UBS
Executive Leadership Development Experience
Developing executive key talents through a unique leadership learning experience
Objective
UBS Wealth Management and Business Banking is the world’s leading wealth manager, as well as market leader in Switzerland in retail and commercial banking. Following an intensive organisation-wide dialogue ‘Leading for Growth’ which set a compelling leadership agenda, the ‘Executive Leadership Development Experience’ was initiated to give selected executive key talents the opportunity to improve their personal leadership impact. Executive key talents are already at Executive Director or Managing Director level with long-standing line manager experience and the objectives are for them to:
• Systematically identify their strengths and areas for development
• Maximise their individual potential as a leader
• Work on personal leadership challenges defined with their line manager
• Receive ongoing coaching over a period of a year as they follow this development path.
Solution
Impact worked in close partnership with Patrick Wolf and Sandro Muri from UBS Learning & Development Center in Zurich to design a unique learning experience that forms the centrepiece of a one-year Development Path:
Preparation phase
After an application process to check if the program fits the development needs of the key talent and to verify the learning motivation of the individual, both the talent and their line manager fill out a competency-based questionnaire and outline the business and leadership challenges ahead of them - as preparation for the initial coaching session with an external executive coach prior to the learning experience.
The learning experience
The three-day learning experience is designed to provide individuals with an accurate snapshot of their current leadership effectiveness through a challenging experience and intensive feedback from experienced senior managers in the bank, peers and coaches.
The core component is a sophisticated, exciting and challenging leadership simulation built around the real challenges of the business and themed to reflect UBS values: Client Focus, Partnership, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Meritocracy, Diversity, Integrity and Privacy as well as Corporate Responsibility.
The participant group of 18 executives, working in three teams, is given the challenge of building up a new business in an emerging market. As they deal with the demands of understanding the market and making strategic plans for immediate market entry, they deal with a host of conflicting pressures, interests and dilemmas posed by a variety ofstakeholders both internal and external.
‘Real-life’ challenges, such as conducting a difficult discussion with an employee, negotiating with an internal partner or representing the firm to external parties, are presented as the simulation comes to life and participants are forced to deal with crises and deadlines in real time. These are designed to reflect current UBS challenges: growth, dynamics in an emerging market, client-centric approach and the need or an integrated business model.
The 24-hour simulation culminates in a strategy and leadership dialogue with a member of the UBS Group Managing Board and a presentation to a fictional client delegation – headed by one of Switzerland’s most famous actors!
As the simulation unfolds, each participant is observed according to a set of clearly designed leadership competencies reflecting the UBS leadership culture, and receives structured feedback on an ongoing basis. A written feedback report is also provided for each individual.
The learning experience concludes with a contrasting period of self-reflection. Participants spend time alone in contemplation (in a Benedictine monastery), exchange feedback with peers and receive coaching on health and self–management issues. Finally they meet together with their line manager and the executive coach for a development planning discussion on their future career.
Execution and follow-up phase
During this crucial phase individuals will follow the development path agreed with their line manager, with the support of three face-to-face coaching sessions and an opportunity to be observed in action by a fellow participant in a leadership job-shadowing experience. Follow-up training is available on a personally tailored
basis if required.
Result
'The pilot program was rated a great success and three more are planned.
What we especially appreciated in working with Impact was having a truly experienced design partner who dared to ask relevant questions about the main strategic agenda of our firm.
This ensured that we came up with a highly elaborate and very real development platform on which the participants were facing UBS business dilemmas and really needed to take on leadership.
Our executive key talents certainly enjoyed the highly challenging three days and we are convinced that it will help them on their way to becoming the top leaders of tomorrow.'
Patrick Wolf
Key Talent Leadership Development
UBS Global Wealth Management & Business Banking
Further Information
Read more about Impact's approach to Developing Leaders
