Client: ICON
Sector: Clinical Research Organization, Pharma (15,000 employees)
Role: Leadership Development Program Design and Delivery
Organizational Need: ICON, a global Clinical Research Organization conducting clinical trials for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, experienced significant growth both acquisitively and organically over 20 years. This growth led to strategic and organizational design changes, necessitating an urgent need to upskill leaders and managers for effective leadership in a complex global environment. Leaders had to manage global teams across various time zones, national cultures, and language barriers. The aim was to transition existing leaders and managers into roles where they could effectively lead and manage in this new landscape.
Leadership Development Intervention:
The project focused on defining two critical layers of leadership development:
Management Essentials Program: This eight-day modularized program covered core essentials of people leadership. Delivered to over 1,200 managers within 24 months, the program allowed for refining the approach and content to maximize participant value. An impact study was conducted to assess the program's effectiveness and identify activities that significantly supported learning transfer.
Leading at ICON: This eight-day modularized program aimed to equip future leaders with advanced skills for significant organizational roles. Developed in partnership with Smurfit Executive Development, the program included thematic areas such as values-based leadership, talent development, managing team and organizational performance, powerful conversations, quality decision-making, building commitment, influencing and negotiation, strategy development, and budget management. The program was grounded in an Emotional Intelligence 360 questionnaire, forming the basis of individual development plans pre-program. Participants received ongoing support from their line managers, informed by insights and actions identified through the program. This program was rolled out to over 300 Directors and VPs in the first 24 months, with a longitudinal impact study conducted to measure outcomes and inform future activities. A "Leading at ICON" alumni group was formed, meeting monthly for development, support on organizational topics, best practice sharing, and action learning sets.
Program Outcomes:
Significant improvement in core leadership competencies, evidenced by increased employee engagement scores.
Reduced turnover and out-of-office time for people leaders.
Improved cross-functional collaboration and cross-divisional moves, breaking down silos and encouraging employees to take up opportunities across the business.
Integration of acquired employees into a consistent leadership approach across the company.
Enhanced collaboration among people leaders to address challenges collectively through the alumni network.
Impact: The leadership development interventions at ICON significantly enhanced the skills and capabilities of leaders and managers, enabling them to navigate and lead effectively in a complex global environment. The programs fostered a culture of collaboration, strategic thinking, and continuous improvement, laying a strong foundation for ongoing organizational success and leadership excellence.