Ralph Kellogg’s ‘Leading While Human’ wins three BookFest awards

Ralph Kellogg’s memoir-style leadership book won first place in three BookFest Business Leadership categories: Leadership and Management, Professional Growth, and Psychology and Mindset. The win underscores growing interest in leadership writing that centers vulnerability, mental health and authenticity in the workplace.

Why it matters: - The BookFest recognized a leadership book that centers mental health, vulnerability and self-awareness instead of traditional management formulas. - The award haul gives Ralph Kellogg’s message broader visibility in a crowded business-book market. - The book’s themes speak to workplace leaders who are expected to project confidence while carrying personal strain.

What happened: - Ralph Kellogg’s book, Leading While Human: Notes I Wish Someone Had Given Me, won three first-place BookFest awards. - The wins were in the Business Leadership categories of Leadership and Management, Professional Growth and Psychology and Mindset. - The book was released in paperback and ebook on May 12, 2026. - Kellogg is chief human resources officer for Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska.

The details: - The book is built as a series of short letters drawn from hard moments in Kellogg’s career. - Kellogg writes about walking into rooms feeling he did not belong, being expected to know every answer and avoiding difficult conversations. - The book argues that compassion and accountability can coexist in strong leadership. - Kellogg writes openly about living with anxiety and panic while holding senior roles. - He also discusses surviving a suicide attempt at 19 and says the workplace taught him to hide that history. - The book is published by BookBaby. - Paperback ISBN: 979-8-31783-212-4. - Ebook ISBN: 979-8-31783-213-1. - The book is available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. - More information is available at the author’s website.

Between the lines: - The recognition suggests there is demand for leadership content that treats emotional honesty as a strength, not a liability. - The book stands apart from standard business manuals by focusing on self-awareness and lived experience. - Early reactions highlighted the book’s honesty, compassion and relatability. - Reviewers also pointed to empathy, humility and vulnerability as central leadership traits in the book. - Kellogg said, “Leaders don’t need to be perfect. They need to be authentic, willing to walk into hard moments, and courageous enough to lead even when there isn’t a playbook.”

What’s next: - Kellogg is continuing to promote the book through speaking and leadership work. - The awards may help expand the book’s reach among executives, managers and HR professionals looking for people-first leadership guidance. - Readers can expect the book to keep circulating as a resource for discussions about workplace well-being and leadership culture.

The bottom line: - Leading While Human is being recognized not for offering a formula, but for making a case that authenticity, courage and compassion are leadership skills.