Key Takeaway: Engaging high performers in collaborative, real-world challenges not only generates fresh solutions for critical business issues but also strengthens retention by giving top talent the connection and impact they crave.
Background
Workday has built a global reputation for identifying standout sales talent. However, the existing high-potential program, Activate, consisted of four webinars and the option to sign up for executive coaching. There was no real-world application, no network, and no sign-ups for the coaching.
Workday’s top sellers were full of creative ideas rooted in experience but lacked a structured program to collaborate and refine those ideas across regions.
Redesigning the Program for Creative Impact
Our starting point was the high potentials themselves and gaining a deep understanding of who they were.
We then reimagined the Activate experience around a clear creative methodology:
- Three-Phase Creative Framework
- Define the Problem: Used “webbing” and other divergent-thinking tools to explore challenges from multiple angles.
- Create a Solution: Encouraged participants to generate bold ideas and refine them collaboratively.
- Make a Plan: Transitioned into convergent thinking to shape the strongest solutions into actionable strategies.
- Cross-Regional Collaboration (and Competition)
- Formed pods of three high performers from different regions.
- Ensured each pod tackled a real Workday business challenge.
- Announced prizes to incentivize the natural competitiveness of participants.
- Practical Skill Sessions
- Offered targeted training on self-leadership, decision-making, and executive communication.
- Provided strategies for emotional regulation—like breathing exercises—to foster creativity under pressure.
- Executive-Level Visibility
- Pods presented their problem and solution to a panel of directors that served as judges.
- Garnered immediate feedback and potential buy-in for ideas.
- Created real stakes for participants.
Business Impact:
This creative challenge profoundly changed the way Workday leverages its best talent:
- 26 High-Impact Solutions A strong pipeline of implementable ideas emerged, many directly tied to revenue-driving or cost-saving initiatives.
- Frontline Insights Captured Created a mechanism for surfacing frontline expertise that might otherwise remain siloed.
- Enhanced Cross-Functional Collaboration Fostered a broader knowledge exchange that improved operations and introduced fresh perspectives across teams.
They learned new skills:
- 63% of participants had significant “Aha” moments that reshaped their leadership, problem-solving, and communication approach.
- 100% of participants found real-world applications for our tools and frameworks
With high engagement:
- Achieved a 75.5 NPS, reflecting the program’s high value among participants.
- 90% of participants expressed interest in becoming mentors or buddies for a future cohort, underscoring strong engagement and a positive program perception.
And improved retention:
- 75% of participants said the program strongly influenced their decision to stay at Workday, potentially saving millions in turnover costs.
Real Stories of Transformation
Seeing Deals Differently
“The webbing exercise really changed how my team approaches problem-solving. It opened our eyes to new angles for deal strategy.”
Regional Diversity Drives Negotiation Success
“Working with leaders from ANZ and Europe made me realize how diverse our approaches can be. These insights helped us negotiate Q3/Q4 renewals more effectively.”
Breaking Silos to Spark Innovation
“Coming from the federal team, I often felt isolated. Activate connected me with colleagues from across the globe and made me feel part of Workday as a whole.”
Engineered Connectivity
“I was paired with someone in New Zealand and a colleague in Denmark. You can’t create those connections organically at a company this size. It’s a retention tool in itself.”
Executive Alignment
“Our big ‘A-Ha’ moment involved aligning with executives early on—realizing how to shape the initial sales conversation to address their priorities.”
Managing High-Stakes Moments
“I use the breathing exercises we learned before big presentations. They help me stay focused and more creative.”
Stronger Collaboration
“Learning how our brains process information differently was eye-opening and has improved how we collaborate.”
These stories underscore how structured, cross-regional collaboration and creative problem-solving techniques can elevate business-critical scenarios—from deal strategy to major presentations—while forging lasting professional bonds.
Why This Matters
Workday’s experience illustrates the powerful intersection of innovation and talent strategy. By giving high performers meaningful projects, creative tools, and executive visibility, organizations can:
- Stimulate Business Innovation by tapping into the fresh thinking that frontline employees bring, fueling solutions that directly impact revenue and efficiency.
- Strengthen Key Talent by offering growth and leadership experiences that resonate with top performers’ desire for challenge and impact.
- Build Organizational Resilience by cultivating a proactive mindset—critical for navigating an era of AI-driven disruption and other external shifts.
Bottom Line: As massive change becomes the new norm, those who invest in structured, collaborative approaches to innovation will gain a competitive edge—both in retaining critical talent and in solving the most urgent business problems.
How are we different from coaching platforms?
Our programs provide:
- Community – so your top talent can find their partners in crime
- Contextual feedback – because nothing moves the needle like feedback from peers
- Collective intelligence – your brightest minds working on your biggest problems