“This recognition is very special for us because it reflects the real impact our platform is creating on the ground. Working closely with the HDFC Life team, we focused on building learning experiences for their sales teams in everyday customer conversations. Winning a Gold award reinforces our belief that meaningful learning, when backed by the right technology, can drive strong business outcomes,” said Annie Banik, Co-Founder & CEO at SmartWinnr.
The recognition reflects the growing importance of purpose-built learning technologies that are closely aligned with real business needs across large, distributed sales teams.
“The Excellence in Technology Awards celebrate the most forward-thinking innovations shaping the future of learning, talent, and human capital management. This year’s winners exemplify how technology can unlock new possibilities—improving performance, enabling smarter decision-making, and transforming how organizations support and develop their people,” said Rachel Cooke, Brandon Hall Group Chief Operating Officer and leader of the Excellence Awards program.
Entries were evaluated by a panel of veteran, independent senior industry experts, Brandon Hall Group analysts, and executives based upon these criteria: fit the need, program design, functionality, innovation, and overall measurable benefits.
“We are delighted to receive this global recognition in partnership with SmartWinnr. This award validates our continued focus on strengthening our sales teams through innovative learning technologies that directly enhance productivity and customer engagement,” said Chandrani Chatterjee, Executive Vice President and Head - Learning & Development at HDFC Life Insurance Company Ltd.
Excellence Award winners are scheduled to be honored at Brandon Hall Group's HCM Excellence Conference, February 9–12, 2026, at the Hilton West Palm Beach, Florida. Select winners will also serve as presenters in breakout sessions, sharing their leading practices during the conference.
“Our Technology Awards are built on a rigorous evaluation framework that measures true innovation, functional excellence, and quantifiable business impact. The solution providers and organizations recognized this year reflect the highest standards in the industry, demonstrating how technology can accelerate capability, efficiency, and results,” said Mike Cooke, Brandon Hall Group Chief Executive Officer.
The award further highlights how focused innovation in learning technology is helping large organizations build stronger, more agile sales teams in an evolving market environment.
About SmartWinnr
SmartWinnr provides AI-powered sales enablement solutions that help organizations drive peak performance through continuous learning reinforcement, gamification and role-play simulations. The platform ensures consistent messaging across all organizational levels while giving leadership real-time visibility into field performance.
For more information: www.smartwinnr.com.
About Brandon Hall Group™
Brandon Hall Group™ is the home of the HCM Excellence Awards® - the most prestigious and sought-after awards in Human Capital Management. For over 30 years, these awards have set the gold standard in recognizing organizations for innovative and effective HCM practices across Learning and Development, Talent Management, Leadership Development, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Human Resources, Sales Performance, and Technology.
Known as the "Academy Awards of Human Capital Management," the awards programs attract entrants from leading corporations worldwide, as well as mid-market and smaller firms. With over 150 categories, the awards shine a spotlight on the most innovative and effective organizational achievements and the solution providers who power them.
Brandon Hall Group™, don't just celebrate excellence - it provides a platform for sharing best practices that drive the industry forward. The awards program is a cornerstone of the mission to empower excellence in organizations around the world and advance the HCM profession as a whole.
Join the ranks of the most innovative and effective organizations in HCM. The Brandon Hall Group™ HCM Excellence Awards® - where excellence is recognized, celebrated, and shared.
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