DuPont for the Future Forum

DuPont at a glance
Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.

Why working with us?
Christine Verheye had attended an interactive session on change management run by us years before. Impressed with the learning environment and quality of the facilitation, when the company needed some consultancy she called us.

The core issues
DuPont has been growing fast especially in emerging regions as Eastern Europe for example. Market changes were influencing other established regions. To succeed in the face of such rapid change and turbulence, DuPont senior executives leaders wanted to engage in a dialog with their high performer throughout the organization that would be both challenging and supporting. The aim was also to promote the One DuPont culture and to focus on the role of the leadership in championing change and leveraging employee engagement.

The approach
DuPont launched a large group dialog series called DuPont for the Future Forum. We co-designed the events with the client organization and facilitated numerous events throughout the region from London to Budapest. In total some hundreds senior managers from Europe and across the globe have attended.
Delegates were expected to:

• Express recommendations on how to reinforce employee engagement, how to strengthen the One-DuPont concept, how to increase employee ownership of the company’s vision and objectives?
• Consider corporate and organizational change processes ahead and discuss how they can become more effective change champions in their organization?
• Actively expand their peer and leadership network across countries, SBU’s and hierarchies
• Give feedback to the European Leadership Team about the “pulse” of the organization, challenge them with their expectations and present their ideas for improvement

The result
“I am highly motivated and inspired. You have definitely helped break down barriers, facilitating an exchange of ideas and information across the participants.”
Delegate’s Feedback

“We at DuPont very much enjoyed working with you. We especially value the energy and novel approach you bring to the party. Your very effective facilitation and consult has enabled the delegates to make a leap on their learning curve. Very much appreciate your dedication.”
Christine Verheye, Global Leadership Development Leader, DuPont

Plansee Group

The General Management Program

2005 – 2009

Plansee Group at a glance
The PLANSEE Group with the four divisions Plansee High Performance Materials, GTP Tungsten & Powders, Ceratizit Hard materials & Tools as well as PMG PM-Products is one of the leading manufacturers of powder-metallurgical products and components. All divisions have high competence in design and engineering, materials and process know-how as well as a comprehensive knowledge of applications. Counselling and service on site is ensured through a worldwide network of sales subsidiaries and partners.

A four-year partnership
Plansee Group places a strong emphasis on relationships and has been running a Basic Management Program in Austria for many years. In 2005, Amel Karboul and her team was commissioned to work with Plansee Group to re-design and co-facilitate their performance and potential system and General Management Program, in English, for their international up and coming leaders around the globe.

How the program works
Nominated employees must successfully pass through a potential and performance system. They then embark on the General Management Program that consists of six four-day modules over two years. Individual coaching sessions, working in peer groups, action learning teams and workshops with participant’s bosses were some additional learning elements.

Areas covered include:

• Leading for the future
• Leading Business & Strategy
• Leading High Performing Teams
• Leading Strategy & Innovation
• Leading Change
• Leading across Culture

Because participants are drawn from a broad range of business divisions, there are many opportunities for networking and the cross fertilization of ideas across the business, which we helped leverage.

The program was customized through pre-interviews and adjusted between the modules. Download here the unique evaluation architecture that was run parallel to the learning architecture.

„The facilitator team combined real awareness and responsiveness to individuals’ needs, but were really good at challenging in a supportive way.“ A participant’s feedback.

“In meiner früheren Rolle als Leiterin der Personalentwicklung der Plansee-Group unterstützte Frau Karboul mich vor allem mit ihrer Expertise zu internationalen Leadership und Change Themen und prägte damit maßgeblich die Neuauflage eines gruppenweiten General Management Trainings für High Performers. Sie war eine der wenigen externen PartnerInnen, die einen klaren Fokus auf Organisationsentwicklung und bewusstes Stakeholder-Management legte und diesen in das Gesamtkonzept integrierte.“
Gabriela Leiß, Leiterin der Personalentwicklung der Plansee-Gruppe während der Konzeption und Start des Programms, heute MCI Innsbruck.

Head of a Business Unit, Global Telecommunication Player
Challenged with receiving resistance in implementing organizational change following a strategic redesign and reorganization, coaching has helped the executive successfully set and communicate the new Company Mission and Strategy for the organization. We helped the leader assuring employee alignment with workshops and initiatives, gaining buy-in and commitment from employees at various levels. Coaching continues to implement the strategic plan and maintain momentum with employees.

Global Leadership Team, High Tech Industry
Team-coaching for a global leadership team after a CEO succession. Resulted in increased trust, improved communication and strong interpersonal relationships, to lead and motivate the company. The team coaching consists of five two-day sessions over one year.

Head of Production, Energy Industry
Retained a key talent in the organization, who, through coaching, achieved a better relationship with the head of the advisory board. This has eliminated distractions that were affecting productivity, performance and morale at work. The result was increased motivation and better concentration at work, reduced tensions with work colleagues and the resolve to remain with the organization (prior to coaching, executive thought changing company).

Head of International Accounting, Insurance Company
Development of key competency skills, leading to a significant improvement in Appraisal and 360 Feedback, resulting in a recommendation for a promotion, for which client continues coaching to further develop the skills in preparation for the new position.