We partnered with ZEISS Group to chart a course for its future through a custom on-campus learning experience for senior leaders and a virtual learning experience for the success-critical midlevel.
ZEISS Group used a unique cascaded approach to leadership development as part of a strategy to secure its position as a worldwide technology partner.
ZEISS Group, an international leader in the fields of optics and optoelectronics, needed to unify its businesses around one new identity and foster a common understanding of the ZEISS strategy, brand, and culture in order to continue its trend toward explosive growth. Establishing ZEISS as a modern, global, and dynamic company that would be recognized as an innovator and global technology leader, ZEISS knew it would need to fully engage the entire organization to bring their identity to life. They partnered with us to launch a series of programs to cascade learning throughout their organization, starting with the ZEISS Group Leadership Team (GLT).
First, the company's top 100 senior leaders came to Harvard Business School to focus on disruptive innovation, with ZEISS CEO Dr. Michael Kaschke working closely with Harvard Business School professors Willy Shih and Das Narayandas to design a program that aligned closely with the unique context at ZEISS. Leaders developed the skills and mindsets required to profitably grow new and existing businesses, and also gained a common understanding of the One ZEISS strategy and brand identity along with the opportunities and challenges facing ZEISS.
Next, we collaborated with both ZEISS leaders and HBS faculty to develop LEAD, a blended learning program delivered to 800 midlevel managers in 50-person cohorts. The GLT was closely involved with the learning groups, providing the ZEISS context and serving as coaches and ambassadors in bringing the ZEISS identity to this management level. Teams of six to eight GLT members acted as leaders and teachers, which drove engagement and ensured consistency, effectiveness, and a common language across the ZEISS enterprise.
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