When Clare Montgomery enrolled on the Level 7 Senior Leader programme, she had a clear objective: to develop the strategic thinking and leadership gravitas needed to move into a senior role.
What followed was a journey of professional transformation, one that ultimately led to her promotion to Director. Here, Clare shares the experiences, challenges, and lessons that shaped her path.
Setting the Scene: Goals Before the Programme
Clare came to the L7 programme with specific professional feedback ringing in her ears.
“I wanted to progress to a senior leadership role and had received feedback that I needed to develop my strategic thinking skills and my gravitas as a leader,” she explains.
But her motivations went beyond personal advancement. Clare was equally driven by a desire to develop others, particularly women, to reach their own career goals. The programme represented an opportunity to grow, connect with like-minded peers, and apply new skills directly within her management role.
- “The programme piqued my interest. I saw an opportunity to learn, develop my leadership skills, and network with like-minded individuals.”
Building Confidence and Capability
Clare credits several key areas of the programme with directly contributing to her promotion. The process of identifying strengths and development areas — and setting concrete goals — gave her focus and motivation from the outset.
Three modules stood out as particularly impactful:
- Executive Communication & Presence: Developing Clare’s ability to command attention and inspire trust in senior settings.
- Professional Networking: Building meaningful relationships both inside and outside her organisation.
- Strategic Impact & Influence: Equipping Clare to shape decisions and drive change at a business level.
- "Through the programme, I have developed into a more influential and confident communicator and leader," Clare reflects, "demonstrating skills including critical thinking, external awareness, vision, and strategic direction."
Learning in Action: A Strategy That Reached the Board
One of the programme’s central aims is for learners to apply new knowledge directly in the workplace, and Clare did exactly that.
Drawing on strategic leadership principles, horizon scanning, and influencing techniques, she developed a comprehensive business strategy for her area of responsibility: People Experience, Technology & Insights.
That strategy was presented to the board, and received with positive feedback and genuine buy-in. It stands as a tangible example of how programme learning can translate directly into organisational impact.
Navigating the Challenges
Balancing a Level 7 qualification with a full-time job and personal responsibilities is no small feat.
Clare is candid about the difficulties: “It can be difficult at times to juggle studying with a full-time job and personal responsibilities. It helps to be organised and disciplined!”
Her solution? A technique called timeboxing, allocating a fixed block of time for a specific task (such as assignment writing) and protecting it firmly in her diary. Meetings, emails, and other demands simply had to wait.
Equally valuable was her network. Clare leaned on both internal and external connections, including fellow programme participants, to maintain momentum and motivation.
“Meeting with them regularly was a great opportunity to share any challenges or concerns and provide advice, support, and encouragement,” she says.
- “Timeboxing was a great way of allocating a fixed amount of time for an activity and protecting that time so it wasn’t used for other purposes.”
Advice for Future Learners, and What Comes Next
Asked what she would say to others considering the L7 programme, Clare doesn’t hesitate: “Go for it!”
- “The programme has been a pivotal moment in my career. It helped me really focus on what I wanted to achieve. I have become a more confident communicator and leader, being more assertive, decisive, and intentional. It challenged me to take risks and be more courageous: saying yes to new opportunities and stretching my thinking.”
Now in her Director role, Clare is already looking ahead. Her focus is on building a legacy, developing the next generation of female leadership talent and creating lasting impact within her organisation. She plans to do this by leading with inquiry and advocacy, providing clear vision and perspective, and empowering her people to thrive.
Get in touch with us to find out more about the senior management programmes we offer and how they can help you advance your career.