Developing Future Pharma Leaders.
Equipping next-gen leaders for a new world of collaboration and partnership.
3 Big Wins
1
80% of development goals achieved:
learning translated into visible performance gains
2
Leadership performance uplift observed,
improvement rated “to a large extent” by managers and stakeholders
3
Leader Lab institutionalized,
now a flagship in the high-potential strategy with full executive sponsorship
The Challenge.
With blockbuster patents expiring and R&D costs spiraling, our client – a global pharma leader – faced urgent pressure to deliver pipeline innovation faster and more efficiently. The solution: a new business model built on external collaboration. But making it work required leaders ready to drive that shift. We partnered with a second consultancy to equip high-potential talent with the mindset and capabilities to lead in a more connected, competitive environment.
This was a significant shift in our business model - and our leaders needed to catch up. We needed people who could lead across boundaries, not just manage within silos.
Our Approach.
We partnered with the OD team and senior leaders to create The Leader Lab, a rigorous assessment-for-development experience – designed to give high-potential leaders deep insight into how they lead today and what it will take to succeed in tomorrow’s business context. The experience included:
- Pre-Work: 360 feedback, psychometrics, and tailored prep materials to prime participants for the simulation
- Simulation Day: A full-day, immersive experience with live role plays and team-based challenges, built around the pressures of the company’s future operating model
- Feedback: A detailed leadership report, one-on-one coaching, and a development alignment session with each participant’s manager and HR business partner
- Follow-Through: A 12-month personalized development plan tied directly to on-the-job performance and growth objectives; survey to quantify impact of learning.
This wasn’t about teaching leadership theory. We dropped leaders into their future - fast - and gave them the space to adjust, act, and lead in a new context. The result was a tangible shift in how they understood their role and impact - and a unique opportunity for the organization to see its top talent in action when confronted with tomorrow’s challenges.
The Impact.
The Leader Lab did more than develop individuals – it reshaped how the business thinks about leadership. What began as a one-time intervention is now a repeatable model for building the capabilities today’s leaders need to drive tomorrow’s strategy.