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Olga, let's start at the beginning. What sparked the initial idea for EMERGE?
It started as a conversation about where we are as a business and where we want to get to. We've got a clear strategy, a strong team, and a lot of ambition. In addition to this, we wanted to be more intentional about developing our leaders. Not just the people at the top, but leaders at every level.
We recognised that there was real talent in the business that deserved investment. EMERGE is the response to that.
What made now the right time to invest in leadership development?
The energy sector is changing fast, and the expectations on our people are changing with it. We need leaders who can think strategically, collaborate across functions, and navigate complexity, sometimes all at once.
We also noticed opportunities to strengthen how teams connect with each other. People were working hard in their own areas, but we wanted more cross-functional thinking and a more shared understanding of what we're all working towards. EMERGE is partly about creating the space for that to happen.
EMERGE is a significant commitment for both the business and participants. What does the programme involve, and what are you most excited about?
It's a 12-month journey, which felt important to us. We didn't want a two-day course that people forget about the week after. This is a sustained commitment.
Participants move through a series of themed modules, things like strategic thinking, operational excellence, collaboration, and innovation. But what really excites me is the business improvement project element. Every participant applies their learning to a real challenge in the organisation. So, the development and the day job aren't two separate things; they basically feed into each other.
As HR Manager at Kinecx Energy, why is this programme important to you?
Providing opportunities for people to grow and develop, with a clear pathway for progression within an organisation, is a powerful driver of employee engagement.
Employees want to see a future for themselves, and EMERGE supports this by offering non-management staff tailored skills and knowledge, designed specifically for Kinecx Energy.
The programme creates a valuable stepping stone for those aspiring to move into management roles at the right time. It builds leadership capability and strengthens business awareness, particularly through the completion of the business improvement project.
When you think about a successful outcome twelve months from now, what would you hope to see across the business?
For me, success isn't ticking a box or hitting a completion rate. It's about behaviour change.
I want to see people leading with more confidence. I want to see conversations happening across teams that wouldn't have happened before. I want our staff to feel clearer about how their role connects to the bigger picture of what Kinecx Energy is trying to achieve.
And longer term, this is about building a pipeline. We want to make sure that as we grow, we've got people who are genuinely ready to step up.
You've been working with Lancia Consult to bring this to life. What's that partnership been like?
Really collaborative, we didn't want something off-the-shelf; we wanted something that felt like Kinecx Energy. Lancia Consult spent time really getting under the skin of our context, our challenges, and what we're trying to build. That's reflected in the programme.
They're leading the design and delivery, but it genuinely feels like a joint effort. That matters when we’re asking people to invest twelve months of their development in something.
Finally, what would you say to someone in the business who's about to start the programme?
Come in with an open mind. This isn't about being told what to do or how to lead. It's a chance to step back, reflect, and grow, and to connect with colleagues you might not normally work closely with.
We've invested in this because we believe in the people here. EMERGE is us saying: we want to help you be the best version of yourself as a leader. I hope people feel that.
