Miller Knoll: Building Equity Competency Across an Entire Organization
Custom Leadership Program for Emerging Managers at Global Manufacturing Company.
The Challenge
Miller Knoll, a Fortune 500 design and manufacturing company, was promoting high-performing individual contributors into management roles without adequate leadership development support. Newly promoted managers struggled with difficult conversations, strategic thinking, and leading diverse teams. Turnover among emerging leaders was higher than desired, and the leadership pipeline felt fragile during a period of organizational growth.
Our Approach
We designed a six-month cohort-based leadership development program for 24 emerging managers and high-potential employees. The custom curriculum addressed real workplace challenges participants faced: giving difficult feedback, managing across differences, strategic decision-making, navigating organizational politics, and leading through ambiguity.
Monthly half-day sessions combined skill-building workshops, peer learning circles, and application exercises. Participants brought actual scenarios from their work, practiced new leadership approaches in psychologically safe environments, and received individual coaching support between group sessions.
Measurable Outcomes:
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85% of participants reported significant increases in leadership confidence (post-program survey)
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40% of participants were promoted to expanded leadership roles within 12 months of program completion
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Retention of emerging leaders improved by 25% year-over-year
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Managers observed stronger decision-making, more effective conflict navigation, and improved cross-functional collaboration from program graduates.
Why This Worked:
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Built peer support networks that outlasted the program.
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Addressed Miller Knoll's specific culture and challenges, not generic leadership theory
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Ensured learning transferred to actual work situations
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Over six months allowed behavior change, not just awareness.
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Between sessions helped participants navigate challenges as they arose,
Work with Us
Every team is different. The best way to know if we're the right fit is a conversation about what your team is navigating. We'll discuss your team's dynamics, what's working and what's not, what you've tried, and what success looks like. Then we'll recommend an approach—workshop series, retreat, alignment session, or reflective practice.