Elli had built a successful career, from consulting for major international institutions to managing infrastructure and urban development projects worth up to €2 billion and teams of 25 professionals.
Yet as he looked towards more senior roles, he began to recognize that the capabilities behind his success would need to evolve. Navigating competing stakeholder interests, influencing senior decision-makers and shaping strategic decisions called for a broader set of leadership skills.
“My education and professional experience had brought me this far, but I realized I needed a new set of skills to take the next step.”
Looking at executives already in the positions he aspired to, Elli noticed something significant: many had complemented their professional experience with dedicated leadership and management development.
Beyond career progression, he saw an opportunity to challenge himself, explore new perspectives and rediscover the excitement of learning.
The experience at IMD ultimately gave him more than he had anticipated. Looking back, he describes it as “a second youth”.
“I needed to find that spark again,” he says. “I found it in Lausanne, where IMD taught me strategy, finance and leadership. It also introduced me to a vibrant international community, where people forge bonds that endure wherever life takes them. This is real learning with real impact.”
A new perspective on leadership
Elli joined IMD’s Foundations for Business Leadership program looking for something he could put to work immediately: practical frameworks to strengthen his strategic thinking and complement the knowledge gained throughout his career.
What struck him was the combination of faculty expertise and peer learning. IMD professors helped structure his thinking, while executives from different industries and countries brought their own perspectives to familiar leadership challenges.
“What I had started developing over 15 years received a real boost in three weeks,” he recalls.
Inspired by the experience, he continued with the Transition to Business Leadership program, which took his development a step further.
Accustomed to a highly results-driven approach, Elli gained a new perspective on how his leadership style affected those around him. Through personal feedback, introspection, and experiential learning, he became more aware of how his behaviour and communication influenced team dynamics. He also learned to approach stakeholder relationships more strategically, taking time to understand different priorities and interests, and build alignment around shared goals.
Together, the two programs enabled Elli to complete IMD’s Program for Executive Development and earn the Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Business Leadership, formally recognizing the new capabilities he had developed.
The real test came back at work
While completing his IMD journey, Elli secured a new role as Head of Project Development – Major Projects at Office Santé by Crédit Agricole.
IMD’s programs had already helped him approach the recruitment process differently, particularly in how he communicated his experience and positioned himself for greater responsibilities. But the real impact became clear when he stepped into the role.
Rather than immediately focusing on execution, as he had done in the past, Elli applied Michael Watkins’ first 90 days framework, introduced at IMD, to approach his new role more strategically. He took time to understand the organization’s priorities and internal dynamics, engage with colleagues across different functions, and build relationships beyond his immediate area of responsibility.
The difference was evident in how quickly he established connections with his new colleagues.
“I’ve only been working with them for four months, but it feels much longer.”
In a role that requires him to work across business units and influence decisions without direct authority, Elli is already seeing the value of his new approach to leadership.
A return that goes beyond the numbers
For Elli, pursuing executive education at IMD was a significant personal investment, one he was determined to turn into tangible results.
His new position brought a double-digit increase in compensation. Building on his extensive professional experience, IMD helped him develop the additional leadership and strategic capabilities he needed to take on greater responsibilities and make a successful transition into his new role.
Yet when Elli talks about what he gained from IMD, the financial return is only part of the story. He speaks just as passionately about getting to know himself better, the meaningful relationships he built, and the experience of learning alongside people from around the world.
He came to IMD to prepare for the next step in his career. He left with more than he had hoped for: new capabilities, lasting connections and a renewed enthusiasm for the opportunities ahead.
