European Custom Leadership Development Program Wins Award

A leadership development program at Royal Philips Electronics that sparked innovation has won an Excellence in Practice Award from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). Led by CCL and The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, the Philips Octagon program enhances business acumen and innovation strategy by strengthening behavioral leadership skills.

The award, equivalent to the American Society for Training & Development awards, is the most prestigious of its kind in Europe. EFMD, a globally recognized accreditation organization, selected the program from 32 entries as the winning case study in the talent management category. Award criteria focused on sustainable partnerships, alignment with corporate strategy, and return on investment.

The Octagon program, ongoing since 2005, is an advanced, accelerated learning experience for “top potentials” at Philips. It offers participants a rigorous curriculum to develop their leadership skills and requires them to collaborate across functional and geographic boundaries to address a major business challenge. Already, Octagon has produced innovations in Philips’ healthcare, lighting, and consumer lifestyle groups.

CCL, Wharton, and Philips will accept the award at the EFMD executive education conference.

“The combination of Wharton and CCL with Philips’ talent management team is a powerhouse, creating a leadership pipeline that continues to deliver exponential value to Philips,” says Rudi Plettinx, vice president and managing director of CCL EMEA.

“CCL’s contribution focused on developing the how of leadership — those essential behavioral qualities that leaders need to apply every day in their dealings with people inside and outside the organization.”