The Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Award
Established in 2019, The Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Award is an award presented annually to an individual that exemplifies principle-centered leadership.
Recipients
2026 - Helen Lieberman, South African humanitarian, community leader, and founder of Ikamva Labantu
Helen Lieberman is a South African humanitarian, community leader, and founder of Ikamva Labantu, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities throughout South Africa. In 1963, while apartheid deeply divided the country, Helen began working alongside women in Langa Township, recognizing the need for greater access to education, healthcare, and community support. What began as a personal commitment to helping vulnerable families grew into a network of community-based programs supporting children, older adults, and families. Founded in 1992, Ikamva Labantu, meaning “the future of our people,” continues to empower individuals and communities to build stronger, more sustainable futures.
For more than six decades, Helen has exemplified principle-centered leadership through her commitment to service, human dignity, empowerment, and the belief that lasting change begins within communities themselves. On September 23, 2026, the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center honored her with the Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Award. Reflecting on the recognition, Helen shared, “This award may carry my name, but the story has never been about one person,” recognizing the countless individuals and community leaders who have shaped her life's work. Her leadership reminds us that the greatest impact often comes not from leading others, but from empowering them to recognize their own ability to create meaningful change.
2025 - Angela Williams, distinguished attorney, ordained minister, and nonprofit leader
Angela F. Williams, JD, M.Div., is a distinguished attorney, ordained minister, and nonprofit leader with more than 30 years of experience across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors. She serves as President and CEO of United Way Worldwide, becoming the first woman and first African American to lead the global organization. Prior to joining United Way, she served as President and CEO of Easterseals, advocating for individuals with disabilities and expanding access to essential services. Her career also includes service in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Senate, reflecting a lifelong commitment to justice, service, and strengthening communities.
Throughout her career, Angela has exemplified principle-centered leadership through her commitment to faith, integrity, servant leadership, and the power of community. On October 16, 2025, the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center honored her with the Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Award. In reflecting on the recognition, Angela emphasized that leadership is never a solo journey, but rather a shared responsibility to the people we work alongside and the communities we serve. Her words offer a powerful reminder that meaningful leadership is rooted in humility, collaboration, and a commitment to helping others reach their full potential.
2025 - Barry Black, 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate
Chaplain Barry C. Black is the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate, elected to the position in 2003. Before coming to Capitol Hill, he served more than 27 years in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and concluding his distinguished military career as Chief of Navy Chaplains. Throughout his career, Chaplain Black has dedicated himself to spiritual guidance, service, and leadership, becoming the first African American to serve as Chief of Navy Chaplains and the first African American to hold the position of Senate Chaplain.
Throughout his distinguished career, Chaplain Black has exemplified principle-centered leadership through his commitment to faith, integrity, service, and bringing people together across differences. On October 25, 2025, the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center honored him with the Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leader Award. Through his work in the Senate, he has demonstrated the importance of thoughtful dialogue, mutual respect, and the ability to disagree with civility. His leadership reminds us that strong communities are built not by avoiding differences, but by approaching one another with understanding, respect, and a commitment to shared principles.
2024 - Jackie Pullinger, British missionary, humanitarian, and founder of St. Stephen’s Society in Hong Kong
Dr. Jacqueline “Jackie” Pullinger is a British missionary, humanitarian, and founder of St. Stephen’s Society in Hong Kong. After graduating from the Royal College of Music in London, she moved to Hong Kong in 1966 at the age of 22, following a calling to serve others. She began her work in the Kowloon Walled City, an area marked by poverty, drug addiction, and gang activity. What began as a commitment to serving those most often overlooked by society grew into a network of rehabilitation homes and community services that has helped thousands overcome addiction, rebuild their lives, and find hope.
For more than five decades, Jackie has exemplified principle-centered leadership through her unwavering commitment to compassion, faith, courage, and the inherent worth of every individual. On October 4, 2024, the Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center honored her as the fifth recipient of the Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Award. Reflecting on her life's work, Jackie emphasized the importance of helping “just one person at a time,” reminding us that lasting change begins with a willingness to see, love, and serve others. Her life stands as a testament to how a commitment to timeless principles can transform individuals, communities, and generations.
2023 - David Beasley, Former Governor of South Carolina, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and Former Executive Director of the World Food Programme
David Beasley is an American politician and the former Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme. He served one term as the 113th Governor of South Carolina from 1995-1999. Governor Beasley’s distinguished career spans over four decades as a principled business leader, public servant, peacemaker, and humanitarian devoted to bringing relief and empowerment to the world’s most vulnerable. In December 2020, he received the Nobel Peace Prize in behalf of the United Nations World Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, which he led for over 6 years. Governor Beasley’s conviction for life, his faith, and for loving one's neighbor in all corners of the world is inspiring.
On November 3, 2023 The Stephen R. Covey Leadership Center honored David Beasley as the fourth recipient of The Stephen R. Covey Principle-Centered Leadership Award. As he addressed those in attendance, his emphasis on the importance of loving our neighbors stood out as a beacon of wisdom in a world often marred by division. His words served as a poignant reminder that, in fostering connections and understanding, we not only build stronger communities but also pave the way for a more compassionate and harmonious society.
