In the race to win over investors, customers, and importantly talent, a business’ future will depend upon their ability to play a meaningful role in the macro transitions we are passing through.
With large parts of our social and economic system facing non-linear change, the organisations that have leaders with the right mindset and skills will be best placed to succeed. Technological disruption of production systems, a generational shift in values and wealth ownership, increasing societal, legal and political action to address inequalities and climate crises are all challenging business’ ability to operate.
If we are to create a more people and planet-positive world, businesses and their leaders need to think, strategise, act and value things differently – so we can all live well on a healthy, liveable planet by the middle of the century. To play their part, business leaders need to be able to identify, broker and realise commercial opportunities at a wider system level above, but including, the priorities of their own businesses.
Developing a ‘ecosystem-level’ approach is exactly why The Leadership Vanguard exists – to help prepare and encourage leaders to go beyond traditional forms of influence, to co-innovate with peers and competitors on complex challenges, and utilise their commercial influence for a just and regenerative transformation of the system of which their business is a part.
A new leadership approach for a new century
As we move towards a more inclusive and environmentally friendly world, the model of business leadership we have utilised over the last century also must adapt. A laser focus on shareholders and stock market prices is widening out to include a more diverse range of social and environmental stakeholders. Importantly, this change is being driven by consumers, employees, and investors, who increasingly value a purpose-driven business that is focussed on doing good, not just making money.
The repertoire of transition leadership qualities and capabilities include conviction, curiosity, systems thinking, foresight, deep listening, coalition building, commercial acumen aligned with purpose, and the ability to seed and grow positive-growth opportunities.
The leadership change we need is only possible if these leaders cultivate certain ways of thinking, feeling, knowing, being, relating and doing. That’s why The Leadership Vanguard premiere Accelerator programme is a nine-month long immersive learning experience that stimulates developmental personal growth. We work with leaders to achieve growth through learning and action experiences on a set of compelling industrial system-change initiatives, e.g.: in 2022 these include digitised, decentralised energy communities; regenerative and resilient food systems; circular and socially just supply chains; and regenerative cities.
Through a range of experiences, engagements, and collaborations, we support leaders in developing the networks, mindset, and abilities to transform both their organisations and the systems in which they are embedded.
A holistic, multi-touch suit of change making options
Beyond the Accelerator Programme, our Leadership and Culture expertise enables leaders and their organisations with a range of more targeted interventions and tools, including:
Vanguard Leap - An opportunity for high potential leaders to develop their effectiveness as system change agents through facilitated virtual learning as part of a diverse cohort.
Vanguard Reef - A dedicated online community for both current Leadership Vanguard participants and alumni, designed to maximise collaboration, action and learning.
Vanguard Labs - A facilitated rapid impact ‘sprint’ across 4-6 week, Labs enables rapid collaborative exploration of a specific high-potential commercial opportunity.
Game-changing perspectives for today’s leaders
To date, Xynteo and The Leadership Vanguard have worked with over 200+ business leaders from a wide range of sectors including banking, retail, FMCG, energy and NGOs. As part of this work, participants have gained new and exciting perspectives from 150 creatives, artists, performers, musicians, and corporate CEOs.
“The Leadership Vanguard program gave me the inspiration, confidence and the tools to drive systemic sustainable change.” - Hanneke Willenborg, CEO of Olly (Unilever)
“My perspective has expanded because of this program… it opens your mind and changes your mindset” - Pablo Arguelles Tuñon, VP and Director of EDP Spain
In our next piece, we discuss The Leadership Vanguard experience, what can leaders and organisations expect from participation, and how they help create the leaders we need today.
Download our new report, Enterprise Agility
Produced in conjunction with Raconteur and distributed in The Times (UK), our new report – Enterprise Agility - curates a range of content from sectors across the economy to discuss how a business culture that is flexible, responsive and proactive to outside collaboration is critical to success.
Stay up to date on Xynteo by following us on social media. LinkedIn I Twitter
Or contact us to find out how we can help your leaders and organisation create planet-positive and inclusive growth.