Future Leaders Programme

Objective

To provide Kuwaiti graduates with classroom instruction and on-the-job training to become future business leaders.

Overview and Main Activities

This 12-month development programme is open to new graduates who have demonstrated excellence and leadership potential throughout the selection and assessment. In addition to an English-language assessment, a Graduate Talent Assessment and a behavioural interview, candidates are selected after participating in an array of leadership development activities, including:

• Training and workshop sessions (covering leadership essentials, embracing change, navigating beyond conflict, networking for enhanced collaboration, customer service & taking the heat, business simulation, project management, Six Sigma, presentation skills and emotional intelligence and executive presence)
• Harvard e-learning models (stress management, goal setting, persuading others, team management, customer focus, strategy execution and process improvement)
• Practical immersion in a business in order to engage the participants and have them apply what they have learned

The above activities take place over a period of four months and involve classroom instruction and on-the-job training to maximize the learning and development process. An intensive one-month period follows the training process, where participants are involved in a KAIZEN process improvement project. This enables participants to learn how businesses improve processes and reduce costs using an effective and systematic method based on Six Sigma Methodology.

A final seven-month job rotation ensures participants are aware of Alghanim Industries’ diverse businesses. The job rotation is also used to:

• Expose participants to a wider range of operations so managers can identify the participants’ talents
• Allow participants to identify what they are good at and what they enjoy doing
• Help managers and participants identify their knowledge, skills and attitudes
• Motivate participants to deal with and adapt to new challenges

Success Factors and Challenges

Most critical success factors:

• Support from top management
• Support from businesses and key company leaders
• Government partnering

Main challenges:

• Recruiting committed candidates to the programme for the long term

Recommendations for Others

The most important aspect of this type of programme is the assessment centre used to select candidates. Once a young future leader is selected, it is important to make sure the selection is a sound one, as the choice will influence all leaders. In addition, the more assessments are conducted, the better.

Replicability and Scalability

How easily could other organizations implement this initiative?
Easy: If company leaders support such an initiative, the initiative should be fairly easy to implement.

How easily can this initiative be expanded to include a larger number of participants?
Easy: If prospective candidates meet programme criteria, expanding to a larger number of candidates is straightforward.

About the Organization

Website: www.alghanim.com
Sector: Diverse Sectors
Size (number of employees): 10,000 – 50,000
Headquarters: Shuwaikh, Kuwait

For Further Engagement

Contact name: Talal Almutairi
Contact position: Senior HR Manager- Government Services
Email: [email protected]