The Business Challenge
When geopolitical tensions sent oil prices into a tailspin, this large multinational asset manager found its carefully balanced portfolios wobbling. Sanctions reshuffled emerging-market holdings overnight, commodity shocks rattled hedge positions, and a new wave of nimble robo-advisors began undercutting fees with slick mobile apps. On the trading floor, portfolio leads argued over risk appetite; compliance teams huddled over every trade ticket; and client-service managers braced for a flood of panicked calls.
Rather than deploy another analytics dashboard, the firm turned to Edify Consultants for a two-day Change Management Skills program, rolled out in batches of 25–50 so desks never went dark. Here’s how Edify helped the organization face reality, build new muscle, and lock in resilient habits, backed by subtle threads of leadership coaching, consultative communication, and growth-mindset nudges.
The Unique Components That Affected Them
By mid-2024, three forces collided:
- Commodity Shocks
War-driven jumps in oil and grain prices forced rapid portfolio shifts that many teams hadn’t practiced since the 2008 crisis. - Sanctions & Regulatory Whiplash
Overnight trade bans on key markets left managers scrambling to reallocate assets, often without clear internal guidance. - Fintech Disruption
Low-fee digital challengers were luring nimble retail investors away, threatening not just fees but brand trust.
Leadership realized that technical skill wasn’t the issue; it was the human side of change. They needed teams that could lead through uncertainty, not just report on it.
Day 1: Owning the Change
Participants began by unpacking recent real-world scenarios: a sudden tariff hike, a snap sanctions announcement, and a flash-crash fueled by algorithmic trading. Working in cross-functional pairs, they mapped out:
- Emotional Reactions, from anxiety to denial, so they could recognize these in themselves and others.
- Stakeholder Impacts, identifying who would feel the heat first (investors, compliance, client-service).
- Change Barriers, pinpointing processes and mindsets blocking swift adaptation.
Quick self-assessments revealed common patterns, “I freeze when markets spike,” “I default to old playbooks when stressed”, and set the tone for a collective leap toward ownership.
Day 2: Building Resilient Leaders
With that shared reality as a springboard, day two focused on equipping leaders to drive change:
- Structured Change Frameworks
Through a “rapid-response” tabletop exercise, teams practiced a simple, four-step model: Sense, Plan, Act, Review, applying it to live press-headline scenarios. - Consultative Communication
In brief role-plays, portfolio leads practiced framing tough messages (“We need to de-risk this sector”) as collaborative problem-solving conversations, blending data with empathy. - Growth-Mindset Challenges
Small games, like switching roles mid-scenario from manager to investor, forced participants out of familiar mindsets, building adaptability.
By late afternoon, leaders were not just talking frameworks; they were modeling calm authority, ready to guide their teams through whatever came next.
Locking in Change: Subtle Reinforcement
Knowing that two days alone wouldn’t rewrite habits, Edify wove in seamless follow-through:
- Virtual “Check-In” (4–6 weeks later): A 45-minute online huddle where participants shared real-world change stories, surfaced fresh roadblocks via live polling, and received targeted micro-tips.
- Micro-Learning Alerts: Short, scenario-based quizzes popped up on mobile, questions like “How would you rally your team after a sudden sanction?”, with aggregated insights delivered to senior sponsors.
ICF-Style Leadership Coaching: Confidential one-on-one sessions with Edify’s coaches helped managers translate workshop models into daily team stand-ups.
Measurable Shifts and Real Voices
By quarter’s end, the difference was tangible:
- Faster Response Cycles: Teams reported shaving 30% off decision-turnaround times when markets swung.
- Calm Client Outreach: Client-service heads noted fewer panicked calls, buyers said messages felt “clear, honest, and in control.”
Cross-Desk Collaboration: Risk, compliance, and portfolio leads now hold quick daily “sense-and-plan” huddles, a practice born straight from the program.
But the most compelling proof came in hallway conversations:
“Last month’s oil spike would’ve sent me into spin,” admitted one portfolio manager. “Now, I ran our rapid-response playbook, and we beat the market narrative by hours.”
“I actually thanked compliance for flagging new rules,” laughed another. “That used to be my least favorite call, now it feels like teamwork.”
