Client story

Powering global strategy for a $36 billion-dollar heavy equipment manufacturer

  • Organization & Change

The challenge

When the Vice President of Mining Products at a global manufacturer reached out to Wavestone, the challenge was clear but daunting: their 10-year strategic plan lacked clarity and actionable direction. The leadership team met with several Big Four consultancies, but they could not find a partner who truly grasped the nuances of their business.

Wavestone offered a nimble, proven approach alongside a readiness to jump in, become a trusted partner, and get the work done – exactly what the client had been looking for.

From vague vision to practical execution

Wavestone’s approach centered on making strategy tangible. Using the organization’s own business content as a foundation, Wavestone designed and facilitated a series of hands-on workshops that introduced a structured strategic planning framework, emphasizing real-world applicability.

Participants engaged in collaborative exercises that explored strategic planning, governance, KPIs, change management, and work prioritization, and broke into cohort groups supported by experienced coaches. Each participant also received one-on-one coaching tailored to their leadership growth and strategic capabilities.

Being introduced to new ways of thinking, having others involved cross-functionally and across geographies was very helpful in my learning and understanding. Allowing ideas of participants to be expressed fearlessly was extremely beneficial.

 

Client workshop participant

Scaling strategy and building a global backbone

The leadership team took a bold next step — gathering global leaders in China from one of its major business units for a dedicated, week-long strategy session to define their mid-term priorities for the future. What emerged was a collective realization that executing transformation at scale required more than leadership intent; it needed structure.

Global impact, measurable results

Wavestone’s program trained high-potential leaders across North America, EMEA, and APAC, with workshops conducted both in the United States and Asia. The momentum continues, with additional strategic workshops slated for the future.

The results

  • 100% of participants would recommend the program to peers
  • 90% strongly agreed they gained valuable new strategic insights
  • Global leadership is now aligned behind a single strategic operating model

This client’s journey with Wavestone underscores the power of having a trusted partner who understands your business to help in combining strategic clarity with leadership capability. What began as a single workshop evolved into a global shift in how a leading industrial manufacturer plans, executes, and transforms.

This story illustrates how laying out a clear path with defined goals and structure can empower leaders to drive meaningful change and transform a complex vision into coordinated global action.

 

Authors

  • Dr. Judy Johnson

    Partner – USA

    Wavestone

    LinkedIn
  • David-MCCOY

    David McCoy

    Senior Manager – USA

    Wavestone

    LinkedIn