The Leadership Academy advances First Horizon Corporation’s strategic goals—Protecting Our Profitability, Accelerating Our Transformation, and Elevating Our People and Communities—by delivering scalable leadership talent development programs. These initiatives reinforce the finance/banking organization’s Firstpower culture principles of accountability, innovation, open-mindedness, and adaptability, while addressing critical leadership challenges such as agility, coaching, cross-functional collaboration, and influence.
Program Details
The Leadership Academy encompasses formal leadership classes tailored to the associate’s experience level, selection-based programs for high-potential associates, and on-demand access for all associates to leadership courses through First Horizon Campus. With this multifaceted approach, combining in-person and online instruction, online learning, and third-party resources, Leadership Academy supports associates throughout their leadership journey.
All associates at every level now have on-demand access to third-party leadership development resources, including learning paths that simplify sourcing and curation of relevant leadership content. Previously such access was limited to those in talent programs or formal classes.
Learning paths through the Leadership Academy address key topics such as coaching conversations, goal setting, and conducting mid-year check-ins. Leaders participate in targeted challenges designed to strengthen competencies essential for effective performance management.
Events include First 100 Days, which builds essential skills for new leaders through self-paced courses and a virtual class, and Leadership in Action, a three-part workshop that focuses on practical leadership, coaching, and critical thinking.
The five high-potential talent programs include Ascend, Accelerate, Rise, Soar, and Soar Higher and range from development for banking center associates and credit analysts to multi-year customized senior executive experiences. Leaders also participate in culture events, such as Operating at Your Best. Together, these programs develop foundational skills, reinforce Firstpower culture principles, and support associates in becoming effective leaders, ensuring a robust leadership pipeline.
First Horizon certified graduates of the Ascend program to deliver third-party content, such as the Fraud Workshop. This opportunity not only expands their facilitating capabilities but also further strengthens their leadership skills.
Results
Turnover among associates participating in leadership programs is 5.3 percent. Key achievements include a 16 percent increase in goal setting, 99 percent completion of performance conversations, and measurable business gains such as a 35 percent productivity boost and 50 percent call-to-contact proficiency (a 525 percent increase) for participants enrolled in the Ascend program. First Horizon’s Client Satisfaction Score is up 1 point and its Net Promoter Score is up 2 points from 2024.
