Client: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
Participants: Inspiring Female Leaders from across Asia-Pacific National Societies

1. The Opportunity

Women leading humanitarian work carry huge responsibilities. They manage major aid programs, navigate complex grant changes, and lead disaster responses across tight-knit, traditional hierarchies.

The work is done by women, led by men. And having a big title or a crucial mission does not mean decision-makers will automatically say "yes." Whether pitching to Governing Boards, regional delegates, or donor committees, these leaders often need to drive action without formal authority.

The IFRC wanted more than just another standard lecture or group discussion. They needed an engaging, hands-on experience designed for female leaders - one that would give them practical ways , tools or framework - to manage up, down and across, also speak up with confidence, and build strong alignment across the network.

2. Our Approach

We skipped the boring slideshows and designed an 80/20 practical, interactive workshop built around real human connection and daily work challenges.

• Building confidence through shared realities: We opened by looking at research and studies on the real systemic hurdles women face in leadership, especially in global humanitarian work. Putting these facts on the table gave everyone a common starting point. It helped participants feel seen, validated their shared experiences, and created a warm, supportive space where they could encourage one another, speak openly, and build genuine confidence from the start.
• The "Wait, You Know Them?!" moment: Before the workshop, we spent time talking with key stakeholders and visiting field sites, including Red Cross operations in Timor-Leste. As we introduced our key frameworks, we surprised the room by bringing up actual photos from those site visits - featuring local Red Cross colleagues and friends they knew personally! Grounding the concepts in familiar field realities immediately brought the content to life and made every tool feel relevant.
• Real scenarios, Real practice: Nobody likes generic business textbook examples. We used Terry Bacon’s Sources of Power and our simple 3Cs persuasive framework (Connect + common ground, Credibility + evidence, Call to Action) to solve actual work problems to persuade and influence - like handling grant closures or managing tight team budgets. If someone came in without a specific case, we built custom Red Cross role-plays matched to their exact workplace dynamics so everyone walked away with practical solutions.

3. The Impact

When training feels personal and practical, the results speak for themselves:

• Worldclass satisfaction: The workshop scored a 90% Program CSAT and a +70 Net Promoter Score (NPS) with zero negative feedback.  
• 100% facilitator CSAT: Pim & Milan kept the energy high and made it safe for everyone to step outside their comfort zones.  
• A boost in confidence: Across the board, participants saw an average +53% lift in confidence:  
  • Owning their worth: +64% lift in overall confidence and stepping into their leadership.  
  • Using power beyond title: +42% lift in tapping into different sources of power
  • Crafting persuasive pitch: +50% lift in crafting clear, 90-second scripts.  
  • Delivering effective communication: +55% lift in body language, vocal control, and executive presence.  

Participants left the room not just with new theories, but with ready-to-use pitches, greater self-assurance, and practical tools to lead positive change across the Red Cross movement.