PRESS RELEASE
09 December 2024
Thinkers50 announces new Coaching Legends
LONDON – Thinkers50, the global ranking of management thinkers, has announced its 2024 Coaching Legends, honouring executive coaches who have made significant and lasting contributions to the field of coaching and management, in partnership with 100 Coaches and BetterUp.
The 2024 Coaching Legends inductees are six exceptional thought leaders who have transformed the coaching landscape:
Anthony Grant (1954 – 2020)
Renowned as the “father of evidence-based coaching,” Anthony Grant was the first to conduct a randomised control trial on executive coaching. As director of the Coaching Psychology Unit at the University of Sydney, he pioneered solution-focused coaching approaches and developed the influential Steps to Solutions framework.
Judith E. Glaser (1946 – 2018)
A groundbreaking organisational anthropologist, Judith Glaser revolutionised leadership communication through her concept of Conversational Intelligence®. She demonstrated how meaningful dialogue can create profound shifts in workplace relationships, showing leaders how to move from “I-centric” to “WE-centric” thinking.
Michael Bungay Stanier
A former Rhodes Scholar and recipient of the 2023 Thinkers50 Coaching and Mentoring Award, Michael Bungay Stanier is the author of The Coaching Habit, which has sold over a million copies and been translated into 20 languages. He is known for simplifying coaching techniques and emphasising curiosity in professional development.
David Clutterbuck
Widely recognised as the pioneer of developmental mentoring in Europe, David Clutterbuck introduced groundbreaking concepts like supported mentoring and 360-degree feedback. He has authored over 70 books and continues to drive innovation in coaching, with current projects exploring AI in coaching and developing young coaches.
Erik de Haan
Director of Hult Ashridge’s Centre for Coaching, Erik de Haan has reshaped understanding of relational dynamics between coaches and clients. His work emphasises the critical importance of human connection, emotional intelligence, and therapeutic alliance in coaching.
Dumisani Magadlela
Co-founder of the non-profit Ubuntu Coaching Foundation, Dumisani Magadlela has over 25 years’ experience in human development work, including contributions to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). His research focuses on strategies to rehumanise shared spaces through the philosophy of Ubuntu.
“This year’s Coaching Legends represent a remarkable evolution of coaching. No longer on the periphery of thought leadership, executive coaching has emerged as a sophisticated discipline grounded in research, psychology, and human potential,” says co-founder Des Dearlove.
“From the father of evidence-based coaching Tony Grant to the WE-centric Leadership and Conversational Intelligence innovations of Judith Glaser, these individuals have fundamentally redefined what it means to coach and develop human talent.”
Co-founder Stuart Crainer notes, “What makes these Coaching Legends extraordinary is their ability to see beyond traditional performance metrics. They’ve transformed coaching from a transactional interaction to a profound journey of human understanding, demonstrating that true leadership development is about connection, curiosity, and continuous learning.”
New inductees to the Coaching Legends are announced annually, celebrating those who have profoundly impacted the coaching profession and organisations worldwide.
About Thinkers50
Thinkers50 is the world’s most reliable resource for identifying, ranking, and sharing the leading management ideas of our age. The biennial Thinkers50 Awards Gala is known as “the Oscars of management thinking” (Financial Times).
About 100 Coaches
Founded by Marshall Goldsmith, 100 Coaches is a unique community comprising leading executive coaches, consultants, speakers, authors, and nonprofit leaders.
About BetterUp
BetterUp is a team of behavioural scientists and talent management experts dedicated to helping individuals and organisations achieve their full potential.
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