Delivering a leadership development program for emerging female leaders.
The Brief
Australia’s leading wholesale distribution and marketing company with a diversified business across food, grocery, hardware and liquor sectors reached out to Future Leadership to partner on a women in leadership program. They are headquartered in NSW and are ASX-listed.
The company partnered with Future Leadership to design and deliver a leadership development, named Strive, for their emerging female leaders. The Strive Female Talent Program is design to empower and equip women with the skills, resources and opportunities needed to thrive in their professional careers.
Future Leadership have partnered with the company for 5 years on this talent initiative.
Improvement in Performance
Studies show that executives who receive coaching report a 70% improvement in work performance, according to the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Lower Turnover Rate
Organisations with effective leadership development programs have a 30% lower turnover rate among employees, as leadership development fosters employee engagement and loyalty.
Reference: Harvard Business Review, "The Impact of Leadership Development on Employee Engagement" (2017)
Companies report Enhanced Leadership Skills
85% of companies report an improvement in leadership capabilities as a direct result of implementing leadership development programs, leading to better decision-making and team management.
Reference: Deloitte, "Global Human Capital Trends" (2019)
Higher Return on Investment (ROI)
Leadership development programs yield an average return on investment (ROI) of 6 times the cost of the program, reflecting the significant value they add to the organization.
Reference: Korn Ferry, "The Real ROI of Leadership Development" (2018)
The Process
Strive is sponsored by the active Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council. This Global Leadership Team (GLT) council provided strategic guidance on diversity matters, advocated for team inclusion, and offered feedback on program elements. Their involvement ensures DEI initiatives are effectively integrated and aligned with organisational goals, reinforcing a culture of inclusivity.
The aim of the Strive program is to:
- Build the leadership skills of female high potential leaders who have the capacity to make a lasting and impactful contribution to the organisation
- Equip you with a toolkit to support leadership progression as you move through career levels
- Build an alumni community of female leaders within the company and enable connections outside of the program
- Increase confidence to make a bigger impact!
This program aims are achieved over a 4-month learning journey in cohorts of 2o participants. The program comprises of; a welcome session, insight psychometric assessments with a debrief, 4x learning labs on key topics, small group coaching sessions, and ongoing career coaching facilitated internally.
The Advisory Team's Impact Across Clients Through Survey Feedback
32% Increase in Self Awareness
Individuals’ awareness of motives, values, strengths and development needs
21% Increase in Motivation
Individuals’ motivation to apply learning, insight and further develop
27% Increase in Confidence
Individuals’ confidence in their abilities and impact as a leader
30% Increase in Role Clarity
Individuals’ clarity around success factors associated with their role
The Outcome
We are currently delivering Strive across multiple cohorts. Participants have reported:
- 40% increase in self-awareness
- 24% increase in motivation
- 37% increase in role clarity
- 54% increase in confidence
- 93% satisfaction rating
After the Strive Program, 8% of participants advanced to new roles or promotions. The retention rate for Strive participants is 84%, surpassing the general attrition rate, indicating higher satisfaction and commitment.
Strive has been nominated for a LearnX award in 2024
Have enjoyed this training and have taken away a lot of knowledge that I would not have received anywhere else. Great to hear there are other people going through the same sort of situation and that we really are not alone. Thank you for the time we spent together and for all the wonderful knowledge that you shared with us all.
