A well-established global company faced a pending problem – a large percentage of its senior leadership team was set to soon retire at the same time. In addition, the company was not retaining its mid-level managers with many of these mid-level managers leaving for lateral positions elsewhere, causing an insufficient pool of potential future leaders for effective succession planning.

Lake Forest’s Leading with Intention program became the framework for a new professional development path that targeted high-potential mid-level managers. Moving beyond the basics of management skills, the program inspired this cohort to be part of building the company’s future. Using a hybrid format, participants were able to have in-person sessions with current leaders and use live video conferencing so they could join from wherever their work might take them. The program facilitator pulled scenarios from the organization to better apply upskilling concepts directly to the group’s day-to-day experiences for real-world context and deeper learning.

Employees were inspired to be a part of the company’s growth and future opportunities, and the investment in their professional development prepared them for greater impact and responsibilities.