Change-makers in focus

Reviving entrepreneurial spirit in senior leaders

How we help:

We partnered with Sinopec to co-create and deliver their annual 2-week Essential Leadership Program for senior leaders, designed to support a new generation of change-makers who need to be more entrepreneurial and lead increasingly diverse teams.

Producing socially responsible, cleaner energy for better living

Established in 1998, Sinopec is one of the world’s largest energy and chemical companies with just under one million employees. Hult EF Corporate Education has partnered with Sinopec for leadership development throughout its rapid growth from being the world’s 31st largest company by revenue on the Fortune Global 500 in 2005, to becoming number two in 2020.

“When compared to other training programs I have attended, I have benefited enormously from experiential learning, which helped me improve my leadership and management skills.”

Guanquan Du, Vice President, Sinopec Research Institute of Petrochemical

The Challenge

Sinopec’s main challenges were enhancing management competencies, and how to become competitive both domestically and globally, which led to Sinopec investing in their executive leadership development program outside China.

In this case study, we explore the impact of this immersive leadership program - designed around leadership skills, strategic thinking and innovative culture - on the development of an entrepreneurial spirit within senior leaders.

Interactive and experiential learning to equip senior leaders for success

Our impact

Built on three key themes: leadership skills, strategic thinking, and innovative culture, the Essential Leadership Program enabled senior leaders to develop their ability to lead change in a global business environment while building an innovation-led culture. Sinopec partnered with Hult EF as we were able to create truly customizable programs tailored to fit Sinopec’s specific organizational needs, including bilingual handouts, in-class interpretation, the provision of Chinese food, and cultural visits. Participants were challenged by the uniquely interactive style of learning, involving experiential exercises, culturally relevant content updated to reflect industrial trends, and reflection time. Program evaluations averaged 4.8 out of 5 for 10 cohorts in 2018 and 2019, and on completing the program, many individuals welcomed job promotions where they could apply their newly-acquired leadership skills.

Culturally relevant learning

A customized and culturally relevant learning experience enabled participants to apply their skills straightaway.

Job promotion success

Participants’ careers benefited enormously, with effective leadership skills creating promotion opportunities.

Culturally relevant learning

A customized and culturally relevant learning experience enabled participants to apply their skills straightaway.

Job promotion success

Participants’ careers benefited enormously, with effective leadership skills creating promotion opportunities.

See our work in action

We have helped more than 3,000 organizations, from large multinational companies, to governments, to public sector businesses, to charities. Our capacity to deliver customized programs at scale makes us the provider of choice for global businesses and governments.