Case Study

🚩 The Challenge

An HR social impact leader needed help with designing a scalable and impactful leadership program for ~80 people leaders across 7 states, from first-time supervisors to seasoned leaders. The organization wanted a solution that was customized, interactive, behavior-change driven, and integrated with their LMS, ensuring it met diverse needs across roles and locations.

 

🔍 The Process

Using a design thinking approach, I partnered with HR & L&D leaders to:

• Align on organizational goals, leadership gaps, and outcomes

• Review prior training efforts and internal cultural values

• Conduct surveys and 1:1 interviews with leaders across departments to empathize with their challenges and aspirations

• Evaluate LMS capabilities and recommend a format for flexibility and engagement

 

💡 The Solution

We launched a pilot leadership program with 14 leaders grounded in real-world application, feedback, and behavior change. It was designed as a “living lab”—a flexible test environment that allowed for iteration.

Focus areas:

• Communication

• Meetings

• 1:1s

The program emphasized habit-building and practical leadership tools leaders could apply immediately.

Key elements included:

• A hybrid structure with bite-sized LMS content

• Actionable exercises + journaling for reflection

• Pre-work using DISC & Motivators to build self-awareness

• Peer accountability partners to boost follow-through and connection

• Monthly live cohort sessions for shared learning and best practices

 

📅 Program Flow Overview

➡ Pre-Program

• DISC & Motivators Assessment

• Self-reflection and feedback gathering

• Kickoff meeting to review program expectations and answer questions

➡ Monthly Rhythm

• 15–30 mins of LMS learning

• Habit-building exercises + journaling + peer/accountability partner check-ins

• Live 60-min cohort sessions

➡ Wrap-Up

• Cohort reflection & feedback

• Scale-ready recommendations

 

📈 Outcomes & Impact

• 100% completion of all assessments and pre-work

• Participants reported greater confidence in communication with their teams and constituents, as well as more intentional leadership habits

• One participant shared, “This was the first leadership training that didn’t feel like a checkbox. Everything was practical and tied to what I do every day.”

• Equipped the team with templates, playbooks, and guides to scale the program internally across future cohorts.

 

🔑 What Made It Work

This engagement blended strategy, behavioral tools, and human-centered design to deliver a program that was practical, adaptable, and meaningful. By centering empathy, co-creation, and iteration, the solution aligned personal growth with organizational goals.

The use of DISC insights, habit-formation framework (exercises), and real-world application gave leaders tools they could use right away, while building the foundation for long-term leadership impact.

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Want to Build a Program Like This?

If you’re ready to create a leadership program that meets your people where they are and scales with your organization—Let’s connect for a free discovery call or email me to learn more.