2021 saw the formation of L’Oréal’s new SAPMENA Zone, created through the merging of the South East Asia, Middle East and Africa regions. The formation of the SAPMENA Zone resulted in a period of considerable transformation and reorganisation for the business, shifting to encompass multiple diverse markets and operating across several time zones.

To fully embrace the new opportunities that SAPMENA offers, colleagues needed to both understand and leverage the diversity of the markets, customers and cultures they were now operating in. Teams needed to create their own culture, establishing shared values and translating these into desired behaviours and ways of working.

We were invited to design and deliver team engagement programmes for three of the key L’Oréal SAPMENA teams (Consumer Products, Operations and HR). The interventions needed to inspire, engage and build trust within the teams. The key objectives were for colleagues to feel included, engaged and excited about the potential of their SAPMENA team, and to have a roadmap for the journey to commercial success underpinned by clear and agreed ways of working together.

Over 6 months, we worked separately with each team to create a bespoke journey, consisting of 5 three-hour virtual sessions delivered over Zoom. All of the sessions encouraged colleagues to participate in conversations that explored different ideas, perspectives and stories to become more familiar with one another, through a fun and natural shared experience. The sessions were dynamic and engaging utilising a variety of formats including, film clips, games, music, drawing and other interactive tools.

Individual colleagues developed their self- and team awareness, utilising Clifton Strengths as the method to do so. Team members connected as a wider group throughout the programme, and within smaller groups through deliberately orchestrated Strengths Coffee Conversations. Collectively all teams created a Team Charter that formalised their desired and agreed Ways of Working together.