Case study: Supporting over 650 future leaders

We have been working in partnership with a global professional services organisation for the past 5 years; designing, developing, and delivering a leadership development programme created to support the ongoing identification and development of future leaders. The client’s key aims in working with us were to:

• Create a standard approach for delivering leadership across the globe, encompassing various brands and functions
• Support their best talent (those with potential and ambition) by fostering their leadership and helping them grow within the organisation
• Develop a Future Leader Programme that provides potential first-time people leaders with the foundation to achieve success.
• Progress the careers of these future leaders and enrol them in stretch projects.

Solution

The Future Leader Programme (FLP) runs for 12 months, includes local and global initiatives, and consists of the following elements:

• Facilitated group live events and webinar sessions – Designed to help everyone realise their potential and identify development areas in their pursuit of becoming world-class leaders
  
  
• Leadership masterclasses – Facilitated by guest speakers and designed to complement the self-awareness insights each participant acquires from their respective AON assessments
  
  
• Peer coaching – Enabling participants to talk through every-day work challenges in a safe and confidential environment, working together to identify solutions for moving forward.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we successfully transitioned to virtual delivery in 2020. Now, in 2024, we continue to follow a hybrid model that combines face-to-face and virtual sessions. We’ve swiftly adapted to the changing landscape, enhancing our virtual support to match the impact of our in-person capabilities. This shift allowed us to expand our reach, benefiting smaller countries that joined regional cohorts. Our initiative brings together participants from around the world, forming centrally facilitated groups led by Right Management / the client.

Results

The programme has seen impressive growth since its launch in 2019, with the first edition welcoming 134 participants from Northern and Southern Europe. By 2020, the support expanded to include LATAM, and the number of participants grew to 159. This marked the beginning of the FLP’s globalisation effort.

The year 2023 witnessed a significant milestone in the programme’s expansion to include all regions, incorporating participants from North America and APME (Australia). This resulted in a remarkable increase in the total number of participants to 214.

This is now a global initiative involving up to 32 countries, and our support will continue throughout 2024 with 10 cohorts participating, as well as an expansion into other regions including Asia.

The Future Leader Programme’s effectiveness is evident in the high rate of career progression achieved by its alumni. In 2024, a staggering 62% of participants reported career advancement, with 53% experiencing a change in their level and 47% taking on new positions.

The client has also been extremely pleased with how the FLP has greatly contributed to higher levels of engagement and productivity, directly contributing towards a record year for business performance.

As a result of the initiatives ongoing success, Right Management were commissioned to design, develop, and deliver two additional global leadership programmes, targeted specifically at senior managers and executives in 2023.

“The Future Leader Programme isn't just about building leaders, it's about igniting the potential within to shape a brighter tomorrow. We achieve this through a comprehensive programme built on the three pillars of development: Education, Exposure, and Experience. 

We continuously improve by building on lessons learned from previous cohorts and fostering a powerful network of talent through our thriving alumni community. This is possible also thanks to our strong partnership with Right Management.”

- VP, Global Learning and Leadership Development