Judges

Become a CODiE Judge.

CODiE judges are experienced educators, practitioners, technologists, researchers, executives, and industry leaders who help identify excellence across technology. The CODiE Awards offer two distinct judging opportunities: Product Awards and Leadership & Impact Awards. Each has a different process, schedule, and time commitment.

Judge Interest Form

What to Expect as a Judge

Leadership & Impact Award judges are largely hand selected. Product Awards judge applications will reopen in January 2027. Join our LinkedIn group to stay connected.

Product Awards

Leadership & Impact Awards

What judges evaluate

Technology products & solutions

Individuals, teams, organizations

Review format

Nomination materials plus live or recorded product demonstrations

Independent review of entries + panel discussion with fellow judges

Live demo required

Yes

Typical assignment

1–5 products

<20

Judging period

April–June

November–December

Feedback required

Scores and constructive written feedback

Winner selection

Expert review followed by community voting

Expert review followed by panel review and discussion

Judging the Product Awards

Product Awards judges evaluate technology products within their areas of expertise. Judges review nomination materials, attend or view product demonstrations, score each entry against a category-specific rubric, and provide constructive written feedback.

What Product Awards Judges Do

Review the nomination materials before each demonstration.
Participate in a live or recorded product demonstration and remain engaged throughout the 1 hour demo.
Evaluate the product using the category’s judging criteria.
Consider the product’s innovation, usability, performance, reliability, trust, and effectiveness.
Submit scores and evidence-based feedback through the judge portal.
Disclose potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when appropriate.
Complete all assigned reviews by the published deadline.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations generally last 20–45 minutes, but judges should reserve approximately one hour for each appointment. Nominees typically coordinate scheduling directly with their assigned judges. Judges ask questions about functionality, implementation, outcomes, performance, and the evidence supporting the nomination.

Judges should evaluate only what is demonstrated or documented and should not base scores on reputation, company size, marketing claims, or prior familiarity with the product.

Time Commitment

Judges typically receive 1-5 assignments. Each assignment generally requires approximately one hour for the demonstration, plus time to review nomination materials and complete scoring and feedback. All assignments are completed during the communicated first round judging period.

How Winners are Determined

Product Awards judging takes place in two rounds:

Round 1: Expert Review — 80% of the final score. Judges evaluate nominated products through rubric-based scoring and live or recorded demonstrations.
Round 2: Community Voting — 20% of the final score. Members of the technology and education communities review the finalists and vote for the solution they believe should be named the category winner.

Participation in Round 1 is required for assigned expert judges. Participation in community voting is optional.

Judging the Leadership & Impact Awards

Leadership & Impact Awards judges evaluate the accomplishments and impact of nominated individuals, teams, and organizations. Unlike the Product Awards, this process does not include product demonstrations or interviews with nominees. Judges review written nomination responses, optional videos, and supporting evidence against a category-specific rubric.

What Leadership & Impact Judges Do

Review written nominations and supporting materials.
Evaluate each entry against the published category criteria.
Consider the strength of the evidence, measurable outcomes, leadership, innovation, influence, and broader impact.
Submit independent scores and evidence-based comments.
Participate in a panel review or category discussion when requested.
Disclose conflicts of interest and maintain the confidentiality of nomination materials.

Review Process

Leadership & Impact Awards judging takes place in two phases:

Expert Review: Each nomination is independently reviewed and scored by qualified judges using the category rubric.
Panel Review: Judges may meet as a category panel to discuss the strongest nominations, review scoring differences, and help determine the recipient.

Judges should evaluate the evidence presented in the nomination against the category specific judging criteria.

Time Commitment

Judging takes place over approximately one month. The precise number of entries assigned depends on nomination volume and the judge’s area of expertise. There are no live demonstrations to schedule. Judges complete their reviews independently through the online portal and may also participate in a panel discussion.

CODiE Judges Include:

Educators, administrators, and learning professionals
Technology and product leaders
Researchers, analysts, and subject-matter experts
Business and operations leaders
Investors, advisors, and consultants with relevant industry expertise
Experienced executives and organizational leaders

Judges are assigned only to categories aligned with their professional experience. Applying does not guarantee an assignment.

