Case Study

When Sarah Best, Ingeus’ Head of People, attended the first of a newly developed senior leadership programme back in 2023, she expected to sharpen her strategic thinking skills. Instead, she discovered something far more powerful — a key to authentic leadership that continues to shape her approach two years on. 

 

“It’s easy to focus on where you think your knowledge is lacking,” says Sarah. “In senior roles, there’s a strong emphasis on strategy, and I didn’t feel that’s my biggest strength. A real turning point during the training was realising that my natural traits – relationship building, empathy, and a tactical, problem-solving mind – are just as valuable, if not more so, in the job I do. Building on my own strengths is far more effective than trying to squeeze myself into a traditional idea of what leadership should be.” 

 

Sarah was one of 20 Ingeus senior leaders that attended the bespoke training – now a core element of Ingeus’ staged leadership curriculum, available to our people managers. Comprising a six-week journey of face-to-face learning, practical challenges, external coaching, and 360o feedback, Sarah’s senior leader course included talks from the Ingeus executive team, who shared their own leadership insights. 

 

“Listening to my executive colleagues, I learned that strong leadership teams are made up of a mix of different strengths,” adds Sarah. “They talked about positivity, belief, and values, not just strategic thinking. That really shaped how I think about leadership today — both for myself and for my team. 

 

“Learning how behaviours impact each other and how to get the best out of others has also been handy to know with two young children at home!” 

 

The leadership development programme at Ingeus is a comprehensive pathway utilised across our international APM Group companies. From first line management to leading on a global scale, it equips leaders with the confidence and knowledge to help them and their teams flourish. For Sarah, this meant creating space for contribution, accountability and growth, and strengthening her leadership presence, widening her remit. 

 

She concludes: “I had the chance to reflect not only on how I develop others, but on my own career aspirations too. My manager is incredibly supportive and I’m now working on everything I set out to achieve two years ago. It’s genuinely the best course I’ve ever taken. I still remember what I learned and use it every day. It’s had a tangible impact on my confidence and how I lead.” 

Learn more about careers with Ingeus.