High Potential Leaders Programme

About

The Catalyst programme is an award-winning intense and challenging custom-designed 12-month development journey for director-level high-potential leaders at Celgene, a global biopharmaceutical company. The programme prepares directors to meet the business challenges of today and shape the solutions for tomorrow, while providing exposure to critical business topics.

Objective

Build a network of ‘ready now’ leaders with the capabilities and confidence to lead at the next level. A ‘real issues’ based experiential approach develops participants’ strategic thinking capabilities while delivering implementation ROI to the business. An emphasis on executive presence, authenticity and leadership communication impact is leveraged to develop tools to:

accelerate development of Celgene’s five key success behaviours
exercise personal leadership for more effective business performance
embrace a “One Celgene” culture by deepening trust and alignment
enhance team success

Solution

The solution combines powerful, multi-modular, face-to-face and virtual blended leadership development modules. This includes; horizontal/peer networking; real business projects with exposure to vertical/senior leadership; and an In Market Journey to stimulate ‘outside-in’ perspectives shared with other organisations and apply lessons back at work. Participants are pushed beyond their comfort zone to broaden their thinking, learn about dynamics of high performing teams and drive behavioural change.

Result

Celgene saw an average increase of 29% from the pre to post programme capabilities metrics. Significant improvements include a 57% increase in ability to collaborate globally and cross functionally; and a 38% increase in capabilities and confidence to lead at the next level. Across the participants there has been a 53% promotion rate; 90% retention rate and 100% of participants’ managers felt that the programme accelerated their leadership development.. The success of the programme was recognised at the LTEN Excellence Awards 2016 where it was announced Winner in Learning Content.