Past Awards
2014 - Gonzalo Rodriguez Villanueva
As president of Sonora Institute of Technology (ITSON), Gonzalo Rodriguez Villanueva led the transformation of a traditional university into a social and organizational performance-centered university, with a strategic vision and mission based on measurable Mega indicators. As the university president, he sponsored and led the creation of the Performance Improvement Institute (PII); the first PhD and MBA program graduating not only individuals but organizations as well; and social ecosystems using a new methodology combining Roger Kaufman’s Mega planning, Geary Rummler and Dale Brethower’s Anatomy of Performance, and Thomas Gilbert’s Behavioral Engineering Model. Directly due to this initiative, 34 companies and 14,000 new jobs were created in Sonora, Mexico, from 2005- 2012. As part of this initiative, he implemented a double-bottom-line business case and budgeting process to measure and manage the value added to organizations and society. He has presented at ISPI’s THE Performance Improvement Conference and was a founder of the ISPI Mexico Chapter.
2015 - Frances Hasselbeim
One of the most highly respected experts in the field of contemporary leadership development, Frances Hesselbein is the President and CEO of The Frances Hesselbein Leadership Institute, founded as The Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management and renamed in 2012 to honor her legacy and ongoing contributions. Frances was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States of America’s highest civilian honor, by President Clinton in 1998 for her leadership as CEO of Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. from 1976-1990, as well as her service as “a pioneer for women, volunteerism, diversity, and opportunity.” Her contributions were also recognized by the first President Bush, who appointed her to two Presidential Commissions on National and Community Service.From 2009-2011, Frances served as the Class of 1951 Chair for the Study of Leadership at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership. She is the first woman, and the first non-graduate to serve in this chair. Also in 2009, the University of Pittsburgh introduced The Hesselbein Global Academy for Student Leadership and Civic Engagement. The Academy’s aim is to produce experienced and ethical leaders who will address critical national and international issues and advance positive social and economic initiatives throughout the world.Frances serves on many nonprofit and private sector corporate boards, including Mutual of America Life Insurance Company, the Bright China Social Fund, and U.C.S.D. Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, and the Center for Creative Leadership’s Alliance Advisory Council. She served as the Chairman of the National Board of Directors for Volunteers of America from 2002-2006. In December 2013, Volunteers of America honored Frances with the Maud Ballington Booth Legacy Award for a lifetime of pioneering social change.Frances is the recipient of 21 honorary doctoral degrees. She is editor-in-chief of the award-winning quarterly journal Leader to Leader and is the co-editor of 27 books in 29 languages. Frances has traveled to 68 countries representing the U.S. She is the author of Hesselbein on Leadership, My Life in Leadershipand most recently, More Hesselbein on Leadership
2016 - USAID
This award recognizes the continuous achievement of measurable positive societal impact by an individual or organization. This year’s award goes to USAID.
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USAID’s mission statement highlights two complementary and intrinsically linked goals: ending extreme poverty and promoting the development of resilient, democratic societies that are able to realize their potential. USAID fundamentally believes that ending extreme poverty requires enabling inclusive, sustainable growth; promoting free, peaceful, and self-reliant societies with effective, legitimate governments; building human capital; and creating social safety nets that reach the poorest and most vulnerable.
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At the core of its mission is a deep commitment to work as partners in fostering sustainable development. Rather than impose, USAID seeks to empower and support through collaboration. UDAID works hand-in-hand with those it seeks to assist as well as others striving to support the most vulnerable. Nations and communities must increasingly be able to meet the needs of their citizens whether by providing health care, education, or economic opportunity.
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USAID’s innovative Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) initiative provides methodologies and tools designed to assist USAID’s partner organizations in their quests for performance excellence. Through the application of these methodologies and tools, USAID can help its partners develop clearly articulated goals and objectives, and achieve those goals and objectives through exemplary performance. HICD can be successfully applied to any type of organization including government organizations, non-profit organizations and professional associations. HICD will enable these organizations to responsibly meet the needs of their countries and their citizens.