Denise McCormick named among IAOTP’s Top 25 Global Impact Leaders

Denise McCormick has been selected by the International Association of Top Professionals for its Top 25 Global Impact Leaders recognition for 2026 and will be honored at the group’s annual gala in New York in December. The recognition spotlights her long career in education, coaching work and broader leadership roles across publishing, nonprofit service and speaking. Why it matters: - The IAOTP recognition puts Denise McCormick among 25 honorees worldwide selected for their influence through professional work and public impact. - The honor adds visibility to McCormick’s work as an educational coach, author and speaker in a field where mentorship and leadership development can shape educators’ careers. - The December gala in New York will publicly mark the award and extend her profile across IAOTP’s network. What happened: - IAOTP selected Denise McCormick as a Top 25 Global Impact Leader for 2026. - IAOTP will honor McCormick at its Annual Awards Gala in December 2026 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City. - IAOTP included McCormick in Volume 3 of its Top 25 Global Impact Leaders publication. - The organization also named McCormick for a 2026 recognition as Most Inspirational Author and Educational Coach. The details: - McCormick is described as a world-renowned educational coach and 6X international best-selling author. - Her career spans more than three decades in education, from elementary through graduate-level teaching. - McCormick is CEO of Success Mindset Mentorship LLC. - She runs the private Facebook group The Educator’s Edge. - McCormick appears on podcasts and TV shows to discuss success mindset and overcoming adversity. - She is an associate producer on Dr. Angela Sadler Williamson’s PBS documentary Authentic Conversations. - Her work centers on educator self-care, personal growth, resilience and support for people with limited access to resources and guidance. - McCormick’s writing appears in books including Ordinary Miracles, Women Who Impact, Women Who Shine, Never Mind the Monkey Mind, Polly the Talking Collie: I Am Taking 100% Responsibility, Leading With Legacy and Top Fifty Fearless Leaders. - She is working on a new book, The Power of Living in the Moment, in a mastermind led by Jack Canfield and Steve Harrison. - McCormick serves on the board of directors for Links Across Borders, a nonprofit based in Ontario, Canada, and Ghana, West Africa. - She traveled to Ghana in May 2024 to support that work. - McCormick spent five years as primary delegation leader for People to People Student Ambassadors and led 40 middle school students on educational trips across ten countries. - Her academic background includes undergraduate study at Iowa State University and Iowa Wesleyan University. - She earned an M.A.E. in Education, a K-12 Reading Specialist credential and a K-8 Reading Endorsement from Viterbo University. - Her honors include the 2000 State of Iowa Literacy Award, recognition by Marquis Who’s Who in America in 2023 and a feature on the cover of Insight Magazine. - McCormick was also selected by The Wall Street Journal as one of nine Distinguished Leaders of 2024. - Additional honors listed include Top Best-Selling Author, Educational Coach of the Year 2024, Empowered Woman of the Year and Top Best-Selling Author & Educational Coach of the Decade. - She appeared in the Winter 2025 edition of Vogue Magazine. - McCormick is a Certified Jack Canfield Trainer in The Success Principles and a member of the World Class Speaker Society. - She says perseverance, work ethic and mentors have shaped her success. - She said she hopes to inspire people entering the field in the future. - More information is available on McCormick’s website and the IAOTP gala page . - A video about McCormick is also available. Between the lines: - IAOTP’s model is built around selective recognition and networking, so the award functions as both a credential and a platform. - McCormick’s profile blends education, media, publishing and nonprofit work, which helps explain why the announcement emphasizes broad “global impact” rather than one narrow professional category. - The release leans heavily on past honors and affiliations, signaling an effort to reinforce credibility and sustained influence. What’s next: - McCormick will be recognized at IAOTP’s gala in December 2026 at the Plaza Hotel. - Her next book project is expected to continue her focus on mindset and personal development. - McCormick said she wants to keep influencing and inspiring future educators and professionals. - IAOTP is expected to continue featuring honorees in its Top 25 publication and gala programming.