Sika LEAD Programme

A world-class high performance Leadership Programme for 100 Senior Managers across Sika UK.

Organisation overview

Sika is a global specialty chemicals company with a leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing and protection in the building sector and the automotive industry. Sika has subsidiaries in 93 countries around the world and manufactures in over 170 factories. Its 17,000+ employees generated annual sales of CHF 5.49 billion in 2015.

Our Approach

First Ascent conducted a detailed needs evaluation process before designing a multi-modular Leadership Programme, which was rolled out to several cohorts. Each module was residential and grounded in the powerful combination of contemporary brain science (including Emergenetics Profiling) and experiential learning. Executive coaching was also provided to each delegate.

Delegates from various cohorts regularly attend the First Ascent Foundation and all have access to free lifetime mentoring.

Impact and ROI

The programme delivered significant behaviour changes and over 27x return on investment, analysed using the Kirkpatrick Level 4 evaluation framework.


“The LEAD programme has enabled us to create a coherent national strategy and a plan to achieve it. This was delivered in a much more collaborative way than we have worked in the past. As a direct result, everyone has had input and is behind it. The team are much more engaged.”

Learning and Development Manager, Sika

“We have much more pride in delivery and a new-found confidence. I like to think I am role modelling leadership more than I used to. I am certainly having greater engagement with senior people and with customers.”

“The module on engagement was very powerful in helping me to understand the drivers in my team. I’m now constantly looking for ways to keep the energy up.”

“Almost a mantra now in meetings is: “Is this what the customer wants?”

Delegates from the Sika LEAD Programme

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