Companies need leaders who think fast, adapt to change, and unify diverse teams. With rapid tech shifts and fast-moving business priorities, finding leaders who can keep pace is essential. While external talent adds fresh perspectives, cultivating internal talent builds a leadership pipeline deeply aligned with the company’s vision and values.

This raises an important question: How can investing in and developing talent to lead effectively be a more sustainable, long-term solution? Companies can foster continuity and build a strong leadership pipeline by empowering existing employees with the skills and insight to lead.

In this context, UPL’s collaboration with Skillsoft through the UPLift program highlights how nurturing leadership from within can effectively empower a distributed workforce, enhance managerial skills, and drive the organisation’s strategic goals.

As part of The Skill Shift series—a collection of transformative learning stories curated by Skillsoft and People Matters—this case study explores UPL’s journey with Skillsoft and the innovative strategies it used to bridge critical skills gaps and promote sustainable growth across teams.

A roadmap for leadership

UPL is a global provider of sustainable agricultural products and solutions that cover the entire agrifood value chain. With annual revenue exceeding $5.2bn, the company is one of the largest agriculture companies worldwide, serving growers in more than 130 countries.  Speaking about the vision for developing leaders, Aruna RB, Global Head of Talent Management, at UPL, shared that “the strategic focus on managerial and leadership skills is crucial for UPL’s success, as we firmly believe the organisation thrives through its people”. 

The UPLift program was created to meet critical business priorities: developing a sustainable talent pipeline by fostering career progression across leadership levels, bridging skills gaps with scalable,  customised and common training, across the globe, to ensure consistent leadership quality, thereby grooming leaders to achieve the organisation’s strategic objectives. 

The UPLift program was crafted to meet the unique needs of leaders at three levels, empowering each level with the essential skills necessary for success. Here’s how each program level was designed:

UPLift First-Time Managers: This track focuses on new managers, guiding them through foundational management skills. The emphasis was on essentials like delegation, time tracking, providing effective feedback, and managing team dynamics. First-time managers also learn how to navigate the shift from peer to leader, building strong relationships within their teams. Aruna noted, “For new managers, it’s about mastering the basics: how to assign work, manage time, and provide feedback while transitioning from peer to leader.”

UPLift Managers: For experienced managers, the program deepens skills in cross-functional collaboration, business fundamentals, and financial literacy. This level emphasises working across departments, developing a customer-centric outlook, and understanding the broader business landscape to support sound decision-making. The program includes e-learning modules and leader-led sessions, providing practical insights tailored to their specific work contexts, and also beyond their functional boundaries.

UPLift Leaders: Designed for senior leaders, this level hones strategic thinking and execution excellence. Participants, often heads of regions or functions, focus on steering larger teams, shaping organisational direction, and structuring their teams for strategic delivery. The program integrated insights from Skillsoft’s MIT Sloan research with senior leaders sharing real-world strategies, organisational frameworks, and case studies to ground theory in actionable perspectives.

To date, over 90 senior leaders, 250 managers, and 200 first-time managers have completed the UPLift program, with more cohorts underway. This structured approach strengthened leadership capabilities and aligned closely with the company’s long-term goals. To achieve this, the program integrates innovative tools and interactive experiences that make learning relevant, practical, and accessible across geographies.

Creating a Scalable Learning Journey

A core component was AI-Driven Role Plays (CAISY), Skillsoft’s conversational simulator, which allowed managers to practice critical skills in realistic scenarios. The program also included Skill Benchmarks—self-paced modules that enabled leaders to evaluate their current skill levels and focus on areas for growth. 

Live Learning Sessions were led by UPL’s senior leaders, who shared real-world examples and insights, adding valuable context to the learning experience. Finally, an Engagement Platform through Microsoft Teams fostered ongoing collaboration and continuous learning among participants.

Aruna RB reflected on the program: "The impact of UPLift is evident: stronger team relationships, improved financial understanding, and a more entrepreneurial approach across teams.” Also, the impact of the UPLift program is reflected in several key metrics:

• High Engagement and Completion: Strong participation highlights the program’s relevance and effectiveness.
• Improved Team Dynamics: Leaders report better team interactions, decision-making, and financial acumen.
• Enhanced Talent Retention: Learning tools foster leadership growth, strengthening UPL’s talent pipeline.
• Positive Business Impact: UPL leaders make more strategic, customer-focused decisions, driving global success.

These outcomes reflect how to equip leaders with critical skills but also align them closely with the vision and growth trajectory. Through research-backed, customised learning solutions that directly address core challenges, UPL is building a foundation for sustainable leadership and organisational excellence, with Skillsoft providing critical support in this journey.

By investing in its leaders’ development, the company has created a continuous learning and adaptability culture, preparing teams to meet complex challenges head-on and fostering a forward-looking, empowered workforce.

Watch out for the next instalment of ‘The Skill Shift” case studies to find out the latest trends in the learning and development vertical. Learn more about using Skillsoft Percipio to bolster your organisation’s future readiness!