History and Significance
Since 2005, ICF has annually honored individuals and organizations that have demonstrated a remarkable commitment to professional coaching and transforming lives around the world. The ICF Coaching Impact Awards are an expansion and evolution of ICF’s previous awards initiatives — which have included the International Prism Award, Circle of Distinction, and Young Leader Award — bringing them all into a single, cohesive awards system to celebrate excellence in professional coaching. It’s more than an awards program; it’s a testament to our collective power to spark positive change and shape a brighter future for all.
ICF Coaching Impact Awards: Categories and Subcategories
The ICF Coaching Impact Awards celebrate the many facets of coaching. Whether you’re an early-career coach, an experienced thought leader, a dedicated coach educator, or part of an organization fostering coaching excellence, there’s a category tailored to highlight your unique contributions. Explore the award categories and discover how the ICF Coaching Impact Awards celebrate the diversity, innovation, and professionalism that define our industry.
Coaches
Through the following subcategories, the Coaches category honors individual coach practitioners who have made an impact in the profession and at ICF:
- Distinguished Coach: Coach practitioners who have made their mark on ICF and the coaching profession.
- Accomplished Coach: Coach practitioners who have made notable strides in advancing ICF and the coaching profession.
- Emerging Coach: Coach practitioners who are poised to lead ICF and the coaching profession into the future.
Coaching Education
The Coaching Education category recognizes coach educators and ICF-accredited providers who are leading and innovating coach education. The subcategories include:
- Distinguished Provider: An ICF-accredited coaching education provider that has exhibited the highest standard of excellence in the profession, demonstrating outstanding leadership and strong moral character.
- Distinguished Educator: An individual coach or instructor who exhibits the highest standard of excellence in their field, demonstrating outstanding leadership and strong moral character.
Organizations
The Organizations category celebrates businesses and organizations with strong coaching cultures that demonstrate the positive effects of coaching. This category recognizes:
- Distinguished Organization: A company or organization that has built a strong coaching culture and demonstrates the positive effects of coaching.
- Emerging Organization: A company or organization based on the impact that coaching has had on their organization and the number of years the coaching program has been in place.
Social Impact
The Social Impact category goes beyond conventional recognition, diving into the heart of social impact, and celebrates those who have harnessed the coaching mindset to create lasting positive change. Within the Social Impact category, we have two subcategories:
- Distinguished Coaching Catalyst: Influential world leaders and organizations who are a catalyst for change and who exemplify a coaching mindset in their approach to leadership, decision-making, and engagement with others.
- Emerging Coaching Catalyst: Social impact leaders and organizations that have been doing outstanding work but lack widespread recognition and remain relatively unknown to the public.
Nomination and Selection Process
The ICF Coaching Impact Awards offer a unique opportunity to celebrate the transformative power of coaching while gaining global recognition for excellence. Whether you're an individual coach, an organization, or an educator, this prestigious program shines a spotlight on those who elevate the coaching profession, inspire positive change, and embody ICF’s high standards of integrity and professionalism.
With no cost to enter and a fair, rigorous evaluation process led by volunteer industry judges, this program ensures integrity and accessibility for all nominees.
By submitting a nomination, you’re not just showcasing achievements — you’re amplifying your impact and influence in the coaching community. Winners benefit from:
- Industry-Wide Recognition: Gain public acknowledgment for your outstanding contributions to coaching.
- Increased Visibility: Boost your profile and open doors to potential business and collaboration opportunities.
- Ongoing Growth Opportunities: From inclusion in a speakers’ bureau to use of a digital badge for promotion, you will enjoy increased influence as a thought leader in the industry.
- Validation of Your Work: We see you. Your dedication. Your impact. Your significance. Thank you.
- Sustainably Built Trophy: Receive a tangible symbol of excellence that represents your dedication to advancing coaching.
Are you interested in submitting a nomination? Complete our interest form, and we will notify you when the nomination period for the 2026 ICF Coaching Impact Awards season is open.
Award-Winning Stories
As you work on submitting your nomination, get inspired by the stories of the 2024 ICF Coaching Impact Award winners — trailblazers transforming lives, organizations, and communities through the power of coaching. Watch their journeys and celebrate the profound impact of their work!
Coaching As a Catalyst for Change at Intel
When you think of Intel, you picture a global tech leader and…
Coaching Across Cultures at Tata Consultancy Services
Creating a coaching culture at scale means addressing the realities of a…
Fostering a Culture of Care, Growth, and Impact at TD Bank Group
TD Bank Group has redefined leadership development through a powerful coaching initiative…