Management Makeover at a Luxury Brand

Company: Luxury Manufacturer

Established: 2002

Industry: Cosmeceutical

In a strategic effort to overhaul the management framework of a thriving North American luxury manufacturer, Synozur spearheaded a digital transformation initiative in 2023. The project's primary objective was to implement a robust Company Operating System (CoS) to support the company's rapid growth and scalability. This case study delves into the challenges faced, the solutions introduced by Synozur, and the positive outcomes for leadership effectiveness.

A prominent North American luxury manufacturer engaged Synozur for a digital transformation initiative.

The company, renowned for its innovative skincare products, experienced significant growth, expanding beyond its existing management framework and the time constraints of its founders. As the company scaled, there was a pressing need to enhance their operating system to support further growth and expansion.

CHALLENGES:

The company's leadership recognized several key challenges:

  • Establishing influence and authority at the executive level and distributing leadership across the growing leadership team (LT).

  • Creating a shared vision and strategy, with clarity on priorities.

  • Implementing a rhythm to maintain focus on business priorities.

Engineers of skincare products needed a scalable management framework that could adapt to their rapid growth. The founders, central figures in the company, acknowledged the necessity of a broader set of tools and processes to sustain and propel their company forward.

Solution

Synozur introduced a comprehensive Company Operating System (CoS) tailored to the client's unique needs. The CoS aimed to:

  • Create and maintain focus on business priorities.

  • Align people, resources, and plans.

  • Provide a clear vision, mission, purpose, and strategy.

The CoS framework included:

  • Annual Plan: Setting yearly objectives and quarterly "rocks" (incremental goals).

  • Weekly Meeting Rhythm: Focus meetings designed to review priorities, analyze metrics, and solve issues collaboratively.

IMPLEMENTATION

The implementation process encompassed several key phases:

Development

Synozur led workshops with leaders to crystallize the business foundation (mission, value, purpose) and educate the team through ongoing repetitive drip campaigns. Also, Synozur facilitated strategic and annual planning workshops to set clear priorities and objectives.

Discovery

Synozur was engaged on a digital transformation project. In discussions with the founders, it became evident that a broader set of tools and processes were needed to support the company's growth and transition from a conversational approach to a more structured and intentional process.

Deployment

Synozur led weekly focus meetings for several weeks, participating actively before transitioning the leadership team to run these meetings independently. The focus meetings included agenda items for joint problem-solving and scorecard analysis, fostering a collaborative and data-driven approach.

Synozur also prepared company leadership with a custom Company Operating System Manual (COSM). The COSM empowers anyone – not just the founders – to run effective focus meetings.

Results

While still early, the company has seen significant changes in leadership team behaviors:

  • Introduction of weekly focus meetings, replacing less effective ones.

  • Creation of a company scorecard, providing a shared view of performance metrics and enabling junior leaders to interpret these metrics.

  • Reorganization of the leadership team, establishing new roles such as Chief People Officer, VP of Operations, CFO, and CRO.

The new meeting structure and focus on priorities have led to improved decision-making, operational efficiency, and team dynamics. The leadership team now has a unified "sheet of music" and greater visibility into matters that impact the company's performance.

As a result, the company has an optimized path to executing growth strategies such as plant modernization and new product line launches.

Company senior leader

“Our journey with the Company Operating System has truly transformed the way we operate and lead. The clear focus on priorities and performance metrics have empowered us to make strategic decisions more effectively. We are now aligned and equipped to drive sustainable growth and excellence in our industry.”

Conclusion:
The successful implementation of the Company Operating System has been a transformative journey for the North American luxury manufacturer. By aligning leadership practices with strategic priorities and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, the company is well-positioned to achieve sustainable growth and operational excellence. Synozur's tailored approach and commitment to client success have been instrumental in this transformation.