Strategic Leadership Development at Orkla Denmark

Challenge 

Orkla Danmark produces and markets some of Denmark's well-known food and snack brands, employing around 650 employees across multiple locations throughout the country. Following organizational mergers and a new strategy, Orkla Denmark aimed to establish a unified leadership framework and to enhance leadership competencies to ensure that business and strategic goals are achieved at the desired pace.

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Strengthened leaders and leadership practices were also seen as critical to reinforcing the desired culture and behaviors among both managers and employees. This focus was essential to unlocking the organization’s and employees' full potential, supporting the realization of the vision and strategy.

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Another central goal of the leadership development program was to foster stronger relationships among leaders across locations and management levels.

Solution 

The solution involved designing, developing, and facilitating a 10-day leadership development program for approximately 75 leaders across functions and locations, launching with a kick-off in January 2023 and concluding in June 2024. The program included five modules, learning groups, and hands-on practice. The design ensured a close alignment between understanding and realizing the strategy, as well as developing leadership strength, unity, and decisiveness.

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Leaders gained insights and practical experience in achieving business and strategic goals through change management, strategic communication, and a coaching, strength-based, and experimental approach to leadership.

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The program also enabled leaders to deepen their awareness of their leadership strengths and development areas, providing each with a personal development and action plan for their leadership role.

Results 

Upon completion of the program, significant and measurable results have emerged. Leaders report a much stronger shared framework for leadership within Orkla Denmark. They have gained greater knowledge of activities across the organization, feel more competent in their leadership roles, and have acquired useful tools that support their leadership of themselves, their teams, and the strategic direction.

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Leaders now have a much clearer understanding of the strategy and direction, enabling them to prioritize accordingly. They feel better equipped to translate strategy, goals, and plans into actionable steps.

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"The unity, leadership strength, and decisiveness have been strengthened at Orkla Denmark as a result of the leadership development program across all locations and management levels. Orkla Denmark has a new strategy that has gotten off to a great start, and we’ve had many valuable discussions in the program about our role as leaders. We’ve also gained numerous concrete leadership tools that support us in the changes ahead. And, incidentally, Orkla Denmark has never had better business results than we have now…”
— Carsten Hänel, CEO