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  • November 2005 (Revised March 2007)
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Leadership Development at Goldman Sachs

By: Boris Groysberg, Scott A. Snook and David Lane
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:23
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Abstract

In November 1999, 11 of Goldman Sachs' finest gathered to put the final touches on a revolutionary leadership development plan. Following Goldman's explosive growth during the 1990s and its eventual IPO in 1999, a diverse group of leaders from across the firm were selected to "assess the future training and development needs of Goldman Sachs, with a particular focus on the need for a more systematic and effective approach to developing managing directors." After six months of brainstorming, holding discussions with Goldman Sachs colleagues, interviewing experts, and benchmarking best practices, it was finally time to present their findings to the management committee. The briefing contained an integrated leader development plan with concrete recommendations on how to resolve several critical design issues, including: location, faculty, content, format, method, target audience, governance, and sponsorship. No one sitting on the management committee had relied on a formal leadership program to reach the top. How skeptical might they be? How do you convince hard-nosed bankers to leave their desks and invest precious time focusing on what many perceived as "soft" issues?

Keywords

Initial Public Offering; Leadership Development; Growth And Development Strategy; Management Skills; Organizational Design; Planning

Citation

Groysberg, Boris, Scott A. Snook, and David Lane. "Leadership Development at Goldman Sachs." Harvard Business School Case 406-002, November 2005. (Revised March 2007.)
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About The Authors

Boris Groysberg

Organizational Behavior
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Scott A. Snook

Organizational Behavior
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    Glass Half-Broken: Shattering the Barriers That Still Hold Women Back at Work

    By: Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg
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    Scale and Scope at Drake Real Estate Partners

    By: Christina R. Wing and David Lane
    • March 2021
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    The U.S. Home Improvement Sector in 2020

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More from the Authors
  • Glass Half-Broken: Shattering the Barriers That Still Hold Women Back at Work By: Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg
  • Scale and Scope at Drake Real Estate Partners By: Christina R. Wing and David Lane
  • The U.S. Home Improvement Sector in 2020 By: José Alvarez and David Lane
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