The winners and finalists of the 2023 LTEN Excellence Awards redefined the landscape of professional development.
Among these exceptional initiatives, Tier1 Performance emerged as the champion. Their partnership with Roche Diagnostics and Butler University led to the creation of the Roche Marketing Excellence Academy—a groundbreaking global program that reshapes learning and empowers marketing professionals worldwide.
Read on to explore the remarkable work of finalists, Axiom, CH1 Consulting, Cultivate.How, and IC Axon. These organizations illuminate the transformative power of collaborative efforts and innovative approaches in elevating the standards of training excellence.
The LTEN Excellence Awards is an annual awards competition that spotlights and recognizes innovative L&D initiatives, teams, leaders, and partnerships.
The 2024 competition application portal will open shortly. Learn more how you can become a true L&D Legend.
Pictured above: The Tier1 Performance Poster Presentation
This entry was in partnership with Roche and Butler University.
Tier1 Performance
Roche Marketing Excellence Academy
In the world of training innovation, successful partnerships are key to driving remarkable change. TiER1 Performance, Roche Diagnostics and Butler University crafted the Marketing Excellence Academy—a global development program based on the Roche marketing competency model to support its marketing professionals across the entire organization.
Targeting Global Excellence
The Roche Marketing Excellence Academy stands as an exemplary showcase of innovation and determination. This global development program effectively tackles the dynamic challenges faced by marketing professionals.
The journey commences with a substantial focus—various phases target over 2,900 global participants. Yet, numbers alone don’t encapsulate the initiative’s success. The program takes on the distinct needs of marketers from diverse backgrounds, offering a certification-level training that bridges skill gaps and elevates marketing competency.
Revolutionizing Learning Design
At the core of this initiative resides a sophisticated learning design that champions innovation. The Marketing Excellence Academy tailors the learning journey for each participant, ensuring they receive the precise tools and insights for their growth. A pre-assessment sets the foundation for a personalized path, seamlessly blending videos, online learning, simulations, live virtual sessions, and expert guidance. This distinctive approach transforms conventional learning into a dynamic, self-paced experience.
Addressing a Global Challenge
Roche’s visionary approach emanates from a deep comprehension of a pressing issue: their marketing workforce has various levels of training and experience. Recognizing this knowledge gap and the diverse marketing backgrounds, Roche, TiER1, and Butler University unite to create the Marketing Excellence Academy. This endeavor isn’t merely about training—it’s about reshaping learning and empowering marketers worldwide.
A Journey Defined by Collaboration
The genesis of the Marketing Excellence Academy wasn’t a solitary venture. The design process encompassed focus groups, surveys, and specialized working sessions across regions. Through collaborative efforts, a competency model forms the bedrock of the Academy’s content. An essential MVP phase refined the initiative based on participant feedback, culminating in a successful global launch.
Tangible Business Impact
The real measure of an initiative lies in its impact. Roche’s Academy sparks tangible change. In the initial evaluation and analysis, small to medium campaigns witness a remarkable 26% increase in achieving campaign goals, and large campaigns achieve an unprecedented 100% success rate. Managers report an upsurge in their teams’ knowledge and skills, fostering a culture of continual growth. Notably, a global community of practice emerges, uniting marketers across borders.
Elevating Learning Transfer
The Academy’s customization and individualized learning journeys transform learning transfer. Confidence soars, campaigns flourish, and marketers embrace newfound knowledge. The narrative of the Marketing Excellence Academy demonstrates innovation that transcends conventional boundaries, reshaping our approach to professional development.
Their shared vision, unwavering dedication, and collaborative spirit have not only tackled a substantial challenge but also elevated industry standards of excellence. This partnership exemplifies how collective efforts ignite transformative change, leaving an enduring impact on individuals and organizations alike.
Meet the Finalists
Axiom
Revolutionizing Life Sciences Training through Immersive Innovation
In the dynamic realm of life sciences, innovation is the catalyst for advancement. An exemplary manifestation of this commitment to knowledge enrichment is the Axiom team. Their extraordinary initiative, in partnership with Daiichi Sankyo, has earned them a spot as finalists in the Innovation category at the prestigious LTEN Excellence Awards. The initiative, characterized by an immersive experience that transmutes conventional training into an evocative exploration of the lung cancer treatment landscape, is a testament to the Axiom and Daiichi Sankyo teams’ pioneering spirit and dedication to progress.
