Ralph Kellogg wins three BookFest awards for business leadership book

Ralph Kellogg’s Leading While Human: Notes I Wish Someone Had Given Me won three first-place honors at The BookFest Awards Fall 2026 in leadership, professional growth and psychology categories. The recognition spotlights a book drawn from Kellogg’s more than two decades in human resources and his focus on humane leadership under pressure.

Why it matters: - The three awards give Leading While Human broader visibility in the business leadership market. - The wins signal interest in leadership writing that blends professional advice with mental health, accountability and compassion. - The recognition can expand reach for Ralph Kellogg, who writes for managers and executives navigating high-pressure workplaces.

What happened: - Ralph Kellogg won three first-place awards at The BookFest Awards Fall 2026 for Leading While Human: Notes I Wish Someone Had Given Me. - The book placed first in Nonfiction Business Leadership categories for Leadership and Management, Professional Growth, and Psychology and Mindset. - The BookFest announced the results as part of its Fall 2026 awards program.

The details: - Leading While Human is a series of short letters drawn from more than two decades in human resources. - The book addresses leading while living with anxiety and panic, having difficult conversations, and holding people accountable with compassion. - Kellogg is chief human resources officer at Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska. - Kellogg is also a TEDx speaker, executive coach, teacher at Bellevue University and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a consultant to nonprofit organizations. - Kellogg holds the SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications. - More information about The BookFest Awards is available on The BookFest awards page and more about the author is available at Ralph Kellogg's website.

Between the lines: - The BookFest framed the recognition as part of a broader effort to elevate authors and creatives whose work shapes culture and understanding. - Desireé Duffy, founder of The BookFest, said the competition was fierce this year and called Kellogg’s accomplishment stellar. - The award categories suggest the book is being read not just as a leadership manual, but as a guide to the emotional side of management.

What's next: - The BookFest says readers can check its awards page for the full list of winners. - Kellogg’s book now has a credential that may help it reach more leaders, coaches and HR professionals looking for practical guidance. - The BookFest continues its biannual virtual programming and awards platform in the spring and fall.