High Potential Leadership Programme

Sony DADC International High Potential Leadership Programme

Business need

Sony DADC International is a leading disc and digital solution provider for the entertainment, education and digital solutions industries. The organisation was looking for a programme that would develop talent internally, supporting key people to take the next step from management to potentially reaching director level. They needed a strategy that would help them identify strengths and weaknesses, build skills, and allow identified future leaders to demonstrate their abilities and creativity within a supportive but challenging environment.

Solution

Cegos developed a new programme structured entirely around the Sony DADC’s needs, building in latest learning techniques and years of experience of developing leadership skills. The new programme combined real-life business challenges with classroom learning, delivered in such a way that those taking part could not only develop their own abilities, but produce a product, service or solution that benefited the company.

One of the key aspects of the course was gaining early buy-in from senior level staff, who all committed to taking part, supporting their team, and investing time and effort in the programme. Presentations to the board also allowed the future leaders to perform under pressure, demonstrate lessons learned, and prove the added value their project represented.

Benefits

The Sony DADC International High Potential Leadership Programme successfully allowed Sony DADC to identify and further develop future leaders, some of whom are already rising within the company as a result. It ensured a close working relationship between senior level staff and those taking part, enhancing communication and team work within the organisation. It also provided the company with several real-life business solutions that brought with them tangible results – projects included innovative ways to market DVDs, different ways to cut recycling costs, and examining methods of increasing the market share in Benelux – which actually rose from 3% to 27% over the nine month period the course was running.

The future leaders were able to combine classroom learning, online support, coaching and up-to-the-minute knowledge with a useful project that both directly benefited their company and also allowed them to showcase their potential.