It Takes a Village

How we helped shape leadership at a high-impact non-profit

Why this work matters?

The organization is establishing itself as a leading voice for fairness and equality in America by shaping the way companies treat their employees, customers, communities, shareholders, and the world around them. Strongly aligned with their mission, we began working with the CEO in 2018 as the organization was beginning its first transformation. Given the organization’s remit, they have been explicit about living by the same metrics and best practices by which they evaluate other companies. As a long-term, trusted partner to the organization we have helped them be intentional and thoughtful about their own leadership and team behaviors and the values they live by.

What did we do?

Our initial entry point into the organization was an executive coaching engagement with the CEO to give him the opportunity to deeply understand his strengths and areas for development and shape his leadership impact. As the economic, political, and societal landscape has continued to change, the CEO has chosen to continue working with his MindsOpen coach for regular tune-ups, ensuring that he has a safe and confidential place to reflect on his leadership behaviors, influencing style, working relationships, and decision-making.

Seeing the benefits of this work, the CEO invested in similar executive coaching engagements for his colleagues. To date, we have coached four members of the leadership team, helping them grow in their own right as leaders. We’ve also engaged with the leadership team as a whole, delivering various high-performing team initiatives to enhance trust between team members and improve team performance.

Beyond the leadership team, we have worked with all employees to help them better understand their interpersonal needs in relationships and what this means for the way they work together and interact with each other.

During pivotal change moments that the organization has faced or engineered, such as an organizational redesign, a new strategy, or a rightsizing, we have provided advice, support, and challenge underpinned by one goal, to help the organization be best placed to achieve its mission.

In the client’s words, what is the impact?

Over years of collaboration, MindsOpen’s work has had an incredible impact on our leadership team. Their tailored blend of executive coaching methodologies, workshops, and personalized strategies has sculpted a profound evolution in our leaders. Their coaching has been instrumental in refining our team’s leadership identities and equipping them with essential management skills. It's a fusion of coaching, workshopping, and therapeutic elements that have helped the team to understand and reshape how they perceive themselves as leaders. This sentiment echoes throughout our team's experiences, reflecting how coaching has clarified their leadership aspirations and skill sets, transcending mere professional development. MindsOpen's approach, integrating feedback, personality assessments, and a balanced focus on strengths and weaknesses, has cultivated invaluable insights that have cascaded into our day-to-day operations. The impact is undeniable – our leaders have emerged stronger, more capable, and better equipped to navigate the complexities of our work.

What does the client say?

Years of partnering with MindsOpen have been transformative for our organization's leadership development and instrumental in shaping our leaders' growth journeys. As one of our executives put it, “Coaching has been the key to clarifying my leadership vision and honing the necessary management skills. It’s fundamentally changed how I perceive myself within our organization and in any future roles.” For those seeking a long-term, pragmatic, and results-driven approach to executive coaching, MindsOpen is a steadfast recommendation.

Working with MindsOpen has had a profound effect on me personally and professionally. It’s given me a comprehensive grounding in modern day leadership, the skills and tools to handle complex and challenging management situations, and the confidence to become the leader I want to be. There is no way we would have enjoyed the success we’ve had as an organization without them.

What our clients
say about us

MindsOpen takes the time to understand the root issues. The coaches have a way of connecting with different types of leaders to get the most out of them in a group and in individual interactions. They approach their work in an authentic way that draws even the strongest naysayers in. During a complex engagement with a team in the business I support, our MindsOpen coach had a way of eliciting the participation of a couple of people I was not sure would open up to the process. They knew how to push people just so. The assessment tools they utilize offer a round understanding of the individual and help to push forward interesting dialogue and insight about other team members. MindsOpen is a fantastic partner. Our coaches are always available to offer insight/suggestions and they have helped me in my approach significantly. You feel like you are working with the very best when engaging MindsOpen.

D.G., HR Executive, Real Estate Investment

They understand nuance, organizational difference, and don't try label individuals or companies, or define people as a "type" in relation to what or who they are. Their approach is a journey. It does not feel like you are being led to a certain point but are facilitated in finding your way. They are clear on objectives but very agile on how you get there. For the first time, I enjoy my coaching sessions. My coach has a very good style. He is challenging but empathetic; listens and understands well; is highly astute; and brings people out of themselves to create an open and candid, but safe environment for teams to engage. I also just felt a connection, trust, and liked him. He is very human in his approach and creates space for me to be vulnerable and honest.

K.S., Chief Operating Officer, Global Law Firm

Their direct style is appreciated. They see into your soul. Other providers are too fluffy compared to MindsOpen. They deliver feedback in a concise and calm way. They see through all the barriers to get to the essence of a person or team. They make a meaningful difference to individuals and teams that go through the rigor of the customized plan. The best I have seen at cutting through the BS and identifying the core of the issue(s). Hence, people learn and grow quickly.

M.T., CEO, Beverage Industry

Leadership journeys today are incredibly complex, intensely demanding and ever evolving. Neil’s style - rooted in enduring principles and concepts; challenging yet caring; highly personalized - is well suited to this environment. His coaching has transformed the way I think about and practice leadership. It’s benefited me in innumerable ways, professionally and even personally. More importantly, it’s benefited the organization I lead and the next generation of leaders coming through it. That ‘multiplier effect’ is priceless. We would not be the organization we are today without him.

Martin Whittaker, CEO, Just Capital

After working with MindsOpen, our leaders have been much more aware of their blind spots and are more self-aware in general. They have improved in their leadership abilities and have also built their confidence. It's been great that our leaders can choose from a few different professionals to ensure they are comfortable with their coach. We have really appreciated the rigor of the psychological insight being taken into consideration. We also love the balance of the customization for each individual with the consistency we are able to gain across leaders. The MindsOpen coaches keep in mind the different needs, skills, and abilities of each of our leaders. That’s been really wonderful for us.

M.K. Head of HR, non-profit sector

MindsOpen is a great way to summarize my coaching experience as we worked on my development, leadership purpose, and style. My coach’s ability to combine psychological rigor with significant global experience across a broad range of industries has unlocked my leadership potential and significantly accelerated my personal journey. Senior executives and mentors recognized this evolution and promoted me from a high potential “diamond in the rough” to a successful leader leading a multi-billion spend, global transformation program. My leadership brand became visible to others through a clearly defined set of characteristics that guide my behaviors every day, resulting in me successfully engaging the wider organization to act and create value for the business. My MindsOpen coach helped me identify and shape these characteristics in line with my past, present, and future, which makes it very natural for me to include them in the way I lead.

J.V., Global procurement executive, Food Industry

The MindsOpen team finds synergies and aligns executives on their ways of working amidst some of the most challenging team dynamics. MindsOpen takes an inside-out approach by getting leaders to better understand themselves first, their strengths and gaps. These insights form the basis of understanding and working better with others. They are true experts at what they do, thorough, and results-oriented.

A.T., Chief People Officer

We partner with MindsOpen on succession and assessments. We choose them because of the quality of their work and their depth of expertise. They are a trusted partner, whose approach is unique, insightful, and highly credible.

D.M. Chief People Officer, Financial Services