Mastercard LeadershipNOW
15 EMERGING LEADERS PROMOTED
2 LEADERS APPOINTED TO NEW ROLES
3 GLOBAL REGIONS
BRANDON HALL GOLD AWARD
THE CHALLENGE
A BUSINESS BEING TRANSFORMED. A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS.
As Mastercard evolved into a technology-led global enterprise, emerging leaders faced greater complexity, faster change, and new competition.
Mastercard needed them ready to innovate, collaborate across functions, and lead through disruption.
THE SOLUTION
LEADERSHIPNOW
Mastercard and Peak Teams co-created LeadershipNOW - a global leadership program delivered across three regions.
Key elements included: CEO involvement, innovative Sea of Change simulation, neuroscience-based skill building, behavioral change commitments and ongoing executive sponsorship.
Emerging leaders tackled real business challenges through a high-pressure big-wave simulation, expert facilitation, neuroscience, peer collaboration, and practical application.
They built the judgment, resilience, and cross-functional relationships needed to lead at the next level.
THE METHODOLOGY
CONTEXT. CHANGE. CAPABILITY. COMMUNITY.
LeadershipNOW was a 3.5-day experience designed to prepare Mastercard’s emerging leaders for the future.
CONTEXT
Mastercard’s CEO and senior executives shared the strategy, leadership expectations, and why these leaders had been selected.
CHANGE
Sea of Change—an immersive video simulation based on big-wave surfing—challenged leaders to make decisions, differentiate, innovate, and lead through disruption.
CAPABILITY
Five neuroscience- and performance-based accelerators built practical skills in communication, change, innovation, decision-making, and measuring progress.
COMMUNITY
Cross-functional cohorts built leadership networks across functions, countries, and regions.
APPLICATION
Every leader identified and committed to the behaviors they would change.
Community calls, executive sponsorship, assessment debriefs, and coaching sustained the momentum after the experience.
MEASURED IMPACT
15 EMERGING LEADERS PROMOTED WITHIN 12 MONTHS
2 APPOINTED TO NEW ROLES
37% PURSUED FURTHER DEVELOPMENT
BRANDON HALL GOLD - BEST OR MOST INNOVATIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
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95% would use what they learned
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94% found the experience meaningful
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93% rated the experience well executed
"The experience changed the way I think of career development, leading my team and what I will do differently to be a more effective leader.
LeadershipNow participant, AMS