**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:

1. **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.  
2. **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.  
3. **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.  
4. **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**

1. **Seeing Deals Differently**  
   > “The webbing exercise really changed how my team approaches problem-solving. It opened our eyes to new angles for deal strategy.”

2. **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.”

3. **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.”

4. **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.”

5. **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.”

6. **Managing High-Stakes Moments**  
   > “I use the breathing exercises we learned before big presentations. They help me stay focused and more creative.”

7. **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:

1. **Community** – so your top talent can find their partners in crime  
2. **Contextual feedback** – because nothing moves the needle like feedback from peers  
3. **Collective intelligence** – your brightest minds working on your biggest problems