Addressing a Crucial Need
Axiom worked closely with Daiichi Sankyo to develop a transformative initiative for onsite learning to cultivate a deeper understanding of lung cancer treatments. The event’s audience, consisting of around 100 employees spanning sales leadership, medical liaisons, and brand teams, underscored the initiative’s pertinence across diverse departments. The initiative’s distinctiveness lay not only in its objectives but also in its ingenious design and execution.
Immersive Innovation at its Finest
The core of the approach resided in the creation of an immersive experience that seamlessly blended various media to foster a captivating learning atmosphere. By harnessing innovative techniques like projection mapping, auditory simulations of breathing patterns, and animated visualizations, participants embarked on a multisensory odyssey through the stages of lung cancer. The remarkable conversion of a conventional office space into an immersive haven illuminated Axiom and Daiichi Sankyo’s unwavering commitment to innovation.
Collaboration Breeds Ingenuity
Axiom’s initiative with Daiichi Sankyo was a testament to cross-functional collaboration, uniting a wide variety of stakeholders from across both companies. From Axiom, this included medical writers, instructional designers, creative minds, digital experts, and film aficionados. From Daiichi Sankyo, this included partners in commercial training and development, marketing, and medical affairs. This convergence of diverse talents resulted in an initiative that harnessed the power of varied media types and sensory experiences to deliver an unparalleled impact. The ingenious two-day structure of the event, each day devoted to distinct facets of lung cancer – from early-phase treatment to the intricacies of diagnostics, decision-making, and advanced-stage treatment options – underscored the Axiom and Daiichi Sankyo team’s strategic approach.
The Enigmatic “Living Lung” Experience
A crowning jewel of this initiative was the “living lung” encounter, employing projection mapping and auditory elements to illustrate the progression of the disease. This emotionally charged experience laid the foundation for the entire event, capturing attendees’ attention and enhancing the overarching narrative. Additionally, the integration of interactive touchscreen stations, QR codes, and expert audio snippets injected layers of engagement, catering to attendees with varying levels of expertise.
Challenges: Seeds of Innovative Solutions
Axiom deftly navigated challenges alongside the Daiichi Sankyo team, transforming familiarity into novelty within a familiar office space. The ingenious use of pipe and drape not only metamorphosed the space into an intimate, theatrical ambiance but also addressed space constraints. Despite the challenge posed by unexpectedly high attendance, timed tickets for the “living lung” installation managed both flow and anticipation adeptly.
Immediate Impact: A Measurable Triumph
The initiative’s impact was instantaneous and quantifiable. Attendees’ enthusiasm reverberated across the organization, transforming the initiative into a buzz-worthy experience. The learners’ preparedness for the ASCO Advantage event vividly demonstrated the triumphant transmission of knowledge and engagement. The Axiom and Daiichi Sankyo team’s innovative design not only facilitated learning but also nurtured empathy, as participants were prompted to perceive the world through the eyes of lung cancer patients.
Axiom’s Legacy of Innovation
By harnessing multimedia, sensory experiences, and interactive elements, Axiom curated an immersive learning journey, in partnership with Daiichi Sankyo, that transcended conventional training. Axiom’s expertise in intertwining emotional resonance with clinical understanding underscores the potential of innovative approaches in training.
CH1 Consulting
Cross-Functional, Cross-Geographical Learning Adventure
At the heart of the LTEN Excellence Awards lies a celebration of outstanding achievements within the life sciences industry, particularly in the fields of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. One standout finalist in the Innovation category is CH1 Consulting, recognized for their exceptional work with UCB in transforming the landscape of training for rare disease professionals. Let’s delve into why CH1 Consulting’s unique initiative secured its position as a finalist in this prestigious competition.
Revolutionizing Learning for Rare Disease Professionals
CH1 Consulting’s nomination shines a spotlight on their approach to training for a cross-functional, cross-geographical audience preparing to enter a new marketplace with two molecules for the same rare disease. The challenge was complex: to align learners’ mindset, competencies, and skills, while fostering a sense of purpose and empathy that would ultimately drive the success of the Rare Disease business unit.
