In the relentless pursuit of excellence through a culture of striving, organisations can fixate on being “the best” – the top performer, the market leader, the industry benchmark.
I’ve always been more about aiming for a better version of ourselves, rather than the best compared to others. In the world as it is, I wonder if the real competitive advantage now lies not in being the best, but in being truly inspiring?
In my 25+ years of experience in the people, culture and leadership space, I’ve found the most transformative workplaces understand that when you focus on inspiring your people, excellence follows. Inspired teams reimagine what’s possible, anticipate opportunities, and show up for each other, customers, and collaborators/partners in incredible ways – especially in times of change and challenge.
This philosophy sits at the heart of the Inspiring Workplaces Awards, a global platform dedicated to recognising organisations that put people first since 2014. Rather than measuring success through traditional metrics alone, these awards celebrate workplaces that create cultures where belief, belonging, and confidence in the future empower individuals to thrive.
A New Chapter for Australasia
After quietly establishing roots during the pandemic, Inspiring Workplaces is set to make a significant impact across Australia and New Zealand in 2026. Under the leadership of multiple workplace award winner and Managing Director Ryan McGrory and fellow Director Ali Killaly, the Australasian awards are expanding their reach to shine a spotlight on the region’s most people-centric organisations.
As part of that, the katebilling.com Team are thrilled to announce our partnership with Inspiring Workplaces as the sponsor of the Leadership Special Recognition Award for the 2026 Australasian awards. This partnership reflects our deep commitment to celebrating leaders who understand that inspiring others isn’t just about vision – it’s about creating environments where every person can discover and develop their fully human potential.
