2025 Excellence in Practice Silver Award winners
We are delighted to announce the Silver winners of the 2025 edition of the EFMD Excellence in Practice Awards (EiP)!
The Excellence in Practice (EiP) Awards celebrate the transformative power of partnerships in learning and development. These awards recognise organisations and learning providers that join forces to design and implement initiatives that drive real change, elevate talent, and shape the future of professional growth.
From leadership development to organisational transformation, the EiP Awards shine a light on initiatives that create measurable impact for individuals, businesses, and society. Winning projects demonstrate how effective partnerships can foster innovation, adaptability, and sustainable growth. By acknowledging collaborative excellence, the EiP Awards encourage organisations to rethink the way they develop talent and cultivate learning ecosystems.
The 2025 Silver Award Winners in the following five categories are:
Category: Organisational Development
BrightRock Life & Abundance at Work
“How a business used storytelling to entrench its unique culture as it navigated change”
Suzanne Stevens, CEO, BrightRock, commented, ‘We are honoured and grateful to have received this accolade. As a life insurer that’s built our business around meeting the needs of the people we serve, we know this is only possible through our people – that’s why we entered the awards, as a way to benchmark our delivery to our people. It has been deeply affirming to see that while equipping our team to serve the company’s purpose, we are helping them connect with their personal purpose too.’
‘BrightRockers talk about life’s big ‘change moments. We dreamed big on this award some 3 years ago in the CEO’s office. This is our moment, and we are forever changed,’ said Gillian Cross, Co-Founder, Abundance at Work, Pty Ltd.
Category: Talent Development
Tata Group & London Business School
“Blue Mint: Equipping Tata’s early career leaders”
‘The Tata group has always been committed to nurturing talent and fostering innovation. This partnership and recognition underscore our dedication to excellence and our continuous efforts to equip early career leaders to play important roles as our companies continue to grow and scale,’ expressed Aparna Jain, Programme Director, Blue Mint, Tata Group.
Helen Kerkentzes, Associate Dean Executive Education, London Business School, said, ‘We are incredibly proud of the relationship we have developed with TATA. Being able to deliver the very best of business education to over 650 employees across multiple industries and generating personal and organisational impact in such a short period of time is testament to the strength of that relationship. It’s wonderful to receive acknowledgement for the significant impact brought about by this partnership.’
GERDAU & Fundação Dom Cabral (FDC)
“B-EPIC Brazilian enterprise productivity and inclusion club”
‘Teaching happens at school; learning happens at work. B-EPIC helps evolve youth into talent. Talent drives productivity. Productivity drives enterprise growth. Growth drives youth employment. B-EPIC helps youth deepen both cognitive and non-cognitive skills. Rather than engage in a war for talent, B-EPIC invites enterprises to engage in the production of talent’, commented Subramanian Rangan, Professor of Strategy and Management, Insead, and Board Member, Fundação Dom Cabral.
‘Gerdau is honored to have created this program in partnership with FDC, under the mentorship of Professor Subi Rangan. We believe that people are at the heart of our decisions and that contributing to their development, so they are better prepared to face future challenges, is part of our purpose. The results speak for themselves: we hired 64% of the participants from the first group. The initiative also helped us develop our leaders to engage with different generations in the workplace’, said Paulo Boneff, Head of Organizational Development and Social Responsibility, Gerdau.
‘With B-EPIC, a project developed in partnership with Gerdau, Fundação Dom Cabral proved that it is possible to combine the productive inclusion of young people with increased productivity, bringing together the energy of those just starting out with the experience of seasoned leaders. The recognition from EFMD is an incentive for us to continue our journey of building new futures,’ expressed Márcia Ricoy, Project Manager, Fundação Dom Cabral.
Category: Leadership Development
Credit Agricole Ukraine & KROK Business School, KROK University
“Managerial school for bank leaders responsible for the future”
Olena Urusova, HR Director, Credit Agricole Ukraine, commented, ‘We are truly honoured to receive this international recognition for our Managerial School programme. Leadership development has always been a strategic priority for us, and this award highlights the impact of our continued investment in growing strong, future-ready leaders. I’m incredibly proud of the teams who brought this initiative to life and grateful for the positive change it’s creating across our organisation.’
‘It is a great honor for us to receive this prestigious award. It recognizes our joint efforts with our partner, Crédit Agricole Bank, in creating an ambitious, innovative program for developing next-generation leaders—well-prepared managers capable of executing and implementing complex management tasks. Implementing the program during a full-scale war was a real challenge – and simultaneously a testament to the power of leadership, partnership, and resilience. The EFMD Award confirms that even in the difficult times, there is a capacity and possibility to create changes that have a long-lasting effect,’ added Olga Karpova, CEO, KROK Business School.
Category: Professional Development
Zain Group & IE Business School
“Driving digital transformation in Zain: The Master in Digital Transformation”
‘The IDEU educational pioneering initiative in partnership with IE University, epitomizes Zain’s unwavering commitment to purpose-driven progress and organizational impact. This prestigious recognition from EFMD serves as a testament to our dedication to Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, as we strive to cultivate a workforce that reflects what is essential for innovation and success in today’s global landscape. By enabling 2000 employees to embark on a transformative journey, we are not only investing in their individual growth but futureproofing our organization,’ stated Bader Nasser Al-Kharafi, Vice Chairman and Group CEO.