Designing a Unique Learning Adventure
What sets CH1 Consulting’s initiative apart is their transformative Rare Disease Learning Adventure curriculum. The curriculum transcends traditional training methods by incorporating engaging videos, podcasts, historical vignettes, augmented reality, and gamification. It all begins with a foundation of empathy, courage, and leading with purpose. This innovative approach not only imparts clinical knowledge but also instills a deep understanding of patients’ journeys, fostering a sense of compassion and connection within the rare disease community.
Measurable Impact and Enhanced Engagement
CH1 Consulting’s forward-thinking strategy is underscored by its tangible impact on learner engagement and performance. Across multiple cross-functional onboarding events, participants reported increased confidence, pride, and a stronger sense of belonging within the Rare Disease community at UCB. Notably, net promoter scores consistently surpassed 60 and 70, indicating a strong likelihood that participants would recommend the program to their colleagues. This demonstrated commitment to UCB’s ambitions is a testament to the success of CH1 Consulting’s innovative approach.
Overcoming Challenges Through Collaboration
Innovation often comes with challenges, and CH1 Consulting adeptly navigated their path. The project involved not only co-creating with clients but also harmonizing the efforts of both Global and US teams, resulting in greater efficiencies, reduced duplicative efforts, and optimized use of resources. The collaboration ultimately yielded a unique learning narrative that resonated across functions and levels.
A Vision for the Future
As CH1 Consulting’s initiative continues to evolve, it holds the promise of even greater success. Plans are underway to develop live launch experiences, engaging learning labs, augmented reality galleries, and customer engagement workshops. The journey does not end with clinical knowledge; it extends to fostering empathy, courage, and a deep commitment to patients, science, and partnerships.
CH1 Consulting’s Rare Disease Learning Adventure is a remarkable achievement that truly captures the spirit of the LTEN Excellence Awards. By reshaping the way rare disease professionals are trained, CH1 Consulting has not only imparted critical knowledge but has also cultivated a deep sense of purpose and empathy within the industry.
Cultivate
Commercial Leadership Pathways
As the life sciences landscape continues to present challenges, the need for innovative solutions within the industry becomes increasingly imperative. In this pursuit of excellence, companies like Seagen have recognized the significance of investing in their commercial leaders, the driving force behind change and growth. The organization turned to Cultivate.How to envision a groundbreaking initiative, the Commercial Leadership Pathways.
Targeted Expansion: A Holistic Approach
The Commercial Leadership Pathways’ innovative approach became evident from the outset. The program targeted not only the immediate needs of 120 commercial leaders but also extended its impact to over 400 commercial employees through a self-directed program. This encompassing reach was a strategic move, ensuring that the training initiative had a cascading effect throughout Seagen’s commercial organization.
Empowering Evolution: A Paradigm Shift
Seagen’s rapid expansion prompted a paradigm shift from product-centric selling to value-based engagement. This transformation underscored the need for adaptable, influential, and agile sales teams, compelling the Commercial Training + Development (CT+D) team and senior leadership to seek a solution. Cultivate.How, renowned for its innovative solutions, was brought on board to craft an experience that would address these evolving challenges.
Tailored Transformation: Design for Success
The foundation of the Commercial Leadership Pathways’ success lies in its personalized design. By tapping into Seagen’s values and the distinct needs of its commercial leaders, the program ensures relevancy and resonance. The program was built upon principles like boosting core competencies, leveraging individual leadership uniqueness, embracing data-driven insights, and fostering a culture of autonomy and collaboration.
Collaborative Learning: Building Bridges
A key innovation was the program’s emphasis on peer learning. The pathways fostered cross-pollination of ideas and experiences among commercial leaders. By enabling leaders to learn with and from each other, the program not only enriched knowledge but also created a unified leadership identity. This camaraderie enhanced learning transfer, engagement, performance, and commitment across the organization.
Cultivating Excellence: Transformative Outcomes
The Commercial Leadership Pathways proved transformative for Seagen. In the short term, participants reported heightened pride and confidence in their growth as leaders. The shared lexicon and expectations for exceptional commercial leadership forged a stronger fabric of leadership. Additionally, leaders emerged with a heightened understanding of their team’s unique needs and a deepened commitment to continuous development.
