Client Profile
Global Corporate Marketing Group at a $16B US-based technology company
Client Needs
The VP of Global Corporate Marketing – a long-time client – came to Mariposa 6 months into their new job. They noticed the usual concerns associated with a remote-first workplace environment. To focus on cultivating culture, Mariposa worked with the VP’s Chief of Staff to design a 9-month program that blended bi-weekly 1-1 executive leadership coaching for the VP’s direct reports, along with quarterly mini-workshops for the 22-person organization.
Client Focus Areas + Results
The goals were: 1) increase the effectiveness of communication across global time zones, 2) further enhance engagement/connection from a cultural standpoint, and 3) uplevel ability to influence business partners in a Zoom environment.
Results:
- By incorporating the StrengthsFinder tool, greatly increased understanding and ability to leverage each team members’ strengths. By working on projects together based on strengths data, put a different perspective on both strategy and getting things done.
- Tackled coaching skills by learning In-the-Moment (ITM) Coaching. Applied these skills in a very successful way: Each team member paired up with a peer coach, which greatly increased connection and belonging across the global team.
- By focusing on strategic influencing skills, upleveled ability to be partners/consultants to the business rather than just producing endless tasks and projects. Learned the importance of being stewards of the organization and asking consultative questions.
- With direct reports’ 1-1 executive coaching increased personal executive presence and influence to contribute to strategy of the various business units, like product development.
With direct reports’ 1-1 executive coaching, worked through conflicts by using skills like balancing inquiry and advocacy and rapport-building.
I was skeptical about executive coaching mostly out of ignorance of what it entailed and fear of being vulnerable. However, the combination of individual coaching and group sessions with our team has proved invaluable. My coach is skilled at assessing the strengths of leaders, building on them, and identifying where there are opportunities for growth. She knows how to ask the right questions to quickly get to the heart of the matter, diagnose a situation, and provide prescriptive guidance on how to improve it. My coach has also been instrumental in coaching me through how to influence decision-making with our most senior executives to reach optimal outcomes for the company. In doing so, she has helped me become a steward of the business, and my peers and leadership have provided positive feedback about how I work and how I lead. I have more confidence to effectively lead teams, influence strategy, and continue growing my career. The best part of working with her, however, is her high degree of empathy and caring. I know I can let down my guard with her to grow and become a more effective leader.
Her reputation as the best of the best is well deserved, and program she has done with us has been top-notch. Team members have had nothing but positive things to say about their engagement in the workshops, and that’s largely due to the action-based sessions where it’s not a lecture, it’s an interactive experience with valuable takeaways that you can start practicing immediately. She frequently shares personal stories or anecdotes to help contextualize situations, and she’s not afraid to be honest. My coach also has a great sense of humor, immense wit, and is sharp as a tack—a joy to work with, and our coaching sessions are a highlight of my week.
I wish I started executive coaching earlier in my career. Both the material provided and the coaching sessions have helped me further develop a unique set of skills and viewpoints that sets me apart and provide value to the business. If you want to excel in your career and advance in responsibility, the Mariposa Team can help make it happen.
