NYC Big Book Award Names Executive Coach Miki Feldman Simon’s CORE Leadership Category Winner for 2026

Recognized in the Leadership category, the acclaimed book introduces a four-step framework for driving executive performance from the inside out.

LEXINGTON, MA, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Executive coach, speaker, and leadership advisor Miki Feldman Simon’s debut book, "CORE Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact" (Bondi Wave Press), has been named a winner in the Leadership category of the 2026 NYC Big Book Award.

The NYC Big Book Award recognizes excellence in independent and mainstream publishing, evaluating entries from authors, publishers, and journalists worldwide on narrative depth, execution, and practical market value. This win marks the second major honor for "CORE Leadership," following its Silver Nonfiction Book Award.

In "CORE Leadership," Feldman Simon challenges traditional management paradigms by focusing on a foundational premise: effective external leadership begins with self-leadership. Rather than offering high-level theories on managing teams or operational mechanics, the book delivers a practical, behavioral-science-backed framework designed to manage the driver behind every decision—the leaders themselves.

"There are countless books, theories, and frameworks about how to lead others," said Miki Feldman Simon. "I wanted to step back and start somewhere more fundamental: leading yourself. Receiving the NYC Big Book Award for Leadership celebrates the book, but for me, it also celebrates the idea at the heart of it: becoming a better leader starts with how we lead ourselves."

"CORE Leadership" features a foreword by Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach, who praises the book as "a smart, accessible roadmap for anyone ready to lead from the inside out." It has also drawn strong endorsements from industry experts including Dorie Clark, Chester Elton, and Institute of Coaching founder Dr. Carol Kauffman.

“I’ve worked closely with Miki for years, and her impact on how I show up as a leader, and as a person, has been profound.  'CORE Leadership' distills her wisdom, clarity, and emotional intelligence into a framework that’s both actionable and deeply human. This book isn’t just about leadership; it’s about learning to lead yourself with intention, and in doing so, amplifying your impact on those around you. If you’re ready to grow from the inside out, this book is the guide you’ve been looking for.”
   — Ron Zalkind, Founding General Partner, Lama Partners

"CORE Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact," ISBN: 979-8993190402 is available at major book retailers nationwide including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and local and online independent bookstores.

To learn more about the book, request media interviews, or inquire about keynote speaking and organizational workshops, visit mikifeldmansimon.com.

The NYC Big Book Award received entries this year globally, from the United States as well as countries such as Australia, Canada, China, Dubai, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Cities represented among the entries were Auckland, Baltimore, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hollywood, Johannesburg, Manhattan Beach, New Orleans, NYC, Philadelphia, Sydney, and West Palm Beach.

Publishers included Beacon Press, Berrett-Koehler, Casemate, Edinburgh University Press, Forbes Books, Kiplinger Books, NYU Press, Palgrave Macmillan, Penguin Random House, Rizzoli, Routledge, The White House Historical Association, University of California Press, University of Nebraska Press, Weaving Influence Press, and Wiley.

"We have an amazing list of authors from around the globe participating this year," said awards sponsor Gabby Olczak. "I’m so excited to share these books with a worldwide readership!"

To view the list of NYC Big Book winners and distinguished favorites, please visit: https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/
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About Miki Feldman Simon

Miki Feldman Simon is a Certified Executive Coach (PCC), speaker, facilitator, former global executive, and award-winning author of CORE Leadership: A Four-Step Framework to Lead Yourself, Grow Your Influence, and Amplify Your Impact. With more than three decades of leadership experience in the United States, Israel, and Australia, Miki brings a global perspective to leadership and growth. She spent much of her corporate career in the fast-paced environments of startups and scale-ups, holding senior leadership roles in human resources, marketing, operations, and business development. She has led organizations through growth, transformation, and successful acquisitions, giving her firsthand understanding of the challenges executives face.

Over the past decade, Miki has coached hundreds of leaders and facilitated workshops for organizations ranging from startups to multinational companies. She helps leaders strengthen self-awareness, build agency, and translate insight into intentional action. The CORE framework she developed — Clarify, Operationalize, Reflect, Evaluate — is a practical approach to helping leaders clarify what matters, identify who they want to become, put those insights into action, and evaluate their impact. Her clients describe her as a straight shooter with warmth, insight, and a talent for turning reflection into results.

Miki's work is grounded in psychology, behavioral science, and practical application. She has an M.S. in Organizational Behavior and a B.A. in Psychology and Educational Counseling. Through her coaching, facilitation, and speaking, she makes complex ideas accessible, actionable, and immediately relevant, equipping leaders with practical tools to move from autopilot to intentional leadership and create lasting change for themselves and the people they lead.

Passionate about equality in leadership, Miki has also dedicated much of her career to helping women develop and apply the leadership skills needed for sustained success. Under her HR leadership, the software company Profitect achieved gender parity across all levels, with a 50% female management team leading the company's finance, marketing, program management, human resources, and customer success functions. She also founded IamBackatWork, an initiative dedicated to helping women return to the workforce and thrive in their careers.

Miki enjoys a good challenge, whether professionally, having successfully reinvented her career multiple times, or personally, getting fit at 50 to summit Mount Kilimanjaro. She brings that same belief in growth and possibility to her clients and audiences, encouraging them to challenge perceived limits, navigate change, and act with greater intention.

Miki is a member of Forefront, powered by Marshall Goldsmith and the 100 Coaches community, where she works alongside leading coaches from around the world. She has been interviewed by the Boston Globe and quoted in HuffPost, the Society for Human Resource Management, Business News Daily, Psychology Today, Knox News, and other publications.

An avid traveler and global citizen, Miki calls Lexington, Massachusetts home, where she lives with her husband and dogs. She is also the proud mother of two adult children.

View Miki's LinkedIn profile to learn more about her professional experience, https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikifeldmansimon/.

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About the NYC Big Book Award & Independent Press Award
Announced every autumn, the NYC Big Book Award is open to all authors, publishers, and illustrators worldwide, accepting entries from independent presses as well as "Big Five" publishers (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Hachette, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster).

Its sister program, the Independent Press Award, specifically honors independent authors and publishers. View past IPA winners at https://www.independentpressaward.com/winners. With the deadline approaching, independent presses and authors can submit their title to https://www.independentpressaward.com/enter.

Recipients from both programs will be honored live on stage at the annual Awards Dinner on April 10th during the BookCAMP event (April 9–10, 2027). For dinner details and event registration, visit https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/awardsdinner and https://www.ipabookcamp.com.

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About Printed Word Reviews
Printed Word Reviews, https://printedwordreviews.com/, is a trusted international print and digital publication dedicated to insightful, comprehensive, and honest literary criticism. Cultivating a community of avid readers, authors, and industry professionals, the outlet covers a diverse array of genres, ranging from contemporary fiction and memoirs to historical non-fiction and poetry. With a steadfast commitment to elevating exceptional storytelling, Printed Word Reviews highlights both best-selling masterpieces and hidden indie gems, serving as a vital bridge between brilliant authors and passionate readers. Printed Word Reviews is published monthly and registered with the U.S. ISSN Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. with the ISSN 3067-011X.

Gabby Olczak
Independent Press Award / NYC Big Book Award
+1 973-969-1899
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