Ringier Axel Springer: A Post-pandemic Leadership Case Study

About

The RASMAG board and country leaders recognised the need for a leadership programme that would support leaders as the organisation emerged from lockdown and attempted to navigate the post-pandemic world.

Objective

The programme intended to review ‘what’s next’ for the business emerging out of lockdown, and to continue to develop the leadership community across the group (a process that started in September 2019).

The objectives of the programme were to:

Rebuild community across the group
Provide space for the senior leadership team to discuss what leadership will be required moving forward
Review the current business strategic beliefs
Identify any new business opportunities or threats to the business post-pandemic

The programme needed to be interactive and reflective, providing time and space to reunite, reflect, share best practice and ideas, and gain wider perspective across the group.

Solution

In response to the limiting conditions caused by the pandemic, the three-week programme consisted of a blend of virtual modules and safely managed face-to-face experiences in small groups. This included face-to-face projects, peer coaching, virtual cross-regional group work, two guest speaker sessions, and powerful online sessions on leading remotely and leading in uncertainty.

The programme concluded with participants from all regions engaging in discussion, resulting in the creation of several possible scenarios for the organisation going forward, as well as catalysing further conversation and plans for action.

Result

"We’ve been cooperating with Impact for several years and it is incredible to see how we’ve developed as a team and each of us individually.

Workshops like 'What’s Next' give as all an opportunity to reflect on the journey we’ve gone on and on what’s ahead of us – in terms of our personal values, leadership and our business. Our business success is strongly linked to who we are and what we believe in, and that is why I value Impact’s approach so much.

Transformation is continuous – it comes in waves and it keeps getting faster and faster. This is why we need to continuously develop our leaders. In the times of covid-19, the world needs more flexible and compassionate leadership and Impact understands this very well."

Mark Dekan, CEO Ringier Axel Springer Media AG