A 12-month cohort program helping 23 middle and rising managers move from feeling stuck to leading from exactly where they are. Client name withheld to protect confidentiality.
This organization's Talent Management team sought to support the leadership development of middle and rising managers, an often overlooked group that can become stuck in static roles with limited professional growth. Traditional executive coaching was effective, but cost-prohibitive to provide individually across a group this size. The organization needed a scalable, values-aligned way to invest in this crucial layer of leadership.
The October Group designed and delivered a year-long, cohort-based leadership development program for 23 participants. The program combined group coaching, spotlight coaching, peer learning, and leadership development work, organized around two themes: leading self and leading others.
Sessions were structured around plenary gatherings and smaller cohort meetings, creating space for reflection, discussion, and real experimentation. Participants also had the option of one-on-one executive coaching during the summer, supporting personal capstone projects and deeper individual growth.
What emerged over the year was mindset transformation, not just skill-building. Participants described discovering resilience in the face of challenges they once felt powerless against. They found their voices. They learned to advocate for their ideas, push back constructively, and see themselves as leaders regardless of title.
Instead of waiting for change to come from above, participants re-engaged with their work, approaching their bosses and stakeholders with newfound clarity and confidence.
