Pushing Boundaries: Building the next generation of social leaders

Report by Lucy Jaffé, facilitator of the 2024 Pushing Boundaries group.

The Rank Foundation’s ‘Pushing Boundaries’ programme 2024 has received enthusiastic feedback following a recent evaluation report. This transformative course was designed to empower emerging leaders in the social sector with practical skills and greater confidence. In this article, you will discover how participants took charge of their careers and made significant impacts on their organisations.

“It was a really valuable course that introduced us to inspirational leaders, motivated us to think about our own career and personal aspirations, and was full of practical tips that are easy to integrate into work or personal life. 

The six-month pilot programme combined online sessions, a 24-hour residential workshop, and individual coaching to help participants build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills. I designed the course with support from Caleb Jackson, Harriet Boland and Vicki Hamlet, to include topics, such as, feedback techniques, self-esteem, governance, and planning. Each session was led by experienced leaders from the Rank Network. Additionally, five CEOs visited to share their leadership journeys.

The 11 participants created personal plans to track progress. They fostered a culture of mutual support, which allowed for open discussions about successes and challenges.

“I’ve taken more ownership of my role and gained trust in my own judgment. I’m now more willing to put forward ideas and challenge things, where before I would defer to others.”

Key Findings

The post-course evaluation highlighted significant growth in participants’ confidence and leadership abilities. They reported that they had been able to give measured feedback (with results!), share ideas, and ask for and gain promotion. They also felt far clearer about their own careers, the skills gaps, and where they were heading. 

“A great variety of topics covered and delivered by engaging experts.”

Key findings include:

• 99% attendance rate, reflecting strong engagement.
• Growth in confidence went from 33% to 67%
  • Before: Participants described their leadership skills as uncertain, apprehensive, and lacking in self-assurance.
  • After: Participants felt confident, empowered, rejuvenated, and excited about their leadership journeys. They reported a renewed sense of motivation, with many describing it as a boost to pursue new opportunities.

“The away day was a highlight. It helped bond the group and gave us the courage to open up about our struggles.”

Tangible outcomes included:

• A new £10,000 contract
• A 3-year profit share partnership
• 3 promotions to senior leadership positions
• 2 new jobs and 5 people with increased responsibilities
• Applying to be a trustee

The regular 15-minute “Spotlight on Leadership” sessions with visiting CEOs, such as Kai Wooder, Gemma Juma, Jordan Ignatius and Emma Pears, provided insights into diverse leadership experiences. Participants picked their own useful takeaways, such as the importance of building a supportive network, recognizing that career paths are not linear, and that past challenges do not define future possibilities.

The final evaluation session at the Annual Conference confirmed the programme’s impact in overcoming personal and organisational resistance and providing the tools and support to drive progress.

“Pushing Boundaries was a truly valuable course that introduced us to inspirational leaders, motivated us to reflect on our career aspirations, and offered practical tips for both work and personal life.”

Improvements

The overwhelmingly positive feedback and the fact that the programme attracted three times as many applications as available places suggest a strong case for running the course again. Recommendations for improvement include increasing in-person sessions and introducing a module dedicated to addressing inclusion. Additionally, there is a suggestion to focus on recruiting participants from minority-led organizations to ensure a more diverse cohort. Finally, interest in attending the course also came from senior leaders in the network and Rank may consider a leadership power course for this level of experience. 

“I have taken more ownership of my role, and have developed trust in my own judgement. Now I am more willing to put forward ideas, or to feel comfortable challenging things where previously I would just assume the other person knows best”. 

Conclusion

Designing and delivering the ‘Pushing Boundaries’ programme has reaffirmed my belief that the untapped talent and creativity within the network, can be released through confidence-building and targeted training. This course has boosted individual confidence, enhanced organizational impact, and strengthened the Rank network as a whole. It is yet another example of the Rank Foundation leadership walking the talk, listening and understanding the needs of the social sector and investing in stepping stones to maximise talent and potential. 

More information available from lucy@jaffeworks.com.

About the author:

Lucy Jaffé is a value-driven and results-focused leader with extensive experience in both non-profit and for-profit organisations across the UK and Europe. Through Jaffeworks.com, she offers consultancy services to small charities and businesses, which can include taking on interim senior roles. As a Trustee of three network organisations and a member of three Advisory Boards, Lucy is highly sought after for her expertise in strategy, fundraising, and finance, as well as her deep understanding of the challenges facing the voluntary, community, and social enterprise sector.

Lucy Jaffe | LinkedIn