Aalberts Industries

As an international listed company, Aalberts has grown through mergers and acquisitions. Until recently, the acquired businesses often continued to operate largely unchanged and under their own names. Today, however, more synergy is needed. That is why Aalberts is moving towards greater collaboration, connection and integration between its labels. This movement requires inspirational and powerful leadership. Leaders with vision, who can connect people and achieve results. To develop this leadership, Ludens designed the FIT programme for Aalberts.

With more than 16,000 employees, 4 business segments and 15 business teams, Aalberts operates in more than 50 countries. Aalberts’ current and future leaders are therefore spread all over the world, come from diverse backgrounds and represent many nationalities.

This diversity in several areas placed specific demands on the design of the leadership programme. That is why the FIT programme combines online training sessions with two live training weeks in a group of 20 international peers. The first week focuses on personal development. Building on this foundation, the second week focuses on leadership development. To connect the learning to daily practice, the programme starts with an online intake and a three-way conversation between the participant, their manager and the trainer to define the learning goals. During the programme, the participant stays in contact with the trainer and the other participants through online peer consultation and coaching. The FIT programme ends with an online conversation between the participant, their manager and the trainer to evaluate the participant’s development and jointly create a plan for continuing that development. This structure creates a continuous learning pathway with room for personal depth, group learning and connection to practice.

The FIT programme started in 2018 and the first results are already visible in the organisation. Because the leaders have gained a strong understanding of themselves and expanded their range of leadership styles, they notice that they have become much more effective as leaders. Their managers and direct reports also indicate that they notice the difference. In addition, the participants have become much more visible, expanded their network and developed greater mutual understanding and connection.