Success Story

From Directive to Empowering: Redefining Leadership in Pharma

To stay ahead, they knew they had to move from traditional management to more authentic and agile leadership. With QiLeader’s support, they helped 63 leaders embrace empowerment, focus on innovation, and create a more dynamic, authentic culture.

Context & Challenges

In the face of digital transformation, evolving regulations, and mounting global competition, a multinational pharmaceutical company recognized the need to redefine its leadership style.

Traditional management approaches are no longer sufficient in navigating the complexities of the industry. Leaders needed to shift from directive to empowering, and from authoritative to authentic, to foster innovation and agility in a fast-changing landscape.

Objectives

Partnering with QiLeader, the organization set ambitious goals to drive this transformation:

  • Foster Empowerment and Authenticity: Cultivate a leadership mindset that supports agility and innovation.
  • Upskill 63 Global Leaders: Equip leaders with tools to manage complexity and inspire their teams.
  • Embed Authentic Leadership: Shift the organizational culture towards authenticity to enhance decision-making and team dynamics.
  • Align Leadership Across Levels: Ensure the board of directors and leadership team are equipped to achieve ambitious goals.

QiLeader Approach

The QiLeader Culture Program employed a blended, neuroscience-backed approach to meet these goals:

Exclusive Workshops and Keynotes
The program began with tailored workshops for the Directorial Committee and inspiring keynotes to spark motivation and align leadership objectives.
Blended Learning Journeys
Leaders engaged with a mix of self-paced digital content, live workshops, and group coaching sessions to accommodate their demanding schedules.
Innovative, Counter-Intuitive Techniques
Grounded in neuroscience, the program introduced concepts that blended emotional intelligence and real-world application, preparing leaders to adapt to rapid changes in the sector.
Sustained Support
Ongoing mentoring ensured long-term integration of new practices, embedding change at every level.

Results

The results surpassed expectations, delivering meaningful shifts:

  • Empowered Leadership Mindsets: Leaders embraced authenticity and empowerment, driving innovation and agility in their teams.
  • Enhanced Leadership Skills: All 63 leaders developed the capabilities needed to navigate a complex, fast-moving industry with confidence.
  • Stronger Organizational Culture: Authentic leadership practices fostered better decision-making, higher innovation levels, and a more motivated workforce.

The Bottom Line

This transformative journey not only fulfilled the company’s immediate objectives but also established a leadership model built on empowerment and authenticity. It has become a benchmark for success in the pharmaceutical sector, proving that leadership driven by authenticity can lead to sustainable growth and innovation.

Proven benefits of the QiLeader approach on results, profits, well-being, engagement and turnover

On top of reaching each company’s personalized goals, QiLeader also aims at rebooting leaders and their teams for more impact in fast & busy times, by deeply reprogramming their habits. Research among 500 respondents shows that a rebooted leader (i.e. a leader who adopted the 5 habits of fast & busy times, namely: Rhythm, Purpose, Growth Mindset, Resilience and Focus) shows significantly better results compared to a more traditional leader or employee. For instance, a rebooted QiLeader is 72% more motivated than a traditional leader or employee, experiencing less stress (by 59%) and a decreased workload (by 45%). The likelihood of this QiLeader looking for another job is also decreased by 50%.

The same research shows that rebooted leaders work on average 10% less than traditional leaders while having 47% more impact, impact being defined in terms of reaching one’s objectives.

Assessments taken by participants to QiLeader programs before and after the training show an increased adaptability to the fast & busy times, with an average progression of 28% across the 5 habits assessed in 3 to 4 months. Biggest improvements are visible in Mindset (moving from a fixed to growth mindset) and in Focus (From overwhelmed & operational to focused and strategic.

Decreased absenteeism

The cumulative effect of increased impact, energy and motivation, together with decreased workload and stress results in a significant drop in absenteeism. The QiLeader techniques applied by Murielle Machiels during her time as CEO of an educational publishing company resulted in a 50% decrease in absenteeism. QiLeader also relies on a number of testimonials from participants saying that they avoided burnout thanks to the principles learned through QiLeader courses.

In Belgium, absenteeism is estimated at 10% per year and research shows an average cost of absenteeism of 2.450€ per year per employee.

