Inspiring Workplaces Awards
Judges & Judging Criteria
The Inspiring Workplaces Awards are judged by an independent panel of workplace, HR and business leaders from around the world.
This page explains how entries are assessed, the criteria used across all regions and the expertise of our global judging panel.
The Inspiring Workplaces Awards recognise organisations across multiple regions and are regarded as one of the most people-focused workplace and HR awards programmes globally
Judges use a consistent and thoughtful scoring framework. Each submission is reviewed in full and scored across six key elements that we believe define an Inspiring Workplace:
- Purpose & Culture
- Leadership
- Wellbeing
- Employee Voice
- Employee Experience
- Inclusion & Belonging
These six key elements help us understand how your organisation supports, empowers and engages its people in practical and meaningful ways. Judges will look for clear evidence, real-world examples and measurable impact. Not just intentions, but outcomes.
To ensure fairness and transparency:
- We designed a single entry form that ensures all submissions are scored using the same structure.
- Judges provide constructive feedback for each entry, celebrating strengths and offering ideas for improvement.
- Glassdoor and engagement scores may be used as tie-breakers only and are reviewed separately by our team.
Full judging details, scoring breakdowns and entry tips are available in the downloadable Judge’s Guide below.
Download the Judges Guide and Entry Questions
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Why PeopleFirst Matters. Insights from our Judges
North America Judges
Our panel of judges embodies a wealth of knowledge, expertise and dedication to cultivating workplaces that inspire. Spanning different industries, locations and organizations, our judges bring a variety of experiences to the table.
At the Inspiring Workplaces Awards, our judges generously volunteer their time and expertise, serving as pillars of independence and transparency throughout the judging process.
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Angela R. HowardCEO & FounderCall for Culture -
Jason Lauritsen
Co-Founder and CEO
Check-In To Thrive -
Tracy Brower, PhD
Author, The Secrets to Happiness at Work, Bring Work to Life, and Crucial Connections + VP Workplace Insights, Steelcase. -
Russell Robinson
Associate Professor
American University -
Tara Furiani
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Tony Martignetti
Chief Illumination Officer
Inspired Purpose Partners -
Jody Ordioni
Chief Brand Officer
brandemix -
Greg Simpson
Managing Director, Employee Experience
Agent In Engagement -
Jared Taylor
Founder & Explorer,
Bolderminds -
Cerys Cook
Chief People & Transformation Officer
Swift Medical -
Misty J. Oratokhai
Chief Operating Officer
National Children’s Center -
Christopher Littlefield
Keynote Speaker & Founder
Beyond Thank You -
Zech Dahms
Community and Culture Program Director
achieve Engagement -
Alex Seiler
Founder, Chief People Officer
Alex Seiler LLC -
Kamaria Scott
Founder and CEO
Enetic -
Scarlett A Clarke
Global Strategic HR Executive | Culture Transformation Leader | Board Influencer
Workers Credit Union -
Josh Allan Dykstra
Optimistic Futurist & Keynote Speaker