Independence, Confidentiality and Conflicts of Interest

Judges must evaluate every nomination objectively and consistently using the provided rubric. Judges are required to:

Disclose professional, financial, or personal relationships with nominees.
Decline or recuse themselves from assignments that present an actual or perceived conflict.
Stay engaged throughout the demo, ask questions aligned with the judging criteria, and have cameras on when possible.
Keep nomination materials, demonstrations, scores, and panel discussions confidential.
Do not use information obtained through judging for personal or professional benefit.
Keep communications with the nominees professional and focused on the awards.
Follow all CODiE judging terms and professional conduct requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I judge both awards programs?

Yes. Qualified reviewers may participate in both programs, provided they can meet each program’s requirements and have no conflicts of interest.

Can I judge if I am also a nominee?

Potentially. Nominees may not judge their own category or any category in which their participation could create an actual or perceived conflict.

Do Product Awards judges need to be available during business hours?

Judges and nominees arrange demonstration times based on mutual availability. If scheduling a live demo proves too difficult to schedule, recorded demos are a great alternative.

Do Leadership & Impact judges interview nominees?

No. Judges evaluate the written nomination, optional video, and supporting materials. There are no live nominee presentations or interviews.

Are judges compensated?

Judging is a voluntary professional service. Judges who complete their assignments may receive a certificate, digital badge, media materials, and public recognition.

Will judges provide feedback to nominees?

Product Awards judges provide constructive written feedback that is shared with nominees. Leadership & Impact comments primarily support the review and selection process and will be aggregated and shared with nominees.

Complete Terms and Conditions for Judges

Amy Weiss
CMO, Expert Radiology

“Serving as a judge allows me to support and celebrate innovation while also continuing to learn from the latest breakthroughs in technology and business intelligence.”

Raghavender Maddali
Software Engineer & Data Lead, Realtor.com

Niz Nava
Architecture, Project Management

“As an IT Project Manager, volunteering as a CODiE Awards judge allows me to stay connected to the forefront of innovation. It's inspiring to explore the cutting-edge innovations shaping smart infrastructure and digital transformation. I love staying connected to the future of tech while helping recognize excellence in our industry.”

Subish Nair
Sr. IT System Analyst, STMA

“The process of evaluation is rigorous. It goes deep into the demo with real practitioners asking penetrating questions, and industry veterans bringing perspective on what works at scale. The nominees bring their best as the CODiE designation is a great way to help differentiate their products in a crowded market. It’s a win-win for the industry, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”

Ray Henderson
Ed-Tech Industry Executive, Private Equity Advisor/Investor

“What draws me back each year is the opportunity to see emerging technologies firsthand—tools that have the potential to reimagine how we learn and connect. Judging also allows me to contribute to setting a high bar for quality and impact, while connecting with like-minded professionals who are just as passionate about shaping the future of tech.”

Margaret M. Roidi, Ph.D.
Product Director, AICPA

"I have been a judge for nearly a decade now, and can say with certainty that the CODiE Awards are the most fruitful environment I have ever encountered for this process. It's not just a question of the judging; the important part is the process and the breadth of products examined. In a world of arbitrary and even "targeted" awards, the CODiEs are a bastion of continuous progress through an impartial and expert team of judges."

Myron Cizdyn
Founder BLPS Group

“As a technology leader in robotics and automation, judging the CODiE Awards has been a powerful way to engage with the forefront of innovation. It’s inspiring to evaluate breakthrough solutions that are transforming industries and shaping the future of smart infrastructure. Volunteering as a judge allows me to recognize excellence, give back to the tech community, and stay connected with pioneering minds across the industry.”

Rajeev Aswal
CTO, Robotic Parking Systems

“As a judge, I gain unlimited knowledge about the latest software products, platforms, and digital tools—often before they go mainstream. It also provides the opportunity to engage with a community of professionals, innovators, and influencers. The CODiE Awards are the best platform to connect with product leaders, developers, entrepreneurs, and executives during the judging process and related events."