NOVARTIS

TORCH

Torch Banner

Traditional leadership training tells people the future is changing. 

TORCH dropped leaders directly into it.

THE CHALLENGE

In 2024, Novartis US was operating under a new business model while navigating back-to-back product launches amid increasing industry and competitive pressures. As 2025 approached, their top 150 US Commercial senior leaders needed to develop new leadership capabilities, and fast. The business also wanted to reassure leaders that despite the challenges and external uncertainty, Novartis was in a strong position to continue its growth, while simultaneously supporting their leadership development and aspirations.

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THE APPROACH

We created TORCH, a deliberately experiential leadership programme built around three core principles: Discover, Unite, Guide. Rather than telling leaders what to think, we created conditions where new thinking became inevitable.

TORCH stood for five focus areas tied directly to the US Commercial strategy: Tech & AI Frontiers, Operational Efficiency for Performance, Regional External Landscape, Cross-Functional Excellence and High-Performing Networked Teams. Each was brought to life through Immersive Learning Expeditions across the US, from CES in Las Vegas with keynotes by leading futurists and meetings with Meta, Nvidia and Microsoft, to a disaster simulation in Chicago, Capitol Hill lobbying sessions in Washington DC, and a storytelling expedition in Rhode Island where leaders partnered with Hollywood writers to create AI-generated films telling their function's story.

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THE IMPACT

TORCH proved that innovative leadership development can transform leaders as rapidly as their industry is changing. The programme achieved the highest NPS score ever recorded for a training programme at Novartis, with every participant finding it inspiring and engaging. Leaders reported significant shifts in cross-functional collaboration, confidence in navigating technological change, and ability to lead through complexity. What began as a development programme has evolved into a leadership movement, with participants actively championing the experience and sharing learnings with their teams to drive widespread change.

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North America SABRE Award

9.6/10

NPS score, the highest ever recorded for a Novartis training programme

100%

found the experience inspiring and engaging

97%

agreed the content was relevant to current and future work