Case Studies: InterContinental Hotels Group
The Challenge
The client, a major international hotel chain with multiple brand lines of business, was seeking to develop a talent management system and build its pipeline, of which leadership development was a key component.
The Insight
Their goal was to create a program to develop their leaders at three different levels of the company, in a way that was consistent across levels and across organizational units, with an emphasis on developing those directors responsible for building the “next global brand” for the company
The Idea
Emory and the client worked together to design a program that would examine key leadership topics and develop participants’ leadership skills. The result, The “On Track” program, examined their leadership styles, self-awareness and self-regulation, influencing and managing conflict, and managing change. Participants were encouraged to become more strategic thinkers with greater understanding of how one’s decisions directly impact corporate success. The programs utilized assessments, coaching, and experiential team-building exercises to help emerging leaders develop their individual skills and empower them to increase their span of influence across the organization.
The Impact
This program has become the vehicle by which IHG informs its high potential leaders about the organization’s strategy. Through hands on exercises, the executives become engaged in the strategic direction of IHG and take personal ownership over its successes.
The Learning
After the successful engagement, the client engaged Emory Executive Education to develop a Global Leadership Institute, aimed at the organizational leaders and franchise owners for another brand. This program, which develops leadership skills, is a critical succession planning tool, allowing it to maintain a critical aspect of the brand’s identity moving forward.
