Source: EMA
The EMA (Employers and Manufacturers Association) has launched a new Adaptive Leader Programme in partnership with New Zealand-founded leadership development company Adeption, as part of its broader Workforce 2030 initiative.
The new and flexible programme is designed to equip leaders with the skills, tools and mindsets needed to navigate growing complexity, lead through uncertainty, and help their organisations adapt in an increasingly AI-enabled world.
Unlike traditional leadership programmes that can take leaders away from their day-to-day responsibilities for extended periods, the Adaptive Leader Programme combines focused workshops with digital learning, peer collaboration, and practical workplace application.
Adeption’s approach is built around helping leaders deal with “adaptive challenges” – complex issues where there is no simple or pre-existing solution. These challenges require learning, growth, and experimentation because the path ahead is often unclear.
Nick Sheppard, the EMA’s Head of Professional Services, says: “Leaders need to be able to guide their teams through uncertainty, make sense of rapid change, and create environments where people can adapt and thrive. This programme helps build the leadership capability organisations will need to grow, adapt, and succeed.”
Carl Sanders-Edwards, Founder and CEO of Adeption, says: “Our goal is to equip leaders across all sectors to thrive in the future of work. The Adaptive Leader Programme will help leaders be more comfortable with complexity, see challenges as growth opportunities, and build the mindsets and practical skills to respond effectively. We’re thrilled to partner with EMA to make a real difference for New Zealand businesses.”
The Adaptive Leader Programme supports self-leadership while also helping leaders progress team and organisational goals. Designed to be highly practical and embedded in the leader’s day-to-day work, participants are asked to identify real challenges they are facing, experiment with new approaches, reflect on what is working, and continue applying their learning in the flow of work. This is a breakaway from the traditional, content-led approach to leadership development.
Key features include Adeption’s Leadership Mindset Indicator and Bright Teams’ Bright Core Drivers. These tools help leaders better understand the mindsets they tend to use and how they can broaden their range to better respond to different situations.
The programme also uses Adeption’s AI capability in a deliberate, human-centred way – not to replace human interaction, but to support leadership development by recommending relevant tools and peer insights based on the real challenges leaders are facing.
More information on the Adaptive Leader Programme can be found here: The Adaptive Leader Programme – EMA – Employers and Manufacturers Association