Leadership Programme

Background & Objectives

Liberty Global partnered with Impact Factory to design and deliver a high-impact, experiential leadership pilot programme. This initiative was part of their WIN (Women in Network) initiative. The session brought together a diverse group of 16 women from across the business. It provided a dedicated space to explore what it means to lead with confidence, authenticity, and influence.

The key objectives were to:

• Build confidence and self-awareness in leadership roles
• Equip participants with tools to navigate bias, hierarchy, and difficult conversations
• Strengthen communication and influence in meetings and negotiations
• Provide a platform for shared learning and peer connection

Programme Overview

Delivered in person by Impact Factory Senior Training Consultants Naina and Katherine, the one-day workshop took place in Amsterdam. This created a dynamic, safe, and energising environment for participants to explore new leadership behaviours through experimentation.

The session opened with a reflection on the unique challenges women face in the workplace. These challenges ranged from imposter syndrome and language bias to hierarchy and visibility. Participants then identified the qualities of great leaders, surfacing shared values like empathy, respect, and courage.

Through interactive exercises, the group explored the Trust Equation. They broke trust down into credibility, reliability, and intimacy. Participants practised articulating their personal credentials with clarity and confidence.

The session also tackled the “Nice vs Nasty” paradox. It offered a practical model for assertiveness and boundary-setting. This was followed by ‘The Art of No’ – learning to say no strategically while maintaining relationships.

Later, the group worked with Aristotle’s persuasion structure to practise influencing others. They experimented with techniques for speaking up in meetings without interrupting. They also explored pay and promotion conversations, supported by the SCARF Model (Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, Fairness). This helped them understand what drives human behaviour in high-stakes scenarios.

Key Content Areas

• Navigating gendered leadership challenges
• Building credibility and connection
• Assertiveness without apology: setting boundaries
• Influencing with Aristotle’s structure
• Speaking up in meetings with confidence and tact
• Pay & promotion negotiations
• Motivation & reward

Outcomes

• Increased self-confidence and clarity around leadership voice
• Practical strategies for assertiveness and influence
• Stronger peer relationships across departments and countries
• A shared language and toolkit to support continued growth
• Clear takeaways to apply in the workplace immediately

Next Steps

This pilot programme served as a springboard for continued leadership development within Liberty Global’s WIN network. With overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, we look forward to future collaborations and deeper partnerships. These efforts aim to support inclusive, impactful leadership across the organisation.