Case Study: Pivotal achieves measurable leadership gains and $170K in savings with Sounding Board

Pivotal Labs Reinforces Learning and Development with Leadership Coaching

Pivotal, a global software development consulting firm of about 3,000 employees (now part of VMware), needed a scalable coaching program integrated into its learning and development efforts to help leaders not just learn but live skills like interpersonal communication, time management, conflict resolution, executive presence, and strategic thinking. Pivotal partnered with Sounding Board to deliver targeted leadership coaching across multiple levels.

Sounding Board integrated coaching into Pivotal’s Executive Leadership, HIPO, and Leadership Fundamentals programs (and via sponsor and stipend channels), pairing leaders with coaches twice monthly for six months and using its coach-matching algorithm (91% coaching satisfaction). The program served 200+ coachees, achieved a 95% completion rate, produced large measured gains (e.g., +173% interpersonal, +83% time management, +62% conflict resolution, +71% executive presence, +49% strategic thinking), and saved Pivotal an estimated $170,000, leading to broader adoption across business units.

Pivotal

Eileen Markatos

Senior Director of People & Talent