Official Rules

The Thinkers50 Distinguished Achievement Awards celebrate the very best in management thinking and practice worldwide. Recognised by FT as the “Oscars of Management Thinking,” the Thinkers50 Awards shine a spotlight on exceptional ideas, innovative frameworks, and influential leaders shaping the future of business and society.

These rules set out the eligibility requirements, nomination guidelines, award categories, evaluation criteria, and other essential terms governing the Distinguished Achievement Awards. They are designed to ensure a fair, transparent, and rigorous selection process that upholds Thinkers50’s mission to identify, rank, and share the world’s most impactful management and business ideas.

Adherence to these rules is essential to safeguard the credibility of the awards and the recognition of the outstanding individuals they are meant to celebrate. 

1. Eligibility

Shortlisted nominees must meet at least one of the award criteria listed on thinkers50.com to be considered.

All nominations must be submitted by the stated deadline to be eligible.

Employees of Thinkers50 (the organising committee) are not eligible to be nominated or receive awards.

Employees of a sponsoring organisation are not eligible to win the specific award their organisation sponsors. They may still be considered for other award categories, provided there is no conflict of interest.

2. Nomination & Entry Guidelines

Self-nominations are permitted.

Nominators may submit up to 50 nominations per category.

Submissions must include:

• The nominator’s name and email address
• The nominee’s name
• A brief explanation of why they are being nominated (this may reference books, articles, affiliations, or other relevant work)

Nominations can be submitted via:

• The official nomination form at thinkers50.com
• Email
• A confirmed verbal conversation with a Thinkers50 team member

Plagiarism or falsification of information will result in immediate disqualification.

3. Award Categories

Awards will be presented across the following categories: Breakthrough Idea, Coaching & Mentoring, Digital Thinking, Future Readiness, Innovation, Leadership, Radar, Regenerative Business, Strategy, Talent. 

Nominees may be nominated for multiple categories but can only be shortlisted for one award, unless specified otherwise.

4. Evaluation Criteria

Nominations will be evaluated based on the criteria published on thinkers50.com. The methodology is organised by two broad concepts: Viability – the quality and relevance of ideas; and Visibility – the influence and impact of ideas in the world. 

All nominations will be assessed by Thinkers50, which may also consult with a panel of trusted advisors.

Thinkers50 may choose to publish the names of advisors or keep them confidential at its discretion.

Thinkers50 also reserves the right to recognise individuals who have not been formally nominated if their work warrants inclusion.

5. Voting

Public voting will not be part of the selection process.

Recognition is based solely on submitted nominations and internal deliberations.

6. Announcement & Awards

Award recipients will be announced on 4 November 2025 at the Thinkers50 Awards Gala and published on thinkers50.com.

Awards are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or alternative awards.

If an award recipient cannot be reached within seven (7) days, an alternate recipient may be selected.

7. Code of Conduct

All nominees and nominators are expected to maintain a high standard of professionalism and respect.

Submissions containing offensive or inappropriate content will be disqualified.

The organisers reserve the right to revoke awards in cases of misconduct or violation of these rules.

8. Rights & Permissions

By participating, nominators and nominees grant Thinkers50 permission to use submitted content and names for promotional and award-related purposes.

All intellectual property rights remain with the original creator unless otherwise agreed in writing.

9. Disputes & Amendments

The organisers reserve the right to amend these rules or cancel the awards programme at any time if circumstances require.

Any disputes or exceptions will be resolved at the sole discretion of Thinkers50.

10. Conflicts of Interest

Thinkers50 and sponsoring organisations commit to maintaining the integrity of the awards process.

Advisors and sponsors must declare any potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from relevant decisions.

In cases where impartiality is in question, Thinkers50 reserves the right to make a final determination on eligibility or evaluation assignments.