LONDON 26 JANUARY – Thinkers50, the premier global Ranking of Management Thinkers, today announced its 10th annual Radar List, in collaboration with the London Speaker Bureau. The Thinkers50 Radar 2026 spotlights 30 up-and-coming thinkers whose ideas will shape the future of organisations and leadership.
Drawing on nominations from all corners of the world, the Radar Class of 2026 features a diversity of ideas and range of perspectives that will influence management and leadership in the coming years. Hot topics among this year’s Radar thinkers include moving beyond AI hype, navigating conflict, and leading in a fragmented and volatile world.
Among those named to the 2026 Radar are Luc Julia, author of The AI Illusion; Alice Driscoll & Louise van Haarst, authors of Smart Conflict; and Caroline Stokes, author of Aftershock to 2030. Sustainability, regeneration, and driving innovation also feature strongly in this year’s Radar, from Tom Chi’s work on Climate Capital: Investing in the Tools for a Regenerative Future to Robyn Bolton’s Unlocking Innovation and George Newman’s How Great Ideas Happen.
“With so many complex challenges facing leaders today, the need for fresh, new thinking and practical ideas has never been greater,” explains Thinkers50 CEO, Mikko Leskelä. “We are thrilled to be partnering with the London Speaker Bureau for the 10th annual Radar to highlight the important work of emerging business and management thinkers.”
Known as the ‘Oscars of management thinking’ for its Distinguished Achievement Awards, in 2026 Thinkers50 is celebrating its 25th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the 2026 Thinkers50 London Summit on 2nd November will culminate with the first ever Leaders50 Awards Gala.
“As a leading global resource for connecting organisations with influential leaders thinkers and experts, the London Speaker Bureau is proud to partner with Thinkers50 on the Radar 2026 list,” says Katie Lo, Group Managing Director, London Speaker Bureau. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to amplifying bold ideas and actionable insights that will shape the future of both business and government.”
Nominations for the Thinkers50 Radar are open between 1-31 October each year. The announcement of the new Radar Class is made each January.
The Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2026 are (in alphabetical order):
Alex Budak
Author of Becoming a Changemaker; UC Berkeley faculty, co-founder of StartSomeGood.
Alice Driscoll & Louise van Haarst
Authors of Smart Conflict; co-founders of The Power House.
Arvind Karunakaran
Management science professor, Stanford University.
Camilla Kring
Author of Chronoleadership; owner of consulting firm Super Navigators.
Carey K. Morewedge
Psychologist and professor of marketing at Boston University.
Caroline Stokes
Author of After Shock to 2030; founder of advisory firm FORWARD.
Catherine Wijnberg
Author of The Art of Acceleration; founder of Fetola.
Chiara Spina
INSEAD professor of entrepreneurship and family enterprise.
Christoph Seckler
Professor of entrepreneurship at ESCP Business School, Berlin.
Claudius Hildebrand
Author of The Life Cycle of a CEO; CEO Advisor at Spencer Stuart.
Cornelia Choe
CEO, The Leaders Alliance; author of The Panoramic Leader.
Denise Cárdenas López
VP for Strategic Capability & Integrated Delivery, Amentum.
Dimitrije Ruzic
Assistant professor of economics, INSEAD.
Dina Denham Smith
Author of Emotionally Charged; executive coach and strategic advisor.
George Newman
Author of How Great Ideas Happen; professor at Rotman School of Management.
Joanne Flinn
Author of Greensight; founder of consultancy firm, UNICORNING.
Kate Zipay & Allison Gabriel
Professors at the Mitchell E. Daniels School of Business, Purdue University.
Louisa Loran
Author of Leadership Anatomy in Motion; executive advisor and board member.
Luc Julia
Author of The AI Illusion; CSO, Renault Group.
Marleen Dieleman
Peter Lorange Chair in Family Business, IMD.
Martin Gutmann
Author of The Unseen Leader; professor of management, Lucerne School of Business.
Nidhi Tewari
LSCW, author of Working Well; licensed clinical social worker, work culture & mental health speaker.
Patrick Lynch
Author of How to Outlast AI and Thrive; professor and AI faculty lead, Hult Boston.
Robyn Bolton
Author of Unlocking Innovation; founder and chief navigator, MileZero.
Sali Li
Author of Global Strategy: A Market Creation Approach; professor at the Darla Moore School of Business, USC.
Sunita Sah
Author of Defy: The Power of No in a World That Demands Yes; professor, Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management.
Tim Bottke
Author of Digital Transformation Payday; Global TM&E sector leader, Deloitte; associate professor, SDA Bocconi, Milan.
Tojin T Eapen
Author of Bioinspired Strategic Design; founder of the Center for Creative Foresight.
Tom Chi
Author of Climate Capital: Investing in the Tools for a Regenerative Future; founding partner, At One Ventures.
Vilas Dhar
President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation – advancing AI for public purpose.
ABOUT THINKERS50
Founded in 2001 by business journalists Des Dearlove and Stuart Crainer, Thinkers50 began as the first global Ranking of Management Thinkers. Over the past quarter century, it has grown into a worldwide platform and a vibrant Community. Today, Thinkers50 encompasses the Distinguished Achievement Awards alongside the Hall of Fame, Radar, Coaching Legends, Leaders50, Coaches50, and curated Booklists. The Thinkers50 London Summit & Awards Gala has been described by the Financial Times as the “Oscars of management thinking.”
ABOUT LONDON SPEAKER BUREAU
London Speaker Bureau is a global resource for corporations and governments, providing keynote speakers for corporate and professional events.
Founded in 1994, London Speaker Bureau has since expanded into 18 countries across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and North America to become the world’s top speaker and advisory network, exclusively representing some of the most high-profile people and experts.
CONTACT
For more information on Thinkers50 please visit thinkers50.com
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Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
Thinkers50 Limited
The Studio
Highfield Lane
Wargrave RG10 8PZ
United Kingdom
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