2026 Global Gurus Leadership ~ Peter F. Gallagher Moves Up to #4
- Peter F Gallagher
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
I am very honoured and excited to announce that I have been recognised for the fourth year, ranked as #4 in Leadership (previously #7 in 2025 and #15 in 2024) by the research organisation Global Gurus.
Global Gurus has ranked Peter F. Gallagher #4 globally in the Leadership category for 2026, placing his work within the Top 30 leadership thinkers worldwide.
This recognition reflects sustained influence in the field of leadership — particularly in advancing a rigorous distinction between change leadership, change management, and employee adoption, at a time when leadership failure remains widespread across institutions, organisations, and governments.
While rankings are not the objective of leadership work, they are a signal that ideas challenging orthodoxy, superficial practice, and performative leadership are resonating with leaders who recognise that today’s complexity cannot be met with yesterday’s thinking.
Why this recognition matters
Leadership is not underperforming due to a lack of frameworks, tools, or rhetoric. It is underperforming because too many leaders confuse activity with progress, compliance with commitment, and management with leadership.
This ranking does not change that reality — but it reinforces a responsibility to continue addressing it directly.
For more than two decades, my work through Leadership of Change® has focused on confronting uncomfortable truths:
That change fails not because people resist, but because leaders avoid accountability.
That change management, when elevated above leadership, institutionalises mediocrity.
That employee adoption is not a communications problem, but a leadership obligation.
Recognition at this level strengthens the obligation to speak plainly, challenge entrenched assumptions, and resist the dilution of leadership into slogans and templates.
Continuity, not arrival
This ranking is not a departure point. It is confirmation of a trajectory already established through:
Friday’s Change Reflection Quote (FCRQ) — connecting historical leadership moments to contemporary responsibility
The ongoing Critique of Change Management volumes, including Change Management Insanity and Change Management Dilettantes
The Plato Leadership Series, revisiting foundational leadership wisdom too often ignored by modern executives
Each body of work addresses the same core issue: leadership failure is systemic, learnt, and tolerated — and therefore can be challenged, unlearnt, and replaced.
"Congratulations to these my fellow 2026 global gurus on Leadership, it is a great privilege to be mentioned on this list of talent"
Global Guru Criteria
In judging the contenders of the various Global Guru Categories, we focus on two groups, which excluded political, military and business people and focused on those practitioners, trainers, speakers and consultants who develop and instill competency in others. The Top 30 Gurus, in their respective categories are the “Cream of the Crop”, the World’s Top 30 most influential Professionals Speakers, Trainers and/or Consultants in their areas and have received more than 500 votes each. All not only apply their own principals to achieve superior results in their organisations, but develop and influence people and organisations throughout the globe.
Our research came from e-mails sent to 22,000 business people, consultants, academics and MBA’s around the world for nominations and our public opinion poll.
We shortlist 60 names then did a Google search for ranking, then requested voting.
The criteria for judging the TOP 30 focused on:
The organization which has been ranking thought leaders since 2007, shares that its primary criteria is an impactful unique perspective, system, or approach that is practically implementable within their category of expertise. The second factor is public opinion. The breakdown of total voting criteria is as follow:
Public opinion – 30% Votes on the Global Gurus website from different IP addresses are counted towards the Global Guru award. We do our best to verify that the votes come from unique individuals with different email addresses and locations.
Originality of ideas – 30% Global Gurus are thought leaders, they create, not copy. They innovate and break new ground with concepts, systems, and strategies that achieve results.
Impact of original ideas – 10% Global Guru ideas are accepted and effective. The impact of these ideas have a visible effect in efficiency, profit, personal growth, joy, or skill.
Practicality of ideas – 10% Global Guru ideas are measurably applicable. The concepts, strategies and systems can be easily learned and implemented by those who study and practice them.
Presentation style – 10% Global Gurus are engaging. Their presentation style and delivery supports the learning and practical implementation of the idea. A Global Guru’s delivery will motivate people to take action and maximize the impact and potential of the ideas.
Number of publications and writings – 5% A Global Guru is a published author. They have written and sold at least 2 different published works.
Guru factor 5% Global Gurus give freely and serve others. They are unique in a way that makes people want to learn from them. they have their own style that makes them stand out and be recognized.
Thank you to all my subscribers
"Thank you to all my subscribers"
Credit and thank you to: #GlobalGurus
#LeadershipofChange #SaeculumLeadership #Leadership #ChangeLeadership #GlobalGurus #ChangeManagement
Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change®.
He works exclusively with boards, CEOs, and senior leadership teams to prepare and align them to effectively and proactively lead their organisations through change and transformation.
For insights on navigating organisational change, feel free to reach out at Peter.gallagher@a2B.consulting or schedule a free consultation
Peter F. Gallagher is an internationally recognised authority on leadership and organisational change, an international corporate conference speaker, 15-time author, and C-suite change leadership coach.
Ranked #4 in the Global Gurus Top 30 Leadership Gurus (2026) by Global Gurus.
Ranked #1 Global Thought Leader in Change Management by Thinkers360 (2020–2025).
Ranked #1 Global Thought Leader in Business Strategy by Thinkers360 (2023–2025).
Ranked #7 Global Thought Leader in Leadership by Thinkers360 (live ranking).
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