial perks or employee-friendly policies. Instead, it involves strategic choices around talent investments, leadership development, employee wellbeing, inclusion, and professional growth pathways.

The category is open to CEOs, Managing Directors, Country Heads and Founders, regardless of company size, as long as they have the authority to shape organizational strategy and culture. The evaluation will focus on the scale and significance of the leader's impact, not just superficial initiatives.

Examples of strong entries for this category include leaders who make long-term talent investments during uncertain times, redesign workforce practices, create more inclusive leadership opportunities, strengthen employee experience, or prioritize people's interests even when the immediate business case is unclear.

The purpose of the People-First CEO of the Year category is to highlight leaders who understand the evolving expectations of employees and new models of work. By implementing such people-first philosophies, these leaders help build organizations where employees are not just resources, but strategic drivers of long-term business performance.