For a group of 20 leaders, the absenteeism cost would be approximately 49.000€.

Decreased employee turnover

Average employee turnover rate is 10% depending on your industry. The cost of replacing a leader varies between 50% and 213% of their annual salary cost. For a group of 20 leaders with an annual salary cost of 100.000€, the employee turnover cost would be at least 100.000€ (50% of the annual salary cost of 2 people). This cost includes loss in productivity, replacement costs, recruitment costs, onboarding costs… 

Our research shows that rebooted Qileaders are 50% less likely to look for another job. 

See this participant’s testimonial: “It was a crisis moment for me at that point, because I was choosing between ‘Do I stay in this company? Maybe I should go someplace else…’ or ‘Do I find a way to make myself more motivated? And doing the course remotivated me.” (full testimonial here: https://youtu.be/zwRw0h7DeW0).
In Belgium, absenteeism is estimated at 10% per year and research shows an average cost of absenteeism of 2.450€ per year per employee.

For a group of 20 leaders, the absenteeism cost would be approximately 49.000€.

The ROI of the program based on previous results & research (only taking into account absenteeism and retention)

The program costs:

30.000€ for 20 leaders

Estimated 50% reduction of absenteeism:

24.500€ lower costs

Estimated 50% reduction in employee turnover:

50.000€ lower costs

Estimated profit increase:

44.500€

Mindset-based training increases profits three times more than standard business training

A World Bank study, conducted in partnership with the National University of Singapore Business School and Leuphana University, revealed that mindset-based training increases profits with 30% while traditional business training increases profits with 11%. This study was conducted among 1,500 entrepreneurs divided into 3 groups. One group didn’t receive any training and served as base to compare the other two. One group received a business training and one group received a mindset-based training.

The cost of the mindset- based training was already repaid within the first year thanks to increased profits and is 3 times more profitable than a classic business training.

QiLeader is a mindset-based training and is more sustainable in the long-term as employees and leaders are better equipped to deal with change but also to whatever challenge they face. More traditional business trainings (focusing on hard skills only) get rapidly obsolete as techniques evolve rapidly in the market.

What we offer

Programs for busy leaders

Teams and organizations

Regenerative In-Company Program

A tailor-made program for teams and organizations who want to take the path to authentic transformation and success thanks to regenerative leadership habits.

  • Restores Focus and Productivity
  • Revitalizes Empowerment and Autonomy
  • Regenerates Employee Well-being
  • Strengthens Sustainable Leadership Skills

Team Leaders

Regenerative Leadership – Collective Shift

A unique program to drive collective transformation, empower resilient teams, and foster sustainable success. Designed for leaders ready to inspire adaptive, purpose-driven cultures in today’s fast-paced world.

  • Drive Collective Transformation and Engagement
  • Build Team Resilience and Agility
  • Foster Empowerment and Ownership
  • Create a Culture of Sustainable Performance

For Individual Leaders

Regenerative Leadership – Foundations

An unique blended program to become a regenerative leader, have more impact and reach your goals. Designed for busy leaders facing the challenges of these fast and busy times

  • Enhances Agility and Adaptability
  • Boosts Resilience and Work-Life Balance
  • Fosters Purpose-Driven Leadership
  • Cultivates a Growth Mindset

They also succeeded

Empowerment

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An international industry company faced the challenge of aligning the aspirations and capabilities of its high-potential employees with the evolving demands of the business and global context. QiLeader was engaged to co-create a leadership development program that empowered these individuals to shape their growth journey, ensuring future leadership success and organizational alignment.
Navigating the Shift in the Automotive Industry

Agility

Navigating the Shift in the Automotive Industry

A prominent car distributor faced the existential challenge of evolving into a mobility provider due to rapid industry disruption. QiLeader guided the company through a leadership and cultural transformation, empowering managers to navigate the shift with resilience, agility, and a forward-looking mindset.
How One Utilities Company Built Trust and Strengthened Teams

Agility

How One Utilities Company Built Trust and Strengthened Teams

A prominent electricity company needed to transform its Board of Directors, moving from a fragmented, past-oriented leadership to a unified, future-focused approach. With the industry evolving rapidly, the company sought a cultural and leadership shift to empower their leaders, improve collaboration, and attract younger talent.