2022 - Doug Conant, Former CEO of Campbell Soup Company and Best-selling Author
Douglas R. Conant is a New York Times bestselling author and keynote speaker with over 25 years of leadership experience in world-class global companies. In 2011, he founded ConantLeadership, a growing community of people dedicated to improving the quality of leadership in the 21st century. Deeply committed to leadership, he also serves as Chairman of the Kellogg Executive Leadership Institute (KELI) at Northwestern University as well as Chairman of Avon Products.
From 2001 to 2011, Conant served as CEO and President of the Campbell Soup Company. He was the 11th leader of this iconic company's 141-year history - faced with reversing a precipitous decline in market value. Conant dramatically transformed the global leadership team, reconfigured the portfolio, cut costs, and made integral strategic investments. These visionary changes resulted in cumulative shareholder returns in the top tier of the global food industry. Conant's mission to achieve superior employee engagement levels was a crucial contributor to the company's exemplary performance. Under his leadership, employee engagement at Campbell Soup went from being among the worst in the Fortune 500 to being consistently among the best. The company was also celebrated as a leader in social responsibility and ethical leadership during his tenure. A lifelong advocate for ethical practices and corporate responsibility, Conant remains actively involved with many non-profits and advocacy programs.
Conant earned his BA degree from Northwestern University and his MBA from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. Before serving as CEO of Campbell Soup, Conant worked for three of the world's best food companies. He began in marketing at General Mills, held leadership positions in marketing and strategy at Kraft, and served as President of the Nabisco Foods Company where he led his team to five consecutive years of double-digit earnings growth.
Conant speaks widely to people and organizations on effective and enduring leadership practices for the modern age. He is the co-author with Mette Norgaard of the New York Times bestseller "Touchpoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments." He is a featured blogger on leadership issues at Harvard Business Review online and also writes extensively about leadership on the ConantLeadership Slog and Linkedln.
2021 - Indra Nooyi, Former Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo
Indra Nooyi, an Indian-born American businesswoman, was instrumental in the lucrative restructuring and diversification of soft-drink manufacturer PepsiCo, Inc.’s brands. Nooyi served as the company’s CEO (2006–18) and chairman of the board (2007–2019).
Nooyi earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Madras Christian College in 1976 and a master’s degree in business administration from the Indian Institute of Management in Calcutta two years later. After moving to the United States, she received an additional master’s degree in public and private management from the Yale School of Management in 1980. For the next six years, Nooyi worked as a consultant for the Boston Consulting Group. She later held executive positions at Motorola, Inc., and the engineering firm Asea Brown Boveri (now ABB).
In 1994 Nooyi joined PepsiCo as senior vice president of corporate strategy and development. In 2001 she was named president and chief financial officer of the company. Nooyi was responsible for guiding a major restructuring, which included the company’s spin-off of its restaurants—which included KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell—into TRICON Global Restaurants (which later became YUM! Brands, Inc.), as well as the spin-off of PepsiCo’s bottling operations. In addition, she oversaw the acquisition (1998) of Tropicana Products and a merger in 2001 with the Quaker Oats Co. as part of the company’s strategy of diversifying into more healthful drinks and foods.
Nooyi assumed the title of CEO in October 2006 and the next year became chairman of the board as well. The fifth chairman and CEO in PepsiCo’s 42-year history, Nooyi was the first woman to lead the soft-drink and snack-food giant and one of only 11 female chief executives of Fortune 500 companies. Although analysts expressed surprise at the timing of Nooyi’s appointment as chairman (her predecessor, Steven Reinemund, had served just five years before abruptly deciding to retire), many praised the skills that she would bring to the job. Nooyi continued the strategy of making PepsiCo a well-balanced consumer-products company that was less reliant on sales of its flagship soft drinks. She also aggressively pursued international expansion. Under her leadership, PepsiCo’s revenues increased from $35 billion in 2006 to $63.5 billion in 2017. The following year it was announced that Nooyi would be stepping down as CEO in October and as chairman of the board in early 2019.
Biography sourced from britannica.com
2019 - Lord Dr. Michael Hastings, Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE
Lord Dr (Michael) Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE is a member of the House of Lords and the former Global Head of Citizenship for KPMG International.
Michael began his career as a teacher moving into government service in 1986 supporting policy initiatives to bring employment and development to Britain’s inner cities. In 1990 he started working for TVAM on education programming and then GMTV as its Chief Political Correspondent. In 1994 Michael moved to the BBC as a presenter on the weekly Around Westminster programme before joining its Corporate Affairs division. In 1996 he became the BBC’s head of Public Affairs and then its first head of Corporate Social Responsibility in 2003 before becoming KPMG International's Global Head of Citizenship in 2006. Michael is also a Trustee of the Vodafone Group Foundation and a Vice President of UNICEF and Tearfund. He is also a Patron of Free the Children and a Director of Junior Achievement Worldwide.
In 2003, Michael was awarded a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) for services to crime reduction which includes 15 years as Chair of Crime Concern and nine years serving on the Commission for Racial Equality (1993-2001). In 2005, Michael was awarded an independent peerage to the House of Lords. In the same year, he received the UNICEF Award from the then UK Chancellor for his outstanding contribution to understanding and effecting solutions for Africa’s children.
In 2014, Michael was conferred with a Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent, Canterbury in recognition for his leadership at KPMG, the BBC and for his work in international development and corporate responsibility. In 2017 Michael was installed as the second Chancellor of Regent's University London.
Watch Lord Dr. Michael Hastings presentation on YouTube.