Global leadership development firm DDI is racking up recognition alongside its clients. The company, working with GE HealthCare and AtkinsRéalis, took home three Brandon Hall Group™ HCM Excellence Awards this month, one of the industry’s top honors for HR and leadership programs.
The wins include:
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Gold – Best Leadership Development Program: Aspire Leadership Academy (GE HealthCare + DDI)
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Gold – Best Development Program for Frontline Leaders: Empower Leadership Academy (GE HealthCare + DDI)
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Silver – Best Senior Manager Development Program: Senior Leadership Development Program (AtkinsRéalis + DDI)
The Brandon Hall Group awards, often called the “Oscars of Learning and Development,” recognize standout programs that drive measurable business and leadership impact. A full list of winners is available here.
Building Leaders From the Ground Up
For GE HealthCare, the awards capped off a pivotal moment. After spinning off as an independent company, it had to build a leadership development function essentially from scratch—all while defining a new culture. Partnering with DDI, it launched competency-based programs aligned to business drivers. The result: 100% of participants gained new knowledge and skills, and 98% reported they’ll apply what they learned on the job.
AtkinsRéalis, meanwhile, was digesting a string of acquisitions that reshaped its business. Its global Senior Leadership Development Program—built with DDI—focused on immersive simulations, executive coaching, and high-touch engagement. Outcomes were tangible: 49% of participants have already been promoted, and lateral moves jumped 30%.
Why It Matters
Leadership development is a notoriously tricky investment to measure, but these results stand out. “What’s impressive about GE HealthCare’s and AtkinsRéalis’ leadership development initiatives is that they were able to achieve measurable behavior change—strengthening their organizational leadership culture and improving business outcomes,” said Kevin Tamanini, VP Professional Services & Customer Success at DDI.
Brandon Hall Group’s evaluation process is rigorous, weighing alignment to business needs, program design, user experience, innovation, and measurable impact. “This year’s Excellence Award winners exemplify the transformative power of strategic human capital management,” said Rachel Cooke, COO of Brandon Hall Group. “These programs have redefined what it means to create truly people-centric workplaces.”
Looking Ahead
Excellence Award winners will be celebrated at the Brandon Hall Group HCM Excellence Conference, February 9–12, 2026, at the Hilton West Palm Beach, Florida. Select winners, including DDI’s clients, will present case studies in breakout sessions, offering peers a closer look at their leadership development playbooks.
For DDI, the recognition reinforces its positioning as one of the global leaders in leadership training and assessment—a sector that continues to grow as organizations grapple with leadership pipeline shortages, hybrid work challenges, and the increasing demand for future-ready skills.
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