Smith Publicity Partners with Thinkers50 to Celebrate Excellence in Thought Leadership

A new partnership introduces the Leaders50 Thought Leadership Award, recognizing leaders whose ideas and experiences are shaping the future of leadership.

Great ideas have the power to transform organizations, challenge conventional thinking, and inspire meaningful change. But their impact often depends on how far those ideas travel and the people they reach along the way.

At Smith Publicity, this belief has shaped our work with authors, executives, experts, and thought leaders for decades. It’s also what makes our newest partnership especially meaningful.

We are proud to announce that Smith Publicity is partnering with Thinkers50 to introduce the Leaders50 Thought Leadership Award, which will be presented at the Thinkers50 London Summit & Leaders50 Awards Gala on November 2, 2026.

The partnership brings together two organizations united by a shared commitment to elevating influential ideas and recognizing the people who turn knowledge and experience into lasting impact.

Recognizing Leaders Who Turn Experience into Impact

For 25 years, Thinkers50 has celebrated the thinkers, researchers, and experts shaping management and leadership around the world. Its rankings and awards have become internationally recognized distinctions in the field of management thinking.

In 2026, Thinkers50 is expanding that recognition with the inaugural Leaders50 Distinguished Achievement Awards, celebrating exceptional leaders who put influential ideas into practice.

As part of this new awards program, the Leaders50 Thought Leadership Award, in partnership with Smith Publicity, recognizes a practicing leader whose book, research, white paper, or other initiative has made a significant contribution to contemporary leadership thinking or practice.

The award celebrates originality, practical application, influence, and impact. It recognizes leaders who do more than achieve success within their own organizations. They share what they’ve learned in ways that expand understanding, inspire others, and advance the broader conversation about leadership.

For Smith Publicity, this recognition reflects something we’ve long believed: some of the most valuable leadership insights come from people willing to share not only their successes, but also the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shaped them.

A Partnership Three Years in the Making

In 2023, Smith Publicity CEO Sandy Poirier Smith and President Marissa Eigenbrood attended their first Thinkers50 Summit & Awards Gala in London.

Surrounded by influential thinkers, authors, executives, and industry leaders, they experienced firsthand the energy of a community dedicated to exchanging ideas and advancing leadership.

They returned with fresh perspectives, valuable relationships, and an even greater appreciation for the role that books, expertise, and meaningful connections play in bringing important ideas to new audiences.

Over the following years, those relationships continued to grow, creating opportunities for collaboration and deeper engagement with the Thinkers50 community.

Now, three years after that first visit, Smith Publicity is honored to return to London as an official award partner.

It’s a full-circle moment that reflects not only the strength of professional relationships, but also what can happen when organizations with shared values find meaningful ways to collaborate.

Why Thought Leadership Matters Beyond the Book

A book can be a powerful foundation for thought leadership. It provides a platform for sharing original ideas, establishing credibility, and introducing expertise to a wider audience.

But publishing a book is rarely the final destination.

For many authors and experts, the greater opportunity lies in what happens next: the conversations their ideas generate, the organizations they influence, the audiences they reach, and the opportunities they create to contribute to their fields.

At Smith Publicity, our work has increasingly reflected this broader view of visibility and impact. Through strategic publicity, media engagement, and thought leadership positioning, we work with authors and experts to build recognition that extends beyond a single publication or launch.

The Leaders50 Thought Leadership Award celebrates that same long-term perspective. It recognizes the individuals who take what they’ve learned through research, leadership, and lived experience and make those insights valuable to others.

Because the true measure of a powerful idea isn’t simply where it originates. It’s what becomes possible when that idea is shared.

Looking Ahead to London

The Thinkers50 London Summit & Leaders50 Awards Gala will take place on November 2, 2026, at London’s historic Guildhall.

This year’s event marks Thinkers50’s 25th anniversary and brings together leading management thinkers and practicing leaders to explore the future of leadership, with a particular focus on purpose, technology, and talent.

We’re excited to celebrate the individuals whose contributions are advancing leadership thinking and to join our Thinkers50 partners in recognizing the inaugural Thought Leadership Award recipient.

Most of all, we’re grateful for the relationships that have made this partnership possible and the opportunity to contribute to a community that shares our belief in the power of ideas.

Here’s to the thinkers, leaders, and relationships that make great ideas travel further.

Learn more about the Thinkers50 Leaders50 Distinguished Achievement Awards and the 2026 London Summit & Awards Gala.

At Smith Publicity, we help nonfiction authors, experts, thought leaders, academics, and business leaders build visibility for their books, ideas, and expertise—reaching new audiences, strengthening credibility, and opening doors to new opportunities.

Our tailored campaigns bring together book publicity, media relations, author platform strategy, and expert positioning based on each client’s goals, audience, and unique areas of expertise.

Whether you’re preparing to publish a book or ready to bring greater visibility to your ideas and expertise, we invite you to start a conversation with the Smith Publicity team.