Why investing in tomorrow’s leaders is today’s priority

Wintec’s Professional Programmes facilitator, Delia Beuker (left) and Business Development Representative, Michelle Pearse (right) with graduates of the first Foster Leadership programme. Pictured from back: Dillon Kelliher, Matthew Johns, Zebaniah Benson, Jael Clausen, Tukere Thompson, Simon de Blaauw, Rebecca Hopson, Alec Slomp. 

Eight emerging leaders have recently graduated from the inaugural Foster Leadership programme developed in collaboration with Wintec.

The students, chosen from within Waikato construction firm Foster Group, were selected due to the continuing commitment of both Fosters and Wintec to prepare future leaders.

The eight-week course was tailored around Foster’s specific drive to equip future leaders in their industry.

“Across many industries, there is a real need to understand succession planning’s importance and to understand why key team members are vital for business sustainability,” says Wintec’s Business Development Representative, Michelle Pearse.
 
“Our Professional Programmes team contextualised a leadership programme to meet the Foster Group’s vision. By the end of the programme, the participants’ whole thought process had changed, and the result is better than we had ever imagined.”

The participants covered diverse topics such as communications, strategies for workplace relationships, resolving interpersonal conflicts and presenting with confidence. The eight-interactive face to face sessions ended with each team member giving a ten-minute presentation outlining how they would use the skills gained to resolve a potential scenario in their workplace. This was presented to senior management at Fosters.

For Fosters Chief Operating Officer, Nigel Sun, the experience was about investing in people and growing them beyond their roles.

“It was immensely rewarding seeing these people develop more confidence. They quickly became a close-knit group, openly sharing their challenges and gaining a better understanding of how the different areas of the business contribute.

“It was a great way of breaking down silos. Effectively, we’re ensuring that leaders in all parts of our organisation are on the same page.”

Graduates of the training will now be able to take their streamlined skills and apply them across various sectors of the workplace including finance, site management, construction and administration.

Further bespoke courses that develop senior-level management at Fosters are now in the pipeline and are due to be rolled out at Fosters in 2020. For Michelle, professional development is crucial and filters out amongst all corners of the workplace.  

“We want to encourage other industries and firms to invest in their people. Our Professional Programmes facilitators have been in roles where they’ve been leaders and have industry examples to back up what they say.”

Businesses can find out more about professional programmes at Wintec here.

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