Celebrating the publishers raising the bar for workplace learning.
Celebrating the publishers raising the bar for workplace learning.
The Sesames are OpenSesame's annual Publisher Awards, recognizing the content, collaboration, and innovation that help organizations build real skills and real capability. These awards celebrate the publishers whose work makes a meaningful difference for learners, customers, and the broader learning community.
Think your organization has a story worth celebrating? Talk with your OpenSesame account manager about being considered.
Nominaitons open
Oct 1, 2026
Nominations Close
Dec 1, 2026
Review period
December 2026 to January 2027
Winners announced
January 2027
Recognition that goes beyond a trophy
The Sesames honor the work behind exceptional learning experiences and give publishers a meaningful way to celebrate it with the OpenSesame community.
Be recognized for the work that matters
Stand out as a trusted leader in workplace learning, whether your impact comes through original ideas, exceptional partnership, remarkable growth, or content learners genuinely love.
Share your story
Winning publishers receive visibility across OpenSesame channels and opportunities to share the work, ideas, and impact behind their recognition.
Join us at Catalyst Club
As part of their recognition, award winners will be invited to attend OpenSesame's Catalyst Club, our annual celebration of exceptional performance and partnership. Catalyst Club brings together OpenSesame team members, customers and publishers to celebrate successes, exchange ideas, learn from industry thought leaders, and align on strategies for achieving even greater impact in the year ahead.
2027 Award Categories
Innovator of the Year
For the publisher bringing a genuinely fresh idea to workplace learning.
This award recognizes publishers who have introduced distinctive content, technology, or learning approaches that advance the eLearning landscape. We look for originality, meaningful business and learner impact, and ideas with the potential to reach diverse audiences at scale.
Collaborative Impact
For the publisher who makes partnership feel like a true team effort.
This award honors publishers who consistently show up as responsive, collaborative partners. They help address content gaps, contribute to timely and in-demand topics, support customers and internal teams, and make it easier for OpenSesame to deliver exceptional learning experiences.
Rising Star
For an emerging publisher, or one whose momentum is impossible to ignore.
This award recognizes publishers demonstrating notable growth in launches, learner engagement, completions, ratings, or other meaningful performance measures. It celebrates the publishers showing remarkable potential and making a growing impact in the eLearning market.
Learner's Choice
For the publisher learners would choose again.
This award celebrates the publisher earning exceptional learner satisfaction. It is informed by learner feedback, course ratings, and the value learners find in the content they engage with most.
How winners are selected
Every award is evaluated through a thoughtful, multidimensional review process. Depending on the category, OpenSesame considers a combination of performance data, learner and customer feedback, evidence of innovation and impact, and feedback from the teams who work most closely with publishers.
For example, the selection process may consider:
Interested in Catalyst Club sponsorship?
Catalyst Club also offers a limited number of sponsorship opportunities for publishers who want to connect with learning leaders, share their perspective, and support the experiences that bring the community together. Contact your OpenSesame account manager to learn more.
Frequently asked questions
Have questions about The Sesames or the application process? Start here.
Who can be considered for a Publisher Award?
The Sesames celebrate publishers who are currently in the OpenSesame community. If you are interested in being considered, contact your OpenSesame account manager to learn more.
Can publishers apply directly?
The selection process is based on a comprehensive review of publisher performance, partnership, learner feedback, and other category-specific criteria. You should collaborate with your OpenSesame Account Manager to submit your nomination.
When is the deadline to be considered?
Nominations close December 1, 2026.
When will winners be announced?
Winners will be notified and announced in January 2027.
What do winners receive?
Winners receive OpenSesame recognition and an invitation to Catalyst Club, our annual celebration of exceptional performance and partnership.
How can I learn about Catalyst Club sponsorship?
Contact your OpenSesame account manager for sponsorship details and availability.
2026 Winners
Innovator of the Year Award
The Innovator of the Year award recognizes a publisher who pioneers groundbreaking content, learning methodologies, or technology. By simplifying the traditionally complex Six Sigma Belt process into a seamless experience (complete the prep course, take the exam, and download the certificate), Process Management International (PMI) removed friction for learners worldwide. Their innovation goes even further with content available in multiple languages, featuring instant on-screen text, subtitles, and full audio translations at the click of a button, making process improvement education truly global and accessible. The finalists for Innovator of the Year are Video Arts and Traliant.
Rising Star Award
The Rising Star Award honors an emerging or flourishing publisher who demonstrates significant impact and potential in the learning industry. Madecraft earned this recognition through early adoption of Simon and a commitment to translating its entire catalog into all ten Simon languages, reinforcing quality and accessibility at scale. While often positioned as a tech publisher, Madecraft has achieved rapid adoption of its soft skills courses in one of the most crowded content categories — an achievement that speaks volumes about the relevance and effectiveness of its content. The finalists for the Rising Star Award are Clip Training and Always Food Safe.
Collaborative Impact Award
The Collaborative Impact Award recognizes a publisher who excels in partnership, responsiveness to changing training needs, and prioritization of learners. For nearly a decade, Mindscaling has gone far beyond a traditional content relationship with OpenSesame. By actively engaging in initiatives, responding quickly to customer needs, expanding multilingual accessibility, and partnering closely on innovations like converting their content into Simon-based courses, Mindscaling consistently demonstrates trust, follow-through, and a commitment to building together. The finalist for the Collaborative Impact Award is Intellezy.
Learner’s Choice Award
The Learner’s Choice Award celebrates a publisher with the highest learner satisfaction, as voted directly by the OpenSesame community. The winner of this award, Mind Channel, continues to prove that compliance and safety training can be both engaging and valuable. Learners consistently rate Mind Channel’s courses highly for their practicality and enjoyment, showing that mandatory training doesn’t have to feel like a checkbox. The finalist for the Learner's Choice Award is HSI - ej4.