Growing Greatness™

A life changing learning experience for talented mid-career professionals

At a glance

Many mid-career professionals struggle at this stage in their careers. This is the point where high-potential women and others not commonly represented at senior levels are most likely to downgrade their aspirations or leave organisations and high-potential men can derail as they struggle to adapt to the changing face of leadership.

The Growing Greatness™ Programme enables highly valued mid-careerers to pinpoint how they may be getting in their own way and what they need to do to get out of it.

Why

According to research, developing and retaining the next generation of leaders and attracting top talent are the two top concerns of CEOs worldwide. Yet despite efforts to strengthen their leadership pipelines, organisations are struggling to do so. Sixty-five percent of HR professionals surveyed rated their organisation’s future leadership bench strength as ‘slightly weak’ or worse. Almost two-thirds of high-potentials say they are dissatisfied with their development experiences, and over two-thirds of high-potential programmes have failed to build a strong pipeline of leaders to take over from the organisation’s current crop.

Growing Greatness™ is specifically designed to address the concerns and needs of future leaders that organisations can least afford to lose. It enables mid-career high potentials to see themselves as the leaders they are capable of being and take strides to realise their potential.

Who

Mid-career professionals with 5-15 years of experience, that organisations want to develop and keep.

Typically, they are:

  • Technical experts in their first-people leadership role, and/or

  • Individuals on the brink of advancing into more senior roles, and/or

  • Key influencers of high-stakes projects or initiatives with the capacity for greater impact

Outcomes

For Participants

Participants can expect to:

  • Develop strategies and tools to influence career and leadership outcomes

  • Cultivate a meaningful leadership purpose to guide direction and decisions

  • Enhance self-awareness and clarity on what you want and need to step up

  • Gain insight into what support you need, from whom and how to get it

  • Sharpen your focus on and self-confidence in your already proven capability

For Organisations

Organisations can expect participants to emerge:

  • Ready and able to be considered for more senior or influential roles

  • Engaged and invested in taking the lead in their ongoing development

  • Demonstrating greater confidence in their abilities and contribution

  • Challenging boundaries and expectations that limit their own and others’ wellbeing

  • Committed to creating a ripple by developing others

What

Growing Greatness™ explores the themes of authenticity, presence, influence and courage in the context of leadership.
Spanning four to six months it includes blended learning techniques, combining a tailored development framework (delivered at pace) through: 

If for any reason we are unable to run a workshop in person, we will run the workshop online as we have done successfully in previous years when needed. Using breakout rooms for small group conversations, for example, enabled programme momentum and support of each other’s progress to continue.

Workshop One

Focuses on exploring leadership identity including developing an accurate self-assessment of strengths and skills gaps, exploring work preferences, and understanding the role of leadership purpose and identity. It invites you to see yourself through the lens of leadership and enables you to re-examine your beliefs around what is possible.

Workshop Two

Challenges concepts of courage and confidence and explores the small and large ways we give away our influence or use it in unhelpful ways. From the work we choose to do, to the way we respond to feedback, to our self-talk and the ways we are perceived in the workplace this is a master class in showing up as a future-ready leader.

Workshop Three

Explores the value we have to offer, what it is that sets us apart, and how to articulate our value and promote ourselves without the cringe factor so others can utilise our unique genius. It explores the tools we have to make our presence felt and unpacks the different types of support offered by mentors, sponsors and networks.

Workshop Four

Draws together personal insights and learning to make sense of the impact and pay it forward through the act of generous teaching to invited groups of senior and emerging leaders. We experience the subtle and powerful art of acknowledgement and put in place processes and checkpoints to ensure we maintain momentum and focus going forward.

Programme Leaders

This programme is designed by Anne Elder-Knight and led by Anne and Kate Peterson. Anne is a speaker, facilitator, mentor and long-time champion of unlocking untapped potential. Kate is an executive mentor and facilitator, with a proven track record of helping leaders succeed.

You can read more about Anne and Kate here.

2025 Programmes

We are delighted to release 2025 dates for our life changing learning experiences.

Growing Greatness™ learning experiences are offered across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. 

Growing Greatness – Open to all

Is for all high-potential mid-career professionals, regardless of gender or industry.

Growing Greatness – Women

Is for all high-potential mid-career women professionals, regardless of industry.

In-house Programmes

We also offer Growing Greatness In-house, including Growing Greatness for Men only.  Please email Anne Elder-Knight for more information.

2025 Programme Workshop dates

Auckland

Growing Greatness - Women
Tues, 8 April | Tues, 13 May | Tues, 10 June | Tues, 22 July

Growing Greatness - Open to all
Tues, 5 August | Tues, 16 September | Tues, 21 October | Tues, 25 November

Wellington

Growing Greatness - Women
Wed, 30 April | Wed, 28 May | Wed, 25 June | Wed, 30 July

Christchurch

Growing Greatness - Women
Tues, 29 April | Tues, 27 May | Tues, 24 June | Tues, 29 July

Growing Greatness - Open to all
Thurs, 7 August | Thurs, 18 September | Thurs, 23 October | Thurs, 27 November

Investment

The fee for the programme is $4,425 plus GST per participant.

These programmes are held at a range of venues and include catering.

To Register & Book

There are only a limited number of places available in each location.

To secure your booking or to register interest, please email Anne Elder-Knight referencing the location and Growing Greatness programme name.

Find out more

Buy the book or email Anne Elder-Knight
View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Statement

What people are saying

“This programme enables participants to see themselves and ‘lay out their table’ with the conviction of knowing what their strengths are, where they can add value and being unafraid to challenge and ask for feedback. I strongly recommend this Programme to any organisation serious about developing their leadership bench strength.”

— Emlyn Hatch, General Manager, Whakatāne District Council

“We have sent a number of our female ‘emerging leaders’ on this programme over the last few years. All of them have given great feedback and I have seen positive results, particularly in their self-confidence and willingness to step up and take leadership opportunities, when in the past they may have hung back. As a company with staff and a client set that are increasingly diverse, this means our work and our workplace can be more relevant to more of our stakeholders, now and into the future.”

— Brett Ogilvie, Executive Leader, Environmental Services, Tonkin & Taylor

"Wow – what a journey this programme has been both professionally and personally. For me, the impact that this has had can't be put into words. I know now that I belong where I am and that in itself has already made me a greater leader”

— Donna, Enterprise Information Manager

“This course has been the most valuable professional development course I’ve completed over my 15-year plus career. It’s changed the way I view myself, helped me understand my strengths and the behaviours that have been holding me back. As a result, I’ve moved into a role which is a much better fit for me.”

— Fiona, Strategic Advisor

“Since completing Growing Greatness I have taken up a one-year acting role more senior to my current role and it has been a fantastic experience. I believe the GG programme was instrumental in refocusing my direction and encouraging me to put my hand up and demonstrate my abilities to engage and deliver at a more senior and strategic level.”

— Sri, Manager Policy & Planning

“Growing Greatness summarises just what this course has done for me. Hands down, this course has been the best one I have ever attended. Anne has a unique way of drawing out your true talents and letting you see for yourself what you are capable of. Thank you Anne for the inspirational and life changing advice and guidance.”

— Mel, Customs Officer

“The Growing Greatness Programme literally changed my life! My key takeaway from the programme has been that even though I sometimes feel alone, having a team of peers across the industry to share my thoughts and challenges within the safe environment Anne creates is incredibly powerful.”

— Jo, Advisor