‘This award honors our commitment to lifelong learning. The MDT program is a model of what’s possible when corporate purpose and academic innovation come together—and we are grateful to Zain for their trust and partnership. To see the impact of this innovative program is incredibly rewarding,’ acknowledged Martín Rodríguez Jugo, General Manager, IE Lifelong Learning
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) & FCI & Onsi Sawiris School of Business, The American University in Cairo
“Transcending Borders: A Pan-African Partnership to Support Trade Professionals”
Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Afreximbank, stated, ‘The EFMD Excellence in Practice Silver Award granted to the Certificate of Trade Finance in Africa (COTFIA) is a powerful endorsement of Afreximbank’s commitment to advancing Global Africa’s transformation through impactful and practical learning. As a flagship initiative of Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD), COTFIA embodies our vision to equip African and diaspora finance professionals with the expertise needed to lead in international trade. This recognition reinforces Afreximbank’s dedication to investing in knowledge as a cornerstone of the continent’s structural transformation.’
Stephen Kauma, Managing Director, Human Resources at Afreximbank, said, ‘This award marks a proud milestone for AFRACAD and a clear validation of the lasting impact of the COTFIA programme. In collaboration with the American University in Cairo and FCI, we have built a learning platform that bridges global best practices with Africa’s trade realities. We remain committed to expanding this reach and preparing the next generation of trade finance leaders who will shape the future of Global African trade.’
Mohamed Abdelsalam, Executive Director for Executive Education, Onsi Sawiris School of Business, remarked, ‘Winning the EFMD Silver award for the “Certificate of Trade Finance in Africa” (COTFIA) is truly a humbling and exhilarating moment. This recognition underscores the power of synergistic partnerships, in this case, the dynamic collaboration between Afreximbank’s vision for continental trade, FCI’s global expertise in factoring, and the rigorous academic standards of the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at The American University in Cairo.’
COTFIA represents far more than just a certificate; it embodies a shared commitment to empower African trade professionals with the nuanced skills and deep knowledge necessary to unlock the immense potential of intra-African trade. We believe this initiative will serve as a catalyst, fostering a new generation of experts who will drive economic growth and integration across the continent. This award fuels our dedication to continue innovating and expanding access to high-quality professional development that truly makes a difference.’
Neal Harm, Secretary General, FCI, expressed, ‘We are honoured that the COTFIA Programme has received the EFMD Excellence in Practice Silver Award. This recognition highlights FCI’s collaborative commitment to building trade finance across Africa through high-quality, practical education—empowering professionals to drive growth and innovation across the continent.’
Category: Ecosystem Development
Education and Training Foundation (ETF) & ChangeSchool & King’s College London, King’s Business School
“TLPD: Delivering a sector-wide movement for change”
Jo Swindells, Executive Director of Development and Delivery, Education and Training Foundation, said, ‘The T Level Professional Development Leadership programme has brought together leaders across the Further Education and Skills sector, building their confidence to deliver T Levels and fostering cross-sector collaboration and resilience on a national scale. We are thrilled that EFMD has recognised the programme’s transformative impact with this award.’
‘Institutional and sector-wide transformation is never easy. We celebrate a programme that turned challenges into momentum and leadership into legacy. Through cascaded learning, it empowered lasting change and collaboration across institutions. It’s been a privilege to work with KBS on this partnership that drove impact and transformation at scale,’ remarked Viren Lall, Managing Director, ChangeSchool.
‘We are delighted to be recognised for King’s partnership with ChangeSchool and the Education and Training Foundation. The important work the TLPD programme achieved in driving a tangible movement for change in transforming the ecosystem across further education colleges has created a lasting legacy that, together with this award, all partners can be truly proud of,’ commented, Tim Sellick, Director of Custom Programmes, Executive Education, King’s Business School.
Congratulations and thank you from EFMD:
Eric Cornuel, President, EFMD, congratulated the 2025 EiP Award winners, saying, ‘Congratulations to all the winners of the 2025 edition of the Excellence in Practice Awards! The winning cases show the real impact that strong partnerships can have when organisations and learning institutions come together to build practical, lasting solutions. They demonstrate how trust, a common goal, and real dedication can lead to meaningful change for people, businesses, and society. The EiP Awards honour more than success; they highlight the transformative influence of partnerships that rethink conventions and uplift both strategy and societal impact.
‘Once again this year, a remarkably diverse set of applications was carefully reviewed by our jury of practising professionals. As in previous years, we approached each development project as an investment, examining the real impact and assessing whether the key challenges were effectively addressed. The result is an inspiring collection of experiences, thoughtfully documented and shared by colleagues. It’s worth noting how both applicants and jury members remained sharply focused and deeply engaged throughout the process. I look forward to the continued exchange of insights with this year’s winners.’ added Jan Ginneberge, Senior Advisor, EFMD Corporate Services.
EFMD is eager to provide visibility and support to all professionals in the L&D sector. The winners will be awarded during the next EFMD Executive Development Conference on 1-2 October 2025, hosted by the Stockholm School of Economics.
We would like to thank all of the applicants as well as the jury members for their successful cooperation and hope to receive further exciting cases next year. We are pleased to note the continuously growing quality of applications. Apart from the Silver Award winners, there were Gold Award winners selected from the entries.
Next submission deadline: March 2026.
Please check the executive summaries available on the EiP Winners page—full case studies will be published in June. For submission guidelines and expressions of interest, please visit our website. If you have any questions or would like further information on the EiP awards, you can find out more in the EiP Overview Brief, or please contact Florence Gregoire.
