The global authority on management thinking, Thinkers50, announced that Professor Danica Purg was among the distinguished individuals inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame.
The Thinkers50 Hall of Fame
Every two years, Thinkers50 salutes the leading business and management ideas of our age. While the main ranking tracks current influence, the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame serves a crucial purpose: to recognize and celebrate the lasting legacy of thinkers whose lifetime work has had a profound and enduring influence on business and management.
This honor is reserved for the “giants upon whose shoulders managers and leaders stand,” according to Thinkers50 founders Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove. Induction into the Hall of Fame is given in recognition of an exceptional contribution to management thinking over many years, ensuring that those who originated the most innovative business ideas are not forgotten.
The Enduring Impact and Innovative Legacy of Professor Danica Purg
Professor Purg earned this esteemed recognition through her pioneering work. She is the founder and dean of the IEDC-Bled School of Management in Slovenia, and the president of CEEMAN, the International Association for Management Development in Dynamic Societies.
As a professor of leadership and effective management, Professor Purg has been a tireless innovator, especially known for boldly integrating the arts and artistic processes and building a critical ethics component into management curricula. Her many national and international awards include the President of Slovenia’s Honorary Order of Freedom and the French National Order of the Legion of Honor 2018.
I am truly honored to be inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame 2025, joining a group of distinguished colleagues and pioneers whose ideas have shaped the way we understand and practice management.
This recognition is not only a personal milestone, but also a tribute to the incredible journey of IEDC – Bled School of Management and the global community of professors, leaders, and organizations who have shared and supported my vision over the last 40 years.
Purg emphasized her core philosophy: “From the very beginning, my mission has been to bring ethics, responsibility, and creativity into management education, and to build bridges between East and West, academia and practice, science and the arts.”
I believe that leaders must not only manage organizations but also inspire people and serve society at large.
Professor Purg expressed her profound thanks, extending her heartfelt gratitude to Thinkers50 for the honor. She also thanked her colleagues, professors at IEDC, visiting faculty, committed staff at IEDC – Bled School of Management and CEEMAN Network, alumni, and business partners who have made her work possible.
She then went on to conclude her statement by emphasizing the broader implications of the award. Purg stated that the recognition reinforces her deep-seated belief that management education has the power to transform individuals and societies. Consequently, she urged that “we must continue to innovate and lead with IMPACT!“
