Case Study - Workshop
Event: Gallagher Fast Forward Graduation Ceremony
Date: July 4, 2023
Venue: The Walbrook Building, London
Audience: 150 Seated Theatre Style
Overview
The company organises an annual graduation event to mark the successful completion of its one-year intensive career development programme. Bringing together a cohort of participants and their mentors, from various locations and trading businesses, the day reinforced the brand promise of talent development and career progression as Gallagher expands rapidly through acquisitions. AJG invited Darren Harris, a two-sport Paralympian and motivational speaker, to deliver a 90-minute workshop on creating a high-performance mindset. His personal story of transitioning between sports made him the right choice for their themes of resilience and adaptability.
Objectives
AJG sought a speaker who could deliver a personal story as well as a practical framework. The key objectives included:
Excellence – Perform under the pressure of increasing client demands.
Leadership – Manage their careers to improve employee retention.
Teamwork – Build an effective team whilst remote working.
What Darren did
In preparation, Darren held several briefing calls with the learning and development manager, and senior mentors on the programme to understand the agenda for the day. He attended from the start to ensure his content complemented rather than repeat or contradict the other speakers. During his workshop, Darren covered some of the psychological blind spots that prevent leaders and teams from performing at their best, as well as practical tips to minimise them. After the event, he networked with graduates and answered questions they either didn’t have time to, or lacked confidence to ask during his session.
What people said
Feedback from attendees and organisers highlighted Darren’s impact: