Muhsin was the very first recipient of the Followership Award of Distinction, recognized in 2019 for his trail-blazing work bringing the education and practice of Courageous Followership to his home country of Indonesia.

Author of The Courageous Follower, Intelligent Disobedience, and To Stop A Tyrant

Ira was recognized in 2023 for a lifetime of pivotal contributions to the field.

Professor, Division of Leadership and Followership Studies, Devoe School of Business, Technology, and Leadership, Indiana Wesleyan University

Mike received the award in 2023 for co-authoring the first textbook on Followership, Essentials of Followership, and for establishing the Division of Leadership and Followership Studies and the Center for the Advancement of Followership at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Executive Director, Center for the Advancement of Followership and Chair, Division of Leadership and Followership Studies, Devoe School of Business, Technology, and Leadership, Indiana Wesleyan University

Mark received the award in 2023 for co-authoring the first textbook on Followership, Essentials of Followership, and for establishing the Division of Leadership and Followership Studies and the Center for the Advancement of Followership at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Lecturer, Department of Leadership and Management Studies, Faculty of Contemporary Studies, National Defence University ( NDU) Islamabad.

Wajeeha was recognized in 2023 for pioneering the education and practice of Courageous Followership in her home country of Pakistan.

Author of Lead & Follow: The Dance of Inspired Teamwork, and host of the Lead & Follow Podcast.

Sharna received her award in 2023 recognized for her contributions of community building in her many roles as conference steering committee member, chair of the ILA Followership member community, Coordinating Council member of Teaching Followers Courage, and podcast host.

Author of Natural Followership.

Chris was recognized in 2024 for his long-time and solitary research, advocacy, and education of Followership in his home country of Sweden.

Interim Chair of the Management, Marketing & Public Administration Department in the College of Business at Bowie State University and author of Intoxicating Followership in the Jonestown Massacre.

Wendy was recognized in 2024 for her ongoing research and educational work around the concept of toxic followership.

Professor, Leadership & Organizational Studies, University of Southern Maine

Dan was recognized in 2024 for outstanding research, education, and service to the field.

Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership & Organizational Psychology, Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College

Ron was recognized in 2025 for outstanding research contributions to the field.

Associate Professor of Management, Appalachian State University

Melissa was recognized in 2025 for outstanding research contributions.

Mary was recognized in 2025 for outstanding research contributions.

Author of The Power of Followership.

Robert was recognized in 2025 for a lifetime of pivotal contributions to the field.