Crafting Careers, Shaping Futures: A Close-Up on Ingram Micro’s Talent Management Programs

The people at Ingram Micro GBS are the drivers of our success. We believe in the unlimited potential of our employees, and we consistently invest in their development – an investment that undoubtedly contributes to the company’s success in the long run. 

How do we make this happen? 

At Ingram Micro GBS we take huge pride in our learning culture, and we believe this is one of the things that differentiates us from other companies.  

Within our Human Resources (HR) team, we have a team dedicated to Talent Management & Organizational Development (TMOD). This team, in close collaboration with our Service Delivery Excellence (SDE) team and our business leaders, has put together an extensive training portfolio. 

The portfolio consists of more than 20 learning initiatives in the form of training programs, internal academies, stand-alone workshops, and external learning opportunities. They are grouped into the following categories, which we will further review in this article: 

• Personal Effectiveness 
• Effective Communication 
• Business Acumen 
• Leadership Development 
• Ingram Micro Priority Topics 
• External and Niche Trainings 

We are also very proud to be a licensed partner of the consulting and coaching provider Franklin Covey, which allows us to deliver a variety of solutions aimed at personal and professional development, leadership upskilling and personal assessments. Our associates who take advantage of their extensive portfolio also have unlimited access to the Franklin Covey platform and its coaching, mentoring and educational resources. What is more, our internal trainers can certify and deliver the state-of-the-art Franklin Covey courses on their own. 

It’s also worth mentioning that all learning initiatives within our portfolio are regularly reviewed and updated based on the learning needs and business priorities within the organization.   

Personal Productivity 

Employees’ productivity is essential for an organization’s overall business success.  

To help our employees boost their personal effectiveness, we have incorporated the following resources and trainings into our portfolio: 

• LinkedIn Learning 

We provide free access to LinkedIn Learning to all our employees. LinkedIn Learning is an educational platform that helps you discover and develop business, technology, and creative skills through expert-led courses. There are 10,000 courses and there is content available in 7 languages.  

• Franklin Covey’s “7 Habits of highly Effective People”

 This is one of the most wanted trainings that we run on a regular basis. As relevant today as when Stephen R. Covey first wrote them, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is based on principles of effectiveness that endure. The concept, which is in the heart of the 6-hour workshop we are delivering, is designed to help people lead their lives in truly effective ways.   

• FranklinCovey’s “Change: Turn Uncertainty into Opportunity” 

This workshop aims to help people not just manage change but to embrace it and unleash their own potential in turning uncertainty into opportunity. 
 

• Customer Loyalty Training

An interactive instructor-led training which covers topics like Customer satisfaction, retention, loyalty and delight; Setting customer expectations; Getting closer to customers, understanding value; Understanding customer needs and expectations; Dealing with vulnerable customers. 
 

• Excel Basics Training and Excel Academy 

Microsoft Excel is crucial for corporate employees as it serves as a versatile tool for data analysis, organization, and decision-making. At Ingram Micro GBS, we provide Excel trainings on an ongoing basis for all employees who want to advance their skills. 

Effective Communication 

Effective communication fosters collaboration and drives organizational goals. Clear and precise communication ensures that team members understand expectations, objectives, and their respective roles, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings or errors. It promotes transparency, which is essential for building trust among colleagues and leadership.  

To ensure that our employees have the resources to communicate effectively, we have an open calendar of trainings and workshops on topics like: 

• The Basics of Effective Communication 
• Giving & Receiving Feedback 
• Effective Written Communication Techniques 
• Presentation Skills 
• Train the Trainer 

Business Acumen 

When employees understand the nature and complexities of their business environment, they can make informed decisions aligned with organizational goals. Individuals with strong business acumen grasp the financial implications of their actions, comprehend market dynamics, and can anticipate industry trends, allowing them to strategically position themselves and the company for success. Moreover, employees with business acumen are better equipped to identify opportunities for growth and drive innovation. 

To support our team members to acquire the needed business knowledge, we have designed a variety of workshops and even some internal academies on topics like: 

• Masterclass for Professionals Program (we can link the article about this one here) 
• Business Challenge (an interactive journey in the world of Ingram Micro) 
• Data Literacy 
• Finance Academy (we can link the article about this one here) 

Leadership Development 

Empowered leaders drive business growth.  

At Ingram Micro, we have made a commitment to continuously invest in the development of our future and existing leaders. We want to develop transformational leaders who are ready to cope with challenges and adapt to the changing business context. We believe that strong leaders foster a positive work culture, enhance employee engagement, and contribute to talent retention.  

We nurture leadership capabilities within the organization by providing holistic development programs targeted at 3 levels: future, newly hired, and experienced leaders. 

• Talent League Program: Unleashing tomorrow’s leaders’ potential. (we can link the article about this one here) 
• Foundations of Management: Paving the way for our new managers. 
• Outstanding Leadership: Empowering experienced leaders for success. 

Each of these programs is a mix of self-awareness tools, instructor-led sessions, and individual assignments. Collaboration and knowledge sharing are at the heart of all of them. 

External and Niche Trainings 

We fully understand that sometimes our employees need specialized knowledge and skills that may not be readily available within the company. Niche trainings, tailored to specific roles or industry nuances, provide employees with expertise that directly aligns with their responsibilities, ultimately boosting performance and efficiency. 

• Foreign Language Courses We provide 100% sponsored foreign language courses to all employees, regardless of their seniority level or tenure in the organization. 
   
• ACCA Approved Employes and ACCA Certification 
  Ingram Micro Bulgaria has been granted ACCA Approved Employer Status for Employee Development – Gold Level. This prestigious recognition, awarded by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, highlights our commitment to high standards of staff training and development. Being an ACCA Approved Employer means that our finance professionals in Bulgaria will benefit from the best practices and support for their training, practical experience, and continuous professional development.  

We consider additional needs for external and niche training on an individual basis and do our best to support our employees in staying ahead of industry trends.  

The above-mentioned learning initiatives and interventions underline our commitment to nurturing and maximizing the potential of our employees. Ultimately, our focus on talent development is a strategic investment that not only benefits individual career trajectories but also strengthens the company's competitive edge by cultivating a skilled, motivated, and adaptable workforce.