Reaching for Altitude
In a world where clients look to us to help them navigate new disruptions and solve important problems, it is our people’s leadership skills and ability to use technology for good that will make a difference.
Setting the scene
Since pausing our in-person leadership programmes in March 2020, changing work environments have amplified the need for agility, resilience, innovation and hybrid working skills. We needed to refresh Altitude, our flagship leadership programme for senior associates to reflect this, support our people strategy, and continue bringing our best to our clients.
It is critical to invest in our people’s leadership skills early in their career in order for them to be effective leaders of tomorrow. And this is where our new vision for Altitude came in.
How we helped
The refreshed programme is a three-day residential event offering a unique learning experience to spark and unlock new thinking, awareness and skills.
We wanted our senior associates to respond to the changing and dynamic environments, and to do this it was necessary to adopt bold technology. But most technology is nothing without people, so harnessing its power through the things that make us human - empathy, judgement, care - is central to the training.
We used immersive methods during the programme, including virtual reality (VR) headsets. This collaboration platform provided each individual with an augmented life-like version of themselves. Being able to recognise colleagues and clients in avatar form gives a sense of human connection and allows interaction in a virtual environment. Helping participants to hone the skills to engage and build relationships for an increasingly virtual world.
Elsewhere, guest CEOs joined the participants as live holograms of themselves. The holograms interact in real time, answering questions and working collaboratively with the senior associates.
Over the programme participants were asked to challenge and think differently about the opportunities of the hybrid world and what this offers clients and, in turn, their role in helping us deliver innovative solutions for them.
“I had a fantastic experience elevating my leadership skills through a series of tasks, leadership sessions and listening to many inspirational leaders. The most amazing part was exploring our leadership styles, learning from each other and adapting to different challenges - a remarkable and seamless experience.”
Making a difference
Altitude is an experiential programme that refreshes, excites and equips senior associates with the skills to lead themselves and others.
Over 1,600 people completed the training with feedback describing the experience as intense and challenging but incredibly rewarding. They return to their teams ready to put what they’ve learned into action, practising behaviour that fosters a culture of belonging, where everyone is valued and can succeed.
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