A transformative spiritual journey equipped Yellow’s leadership team with the skills and insight needed to become aligned with the company’s values and goals, and influence and advocate for social change in its community.  

Yellow is a multi-channel marketing agency, employing 70 people across bases in Auckland and Palmerston North, with remote workers around the country. The organisation has been on a journey of transformation in recent years, working to optimise its solutions to support Kiwi businesses.

Human First Partner Jovita Stellmacher says to create a connected, inclusive workplace where employees feel a sense of belonging and can contribute wholly to the Yellow culture and its transformation, those values needed to be wholeheartedly backed by leadership.

In 2020 the leadership team, comprising senior and executive leaders from all departments at Yellow, undertook a programme developed by CEO Tracey Taylor and an external consultant.

“It was unique in that it was a spiritual journey, based in Māori principles, with our extended whānau TupuToa helping bring cultural awareness into the programme,” says Jovita.

“The programme was designed to take our leaders on a transformative spiritual journey, to open their minds, hearts and spiritual energy to help them step into their true alignment.”

It was set up to grow the leaders personal and collective power in three areas: Aroha – heart centred leadership; Thought – new ways of thinking and mindset; Courage – daring greatly, being brave and keeping a safe distance from the ordinary.

“Through this programme we wanted to effect social and community change by giving our leaders the skills to influence those changes and have impact at Yellow and beyond.”

The programme consisted of several offsite overnight stays and events including horse whispering, working with a futurist and a kayak excursion – all chosen to encourage leaders to step out of their comfort zones and into a space of vulnerability. Leaders had regular personal coaching sessions to help them unpack and continue their personal learnings and use them within Yellow and the community. 

“Leaders were invited to look within and find the courage and vulnerability to acknowledge where they were at and how they could improve and grow,” says Jovita. “Naturally they also learnt more about each other, their similarities and their differences. This has been hugely beneficial in connecting them and enabling them to thrive as a team, holding each other accountable whilst supporting each other with love.”