The Challenge:

As the company’s China operations continued to grow, so did the need for strong, capable leaders who could drive both performance and culture. Kulicke & Soffa had already invested in designing a flagship leadership programme intended to develop self-aware, agile, and forward-thinking managers. But they recognised that a well-designed curriculum alone wasn’t enough. To truly make an impact, the delivery of that programme needed to be tailored to the local context and spoken in the language of the participants, both literally and culturally.

The challenge lay in finding facilitators who could do more than translate. The client needed professionals who could hold the attention of experienced managers, facilitate complex conversations, and bring leadership concepts to life in Mandarin—all while staying aligned to the sophistication and standards of a global programme. It wasn’t just about delivering slides. It was about building trust with a high-calibre audience, creating space for honest reflection, and adapting examples, metaphors, and frameworks to fit the realities of working life in China.

The programme itself had already been designed and structured into two distinct learning phases. The first focused on foundational skills: emotional intelligence, critical thinking, leading teams, and coaching for performance. The second phase went deeper, covering design thinking, business acumen, and strategic execution. What the client now needed was a delivery partner who could localise the experience without diluting it, someone who could protect the global intent while translating it meaningfully into a local learning moment.

This wasn’t a typical facilitation engagement. It required expertise, fluency, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to engage experienced managers in a way that felt both relevant and respectful. The facilitators needed to carry the room with credibility, while still creating a learning environment that felt human, humble, and real.

The Solutions:

PPEARL mobilised its network and handpicked Mandarin-speaking facilitators with deep expertise in executive development and in delivering to professional and managerial audiences in China. The facilitators were onboarded into the program content and coached on customisation where needed. 

The leadership journey consisted of two structured parts: 

Part 1 (Month 1)
• Half-day sessions on Emotional Intelligence, Critical Thinking, Leading Teams, Coaching for Performance, Building Trust, and Influencing Without Authority 

Part 2 (Month 2)
• Full-day sessions on Design Thinking and Business Acumen
• Half-day Action Learning Presentation 

Between these phases, participants worked on real business challenges, supported by internal sponsors and facilitated coaching. This ensured practical application of the leadership frameworks and alignment to the company’s strategic goals. 

 

The Impact:

PPEARL's Promise:

At PPEARL, we connect the right voices to the right rooms. Whether it’s a cross-border leadership program or a local learning engagement, we curate expert-led experiences that are culturally relevant, strategically aligned, and grounded in real impact.

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