Case Study: MLC life insurance

MLC Life Insurance, a Nippon Life Insurance Group member, provides forward-thinking and customizable insurance solutions tailored to Australians. Emphasizing products designed to evolve alongside their clients’ changing needs, the company blends deep industry expertise with a dedication to sustainable practices. Renowned for its award-winning approach, MLC ensures high-quality insurance offerings remain inclusive and available to people across Australia.

The need

MLC sought our support to guide first-time and emerging leaders through the journey of transitioning from excelling as individual contributors to effectively leading others. The goal was to help them evolve both their perspectives and capabilities—shifting focus from personal accomplishments to fostering team success and cultivating a results-driven culture anchored in four core principles: Align, Engage, Enable, and Build Capability. Crucially, the program aimed to embed lasting change, ensuring insights gained transcended workshop environments to integrate into their daily leadership routines and practices.

The learning solution

We crafted an immersive leadership development journey that balances experiential learning with real-world implementation. Here’s how our learning design drives impact:

Interactive workshops that transform theory into practice through dynamic simulations and collaborative dialogue
Experimentation tools like learning canvases for testing fresh strategies
Portable concept cards offering quick access to essential frameworks
Immediate-action “survival kits” equipped with actionable tools for daily challenges
Lighthearted video content that infuses humor to sustain engagement
Collaborative group sessions fostering peer-to-peer knowledge exchange
Structured reflection exercises to solidify comprehension
Peer learning partnerships ensuring continuous growth

The program embraces an updated 70:20:10 principle, grounded in contemporary research—prioritizing skill development through applied experience (55%), social and collaborative exchange (25%), and formal training (20%). By intentionally interweaving these dimensions, we’ve built a holistic approach where insights transition seamlessly from theory to habitual practice, embedding lasting behavioral change.

The outcome

We designed a solution that closes the divide between leadership principles and real-world application. More than skill-building, the program fosters confidence, empowering leaders to integrate fresh competencies into their daily routines. By layering diverse learning interactions—from immersive workshops to ready-to-use resources—leaders receive targeted support at critical moments. Its success lies in how it:

Equips leaders with actionable tools immediately
Encourages deliberate reflection and experimentation
Strengthens accountability through peer collaboration
Delivers instant support with a problem-solving “survival kit”
Simplifies the transition from training to on-the-job implementation

The outcome? Leadership development evolves beyond isolated training sessions into tangible, sustained behavioral shifts—where development translates into daily action.

This project spanned over 3 months