Our partner Amrop Adria is proving that learning from other leaders and managers is not only powerful but fun.
Amrop is a Leadership Advisory and Executive Search firm operating globally in 51 countries. Our partner and friend, Saša Štebe, currently leads competency assessment and development of leaders and key people for Amrop for the Adriatic region. Among their many offerings, Amrop Adria delivers in-house CoachingOurselves peer learning programs combined with thematic workshops, such as integrating cultures during mergers and acquisitions.
When the Covid-19 pandemic spread across the globe and employees went into lockdown, Saša saw an opportunity. Unable to organize the dynamic networking events that Amrop was known for, Saša and her team began hosting online events for HR leaders in Slovenia using CoachingOurselves peer learning guides. The focus was on developing participants and their skills, in addition to creating new connections.
Inspired by the positive feedback, she and her team then launched a new project in 2021: the “Inter-Company Peer Coaching for Leaders Program”. Two cohorts were run between September 2021 and June 2022, with a total of 220 leaders from approximately 20 companies. Using CoachingOurselves discussion guides, participants met for four sessions over four months. Three sessions were virtual, and the final session was an in-person event where participants not only enjoyed insightful conversations but great food and live music.
We asked Saša why she thought these programs and events powered by the CoachingOurselves methodology were so successful. Her response was insightful:
“What is different here is the combination of getting to know new people from similar levels of leadership responsibility — meeting peers from other companies and other industries — while at the same time having content which inspires in-depth conversations. This is not usually the case! You can go to conferences and talk to people but after 15 minutes you usually run out of topics to discuss. But here, you meet for the first time and get this discussion guide. You just follow it and by the end of it, everyone is best friends. It’s rather amazing.”
Saša continued, “And leaders learn that they share the same struggles. It doesn’t matter their industry or their role, here you have peer support plus the additional skills and knowledge from the methodology and expert content.”
Saša’s future plans for Amrop and CoachingOurselves? In September, Amrop Adria will be launching “C-Suite Conversations”, a series of three sessions for top management from across the Adriatic region. The final live event will likely be in the vibrant city of Belgrade. If we have learned anything about Saša and Amrop Adria, we’re sure it will be dynamic!
Inspired? To explore developing and strengthening connections for your employees, contact Warren: warren@coachingourselves.com
