The Association for Talent Development honored 57 organizations worldwide with its prestigious 2025 BEST Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in talent development. Panda Restaurant Group, a six-time winner, earned the coveted first-place ranking. The awards ceremony took place on May 19 at the ATD 2025 International Conference & Exposition in Washington, DC.
Best of the BEST: Celebrating Long-Term Excellence
Seven organizations received ATD’s elite Best of the BEST Award, reserved for companies winning the BEST Award 10 or more times. Leading this group is TELUS of Vancouver, Canada, ATD’s first-ever Best of the BEST winner, which has now earned the distinction for 20 consecutive years.
Other Best of the BEST recipients include:
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Wipro Limited (19 years)
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Tata Consultancy Services (16 years)
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University Health (15 years)
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ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company (13 years)
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Infosys Limited (12 years)
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Florida Blue – Guidewell (11 years)
Panda Restaurant Group Tops the 2025 BEST Awards
Panda Restaurant Group of Rosemead, California, secured the number one spot among the top 20 winners. The complete list features diverse global organizations demonstrating innovative talent development practices and enterprise-wide success.
Top 20 2025 BEST Award Winners (Highlights)
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Panda Restaurant Group, Rosemead, CA
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Apple Federal Credit Union, Fairfax, VA
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Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, Columbus, OH
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Amazon India Operations, Bengaluru, India
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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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Prometheus Real Estate Group, San Mateo, CA
What Makes ATD’s BEST Award Special?
The BEST Award is the talent development industry’s most rigorous and coveted recognition. Organizations submit detailed quantitative and qualitative information about their talent development initiatives, which are reviewed through a blind evaluation by an expert advisory committee. This ensures only the most innovative and effective programs earn recognition.
Leadership Perspective
“These BEST organizations are driving impact and solving business challenges through talent development practices, and doing so in innovative ways,” said Tony Bingham, ATD president and CEO. “Senior leaders in these organizations understand the critical strategic role learning has and are committed to investing in the growth and development of their people.”
The application window for the 2026 BEST Awards opens on August 1, 2025. Organizations aspiring to earn this top industry recognition can prepare now to showcase their talent development excellence.
The 2025 ATD BEST Awards celebrate organizations setting the gold standard for talent development worldwide. From global giants like TELUS and Tata Consultancy Services to industry leaders like Panda Restaurant Group, these companies demonstrate the power of learning and development in driving business success.
