GMP Update

‘Voices from GMPs’: To obtain a preview of the 'Singapore Market Deep Dive', gain firsthand insights from Tinne Maes, Head of Transformation and Project Management Office, ERGO Belgium.

What were your primary goals and expectations before participating in this training program? To what extent were these goals and expectations met?

My primary goals were to gain insights into the innovative business culture and strategies and engage with inspiring leaders and colleagues. The program exceeded my expectations. The combination of the lectures and exchanges with company executives and wonderful colleagues from all over the world in a unique setting was really inspiring. It did not only enhance my understanding of diverse company cultures and my leadership skills, but also provided me the opportunity to build stronger connections within our Group.

Can you describe a pivotal experience or moment during the program that had a significant impact on you? How did it influence your perspective?

The entire program was impactful and gave me a broader perspective. The company culture(s) inspired me to become more agile. I am also still using aspects of the strategy workshops in my team today. Witnessing these companies’ agile culture firsthand inspired me to foster a similar mindset within my own team. I would like to apply these principles with a view to improve team dynamics and efficiency. This experience broadened my perspective on leadership and operational excellence, making a lasting impact on my professional approach.

In what ways did this training program differ from other executive development programs you have attended? What unique elements or methodologies stood out to you?

The program stood out because Singapore has an extremely innovative and agile business culture in a “business-friendly” regulatory environment. Unlike other executive development programs, this one emphasized real-world application and direct interaction with industry leaders, providing practical insights into successful strategies and transformative business practices.

We look forward to welcoming the next group of GMPs to Singapore from 31 March to 3 April 2025.

Learn more about our newly launched flagship program on  MR Web.

Voices from GMPs’:  To obtain a preview of the Pitstop event at Ashridge, gain firsthand insights from Stefan Gehring, General Counsel and Group Compliance Officer, Munich Re.

What were your initial expectations going into the GMP Flagship program? Did the program meet those expectations?

My initial expectations were high, influenced by the agenda and preparatory sessions. I expected the program to focus on the importance of topics like resilience, mindfulness, and growth mindsets for personal development and leadership styles. The versatility of the program and the range of different speakers and tutors allowed the group to take a deep dive into these pivotal aspects of self-development and building stronger leadership skills. In particular, the personal interactions between us peers have been both inspiring and instructive at the same time. Therefore, in short: yes, absolutely, the program definitely met my expectations.

What is one standout moment from the journey that you will personally remember? Can you walk us through that moment?

Several of the sessions, including the fabulous team event, were outstanding. But let me point to one specific learning during the mindfulness session. We probably all know the experience of moments where we have to be fully concentrated on one topic, but our minds drift away and make us think about completely different, unrelated topics. Our tutor performed a specific exercise with us – you can think of it as a ten-minute concentration session, breathing exercise, or autogenic training. The gist of these 10 minutes was to learn a technique to bring your thoughts back to the focal point of the exercise and not let your thoughts carry you away. It was intriguing to see how the method works and allows you to stay completely focused in that very moment. It's something I will definitely practice more.

What sets this training program apart from others you've attended in the past?

The particular beauty of this program is that it puts development aspects in focus that truly help strengthen resilience and mindfulness. The program clearly manages to link mental strength and physical well-being with better performance and an ability to become a better coach or accept the need and importance of staying coachable oneself. The bold call for the importance of taking a break for reflection before being able to accelerate and contribute to a business world where VUCA gains importance builds the convincing USP of the program, which should be adopted more broadly in traditional leadership courses.

We look forward to welcoming the next group of GMPs to Ashridge House from 19 to 22 May 2025.

Learn more about our cornerstone flagship program on  LinkedIn.

‘Voices from GMPs’: To better understand what this course can offer and if it aligns with your development needs, hear feedback from Sebastian Schmidtke, CEO ERGO Insurance, Belgium.  

What were your overall thoughts on the course structure and content?

I found the content very inspiring, insightful, and well-organized, despite it being completely virtual. While the content is broad in topics and at a high level, the program offers optional deep-dive material if you want to explore any topics further. The assignments were especially good as they force you to reflect on your own executive position and really bring the academic side of the material into the real world. They helped me think about what I might want to change or do differently in my current role. However, the time the course indicates per module is overestimated, and you can complete the material in a much shorter time.

Would you recommend this course to other GMPs?

If you have already done an executive MBA or another executive leadership program in the past few years, the content may overlap. The course is an excellent fit if you are starting your executive journey or are a few years into it. It might also be helpful for experienced leaders to get some fresh insights and reflection.

What advice do you have for those GMPs who are considering doing the course in the future?

For those who opt to do this program in the future, they need to: a) be open to remote learning and b) be open to inputs via video lectures and online reading. The program does not have extensive interaction with classmates – interaction is promoted in the form of group discussions via an online forum; however, that is not the same experience as a real classroom discussion.