Companies no longer rely only on age, experience and tenure when promoting new leaders. Realizing that the competency, knowledge, and skills of employees directly influence the company's success, executives are increasingly investing time and money to support their rising stars. Larcen recently partnered with Scientific Atlanta's Satellite Televisions Networks Division (STN) to prepare their upcoming leaders for future success.

STN President Perry Tanner's promise to "invest in the next generation of leaders in STN" sparked his human resources partners, Bill McCargo and Sheridan Nolan, to create an organization development program called Satellite Televisions Networks University (STNU). STN senior management chose ten individuals for the first year's program. Participants represented a broad cross section of the functional areas and different levels of managerial and leadership experience. The senior team deliberately chose a group with mixed skills and experience. They wanted the participants to learn from each other, to understand all areas of the organization and to experience the diversity in skills, talents and backgrounds that make up STN.

The STNU project lasted 12 months. Participants engaged in individual development planning, a team project, course work and personal coaching. In the development planning process, participants gained their first exposure to 360-degree feedback. Using the self-assessment and 360 feedback, participants created individual development plans with the guidance of their Larcen coaches.

STN senior staff members taught a series of courses focused on the functional areas and strategic issues facing the business. The group also completed a team project focused on an issue within the business. At the end of the project, participants completed a thorough evaluation of STNU's first year. STN plans to incorporate their recommendations into year two of Satellite Television Networks' University.

Over the past year, Larcen has produced several models which have proven successful in developing rising stars. In today's human resource constrained environment, our approaches have brought both economic, as well as performance value to our clients.