Royal Academy of Management, Oman, and Thinkers50 announce winner of inaugural Future Readiness Award  

The Royal Academy of Management (RAM), Oman, and Thinkers50, the premier global ranking of management thinkers, last night announced the winner of a new Future Readiness Award at the biennial Thinkers50 Awards Gala, held at London’s historic Guildhall.

In a world defined by disruption and rapid change, the Future Readiness Award honors the leaders and thinkers shaping how organizations globally can adapt and thrive amid technological advances, evolving governance, and shifting social expectations. Developed in partnership between RAM and Thinkers50, the award celebrates leaders and thinkers from around the world who are redefining leadership in times of change - and underscores Oman’s growing contribution to the global leadership conversation.

Founded in 2022 under the honorary patronage of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman, the Royal Academy of Management is dedicated to developing and empowering leaders who will shape Oman’s next chapter in line with Oman Vision 2040.

As a catalyst for leadership excellence and national transformation, RAM brings together local insight and global expertise through collaborations with world-class institutions and accomplished fellows.

More than 300 entries were received from across the globe, from books and research studies to leadership tools, simulations, and frameworks reflecting the incredible diversity of perspectives on what it means to be future-ready the globe. Eight finalists were announced in August. Last night, Amy Webb was announced as the winner of this new accolade.

Amy Webb, Founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute, is a globally recognized futurist whose data-driven foresight work informs strategy for Fortune 100 companies, governments, and international organizations. Through pioneering frameworks, influential publications, and accessible methodologies, she has helped establish future thinking as an essential leadership capability. Her impact - spanning AI policy to emerging technology - earned her the Future Readiness Award for advancing data-driven, ethical, and inclusive approaches to navigating change.
 
H.E. Dr Ali Q. Jawad Al Lawati, President of the Royal Academy of Management (`sultanate of Oman), said: “Across the world, the very notion of ‘readiness’ is being redefined. Technology, values, and expectations are shifting faster than ever, and what once defined success no longer guarantees relevance. At the Royal Academy of Management, we see future readiness not as a skill to be taught but as a mindset to be cultivated - the discipline to stay curious when others rush to conclude, and the courage to act with principle when the path ahead is uncertain.

“With this award, and through our partnership with Thinkers50, we honor those who lead with imagination and resolve - those who remind us that the future is not a distant horizon, but something we design every day through our decisions, our leadership, and our shared humanity.

“For this reason, Amy Webb is a thoroughly deserving winner - her work has made strategic foresight an essential part of leadership and decision-making worldwide.”
Des Dearlove, Co-founder of Thinkers50, added: “The Future Readiness Award reflects a shared belief between Thinkers50 and the Royal Academy of Management that leadership today must transcend boundaries. Together, we’re recognizing and amplifying ideas that help leaders everywhere adapt, anticipate, and act with purpose in a world of accelerating change.”

Professor Noboru Konno, President of the Japan Innovation Network and one of this year’s judges, commented: “The diversity and calibre of entries was truly impressive. The submissions came from across continents and disciplines, showing that the challenge of future readiness is universal - and that innovation in leadership thinking can emerge from anywhere.”

The collaboration between the Royal Academy of Management and Thinkers50 reflects a shared commitment to advancing leadership thinking and preparing organizations for the challenges of tomorrow. Together, they aim to continue inspiring and equipping leaders to build more resilient, future-ready organizations around the world.