Research Basis

The foundations that inform the Emerging Executives Programme

The Emerging Executives Programme is designed around what established leadership research consistently shows about how professionals progress into senior roles. Our approach integrates these insights with the lived experience of senior ethnic-cultural leaders – our Leadership Mentors – who coach, challenge and support participants as they refine their leadership trajectory.

What the Research Shows

Across organisational psychology, leadership development and inclusion research, four themes shape progression for ethnic-cultural talent:

1. Role modelling and leadership identity
   Professionals advance more effectively when they see senior figures who reflect aspects of their own experience. Exposure to credible role models strengthens leadership identity and confidence.
2. Fluency in organisational dynamics
   Progression depends on understanding how influence is built: visibility, sponsorship and the unwritten rules that shape senior decision-making. These dynamics appear across organisational-behaviour literature as determinants of leadership emergence.
3. Psychological safety and strategic voice
   Leadership visibility requires the ability to contribute confidently in high-stakes dialogue. Research shows that psychologically safe environments enable clearer thinking, stronger participation and more consistent strategic contribution.
4. Sponsorship and senior advocacy
   Studies across industries confirm that sponsorship – not just performance – is decisive for stepping into senior roles. Underrepresented professionals often lack structured access to this advocacy.

How We Apply These Principles

The programme translates these research insights into practice.

1. 1:1 career coaching delivered by Leadership Mentors
   Participants work directly with senior corporate leaders – executives, partners and managing directors – who combine organisational expertise with relevant lived experience. This supports strategic guidance, visibility-building and informed advocacy.
2. Workshops focused on influence and organisational navigation
   Sessions explore how senior decisions are shaped, how stakeholders assess leadership potential and how influence flows across formal and informal networks.
3. Peer learning and exposure to established leaders
   Cohort dialogue and interactions with senior leaders reinforce leadership identity and provide concrete examples of how different leadership styles operate at scale.
4. A psychologically safe development environment
   Career coaching provides space for strategic reflection without evaluation, enabling participants to refine their leadership presence and build confidence in complex corporate settings.

What We Observe Across Cohorts

Participants report clearer next steps, stronger strategies for visibility and sponsorship, greater confidence in senior environments and broader access to opportunities. Many move into new roles within a year, and both individual and group sessions consistently receive high ratings.

Why This Matters

Leadership progression is shaped by capability, context and access. Our programme brings these elements together: evidence-informed development, senior lived experience and a community of leaders who understand both the ambition and the realities of corporate life. The result is a learning environment that strengthens leadership identity, expands strategic influence and accelerates readiness for senior roles.