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Transforming Leadership at Swiss Re

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Cameleon
Participants
300
Industry
Financial Services
Solution
Talent Management

About

Impact and Swiss Re first worked together in 1997. The relationship evolved to Impact working across almost all leadership levels on a global basis. This programme combined Impact's experiential learning approach with the Swiss Re business context.

In partnership with Swiss Re Academy, Impact designed and delivered a transformational leadership programme. The project was a huge initiative targeted at developing the interpersonal leadership skills of the top 300 people in the organisation worldwide.

As attendance on this CEO sponsored programme was mandatory, the stakes were high. It was essential to create something that would engage participants immediately and develop a positive 'word of mouth' reputation.

Impact knew that the participants would rightly be demanding and looking for immediate value. Their intellectual capability was very high and most of them had experienced several leadership development initiatives in the past. As a design partnership Impact and Swiss Re Academy were committed to enabling behavioural transformation at an individual level and ultimately a transformation of the prevailing leadership culture at Swiss Re.

Together we designed an interactive, challenging and innovative five-day learning journey. During the programme 24 participants worked together in four groups. The programme is preceded by a 1:1 coaching discussion and a 'creating breakthrough strategies' workshop. The programme itself was very intensive, comprising of three parts which progressively shift the focus from the organisation to the individual leader. 

The leadership enquiry - this three stage process is designed to build a picture of the business context against which individual leadership capability needs to be developed. 

The leadership simulation - a 24 hour simulation based on the challenges of a fictional global market, was researched to be entirely realistic and specific to Swiss Re. The simulation involved actors, journalists, film crews and Swiss Re executive board members.

Intensive feedback - the simulation culminates with a number of sessions which deliver personal feedback accompanied by behavioural analysis data.

Swiss Re's Transforming Leadership programme ran for four highly successful years, during this time almost all of the top 300 Swiss Re leaders took part.

Impact and Swiss Re won the Excellence in Practice Award for ‘Partnership in Organisation Development’ from the European Foundation for Management Development.

Testimonials
See what our customers say about us
Stephen Dando
Business Sponsor of Generate
Thomson Reuters
In reality, one of the biggest challenges is global virtualisation and we got it right through our Generate programme. It's a profound experience for participants, that also deepens loyalty to Thomson Reuters.
Silvio Di Giorgio
Brand Development an Co-ordination
Findomestic
“Collaborating with impact was a very positive experience resulting in creating an innovative project that has responded to our objective: give value back to all stakeholders. The CSR, philanthropy support model has excelled, providing commitment and results. This experience has been valuable to both the people involved and trained by Impact, both by the citizens who participated and within Findomestic. The genius people at Impact have managed to accept and win a highly ambitious challenge!”
Shona Marshall
Employee Development Manager
The Miller Group
"Working with Impact was certainly enjoyable. I particularly valued their ability to creatively interpret ideas into activities, their willingness to share their extensive knowledge and their flexibility in responding to our ever-changing requirements. The dedication and commitment the facilitators demonstrated throughout the actual event went above and beyond. The result ~ an experience that challenged our graduates, exceeded my own expectations and provided real value for our business.”