Preparing the next generation of leaders is critical to VSP Global’s ongoing stability and success to grow, seek efficiencies, and build bench strength. To that end, the eyecare insurance and products company has grown its leadership development ecosystem, including the internally developed VSP Global Emerging Leaders Program (VELP).
Program Details
Identifying one’s readiness for the rigors of this 52-week program is a deep and thoughtful process, driven through the business where each candidate ultimately is sponsored by the executive team. The selection process includes competency-based assessments for third-party perspectives, observations of demonstrated hunger (disposition) to grow either as an individual contributor or as a leader of others, current success in the candidate’s role, and healthy discussion between the nominating leader and the executive who would sponsor the selected candidate. Every executive sponsors learners in each VELP session, which includes 30 to 40 learners.
As in a Master’s program at university, learners are required to:
- Read, understand, and apply to VSP Global’s business the concepts of no fewer than 12 assigned texts and several complex case studies
- Attend 33 four- to eight-hour in-person workshops
- Actively participate in a highly visible, executive-sponsored enterprise project where business impact is expected in an accelerated period of time
- Complete a final presentation delivered to the learner’s leadership team and executives
Learners are expected to have a high level of engagement in addition to excelling in their current role within the organization.
Throughout the program, learners engage in advanced management and leadership principles and dive deep into core competencies VSP Global has identified as demonstrated skills and behaviors of effective leaders, including substantial, practically applicable self-awareness and emotional intelligence work. The foundation of this work begins with a full 360 Feedback Survey with 15 to 40 raters, giving learners a purposeful view into the experience they create for those around them. Additionally, each learner is matched with a personal, certified development coach who works with him or her throughout the program and continues the coaching relationship beyond program graduation. Completion of this program holds a provisional equivalency of three years of leadership experience, supporting learners who drive the trajectory into further roles within the organization.
Results
- Some 30 percent of learners were promoted into next-level roles within the organization either during VELP or immediately following graduation.
- Because of ongoing voice of the customer feedback and collaboration with VELP and other stakeholders, VSP Global saw a 6 percent lift in perceived value with the doctors that are participating in the VSP Global Premier Program. The latest survey indicates 90 percent of Premier Program practices see value in the program—up from 84 percent the year before.