A New Era of Leadership: The Culmination
The impact of the initiative resonated not just within individual participants but rippled throughout the organization. Increased engagement, resilience in the face of change, and innovative solutions were evident outcomes. Moreover, Seagen’s investment in innovative leadership development aligned with industry benchmarks, driving improved business results and attracting and retaining high-performing talent.
Recognition Well Deserved
Cultivate.How’s innovative prowess manifested in the Commercial Leadership Pathways earned the initiative its rightful spot as a finalist in the LTEN Excellence Awards’ Innovation category. By addressing the evolving demands of the life sciences industry and customizing solutions to Seagen’s unique needs, the initiative embodies the essence of innovation, making it an exemplar of excellence.
To learn more, contact Kate Earle at kate@cultivate.how or LinkedIn.
IC Axon
Virtual Learning Coach
IC Axon was recognized for their groundbreaking initiative, developing a virtual learning coach named CLEO and leveraging innovative chatbot technology, to revolutionize training reinforcement for Novartis’ US Oncology Business Unit (OBU), earning them a well-deserved spot in the limelight.
Meeting the Challenge Head-On
IC Axon’s journey began with a challenge faced by many organizations: ensuring consistent implementation of a new selling model and virtual/hybrid selling skills across their sales force. The COVID-19 pandemic had spurred the need for agile learning solutions that could be swiftly deployed without disrupting field activities. Recognizing the tendency for learners to forget acquired knowledge and the importance of ongoing reinforcement, IC Axon embarked on a mission to create an innovative learning experience that would resonate with their audience.
Introducing CLEO: A Revolutionary Virtual Learning Coach
At the heart of this innovation lies CLEO, the Chief Learning Experience Officer, a virtual learning coach driven by chatbot technology. This cutting-edge solution engages learners through mobile phones, delivering bite-sized, scenario-based micro-learning interactions. What sets CLEO apart is her ability to adapt responses based on learners’ answers, providing tailored feedback and reinforcement. This personalized approach not only keeps the training content fresh but also resets the forgetting curve, maximizing the return on Novartis’ training investment.
Pioneering with Purpose
IC Axon’s journey into the world of chatbot technology wasn’t a hasty one. The team meticulously navigated legal requirements, data privacy concerns, and compliance issues before embarking on their innovative endeavor. A pilot campaign paved the way for refining CLEO’s role, fine-tuning narrative scripts, and optimizing micro-learning content. Feedback from participants guided the evolution of the chatbot interactions, with varying cadences and pulses to ensure maximum engagement.
Transforming Learning Engagement and Performance
The impact of this innovation on learning engagement, performance, and commitment cannot be overstated. The unique appeal of CLEO, combined with her engaging personality and interactive approach, has elevated the learning experience. Learners embrace the competitive aspect of campaigns, contributing actively to their team’s success. As CLEO becomes an integral part of Novartis’ training ecosystem, exciting opportunities arise, from assisting with onboarding to supporting managers’ coaching efforts.
Measuring Success
IC Axon’s innovation isn’t just revolutionary; it’s backed by data-driven insights. The chatbot platform generates valuable metrics, allowing IC Axon to monitor individual and regional participation, engagement, scores, and much more. Interim reporting ensures that the campaign’s effectiveness is continuously assessed, leading to iterative improvements. As IC Axon aligns their strategy with a comprehensive measurement approach, the potential of chatbot technology for data collection and analysis grows even further.
Embracing the Future
IC Axon’s journey is far from over. The successful integration of chatbot technology has sparked discussions about its extended applications, including onboarding support and manager coaching. As the learning landscape continues to evolve, IC Axon is poised to harness the power of innovation to drive tangible business impacts.
About the LTEN Excellence Awards
The LTEN Excellence Awards recognize the innovative and inspiring work done by life sciences training professionals at pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device and diagnostics companies (“practitioners”) and the strong support, innovation and creativity of training industry partner companies (“providers”).
Contact Us
For additional questions, please contact Awards@L-TEN.org.
Interested in sponsoring this year’s awards program? Contact Gregg Haunroth at ghaunroth@L-TEN.org
