From Manager to Leader: The Approach Transforming Businesses Was Created

Leadership Under the Microscope: How The Leadership Journey Makes an Impact

What makes a great leader? How do you transition from being a manager to an inspiring leader? These questions are at the heart of The Leadership Journey, a programme that has already helped hundreds of executives in multinational companies enhance their effectiveness. Sonja Wekema and Marjon Margés developed this leadership trajectory in collaboration with Kubota, a global agritech company, and are now sharing their successful formula.

The Birth of a Powerful Leadership Programme

Sonja: “It all started as a cultural transformation project at Kubota. We didn’t just want to provide leaders with insights—we wanted to help them develop a common language and become more decisive. In 2018, we launched two-day training sessions, bringing together leaders from across Europe. Through Insights Discovery, they gained deeper self-awareness and a better understanding of their leadership styles. To date, 350 leaders have completed this programme.”

The success of this approach led to the expansion of the programme with Leadership Essentials II, which focuses on leading in an international matrix organisation and stakeholder management. The programme continues to evolve, now incorporating sustainability and mergers and acquisitions—essential themes for modern leadership. “The key question we help leaders address is: how can both organisations and individuals take responsibility for creating a positive impact?”

What Makes This Approach So Successful?

According to Wekema, the secret to success lies in co-creation with the organisation itself. “We always develop the programme in close collaboration with the company, ensuring it becomes an integral part of the corporate culture rather than a standalone training initiative. Leaders don’t just learn theory—they apply it directly to their daily work.”

Before each session, the programme is tailored to the organisation’s most pressing challenges, making the training highly relevant. So far, leaders from 16 different nationalities have participated, each with their own unique learning experience. “We constantly refine and improve. Every group provides feedback, and we regularly evaluate with the company: what’s working and what needs to be adjusted?”

From Manager to Leader: This Is How It Works

But what really sets a leader apart from a manager? According to Wekema, it all comes down to self-awareness and impact. “A leader must first understand themselves—who they are, what they stand for, and what they want to achieve. Only then can they effectively inspire and guide others.”

The programme combines a range of methodologies, including Insights Discovery and the ‘Hourglass Model’, which helps leaders reflect on their environment, strengths, weaknesses, and the influence they can exert. Key themes include coaching leadership (the ability to ask insightful questions and listen actively), networking, intercultural leadership, and psychological safety. “Participants consistently highlight these as the skills they need most in practice.”

The Leader of the Future

The world is changing at an unprecedented pace, and leaders must adapt. That’s why the third phase of the Leadership Essentials programme is dedicated to future-proof leadership. “We integrate the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Inner Development Goals (IDGs) into leadership skills, demonstrating how leaders can apply these principles in their organisations and make an immediate impact.”

Leadership is not about titles or authority—it’s about vision, action, and the ability to inspire others. With the right tools and insights, any manager can take the step towards authentic and effective leadership.