The Leadership Pod Programme

A 100% HRDC claimable cohort-based leadership training for first-level managers, 1 to 3 years into people leadership. Cross-industry peer pods, weekly sessions that encourage shared learning, reflection and real-world application.

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About the The Leadership Pod Programme

🚀 You Got Promoted… Now What?

In many workplaces, top-performing individual contributors are rewarded with leadership roles. The problem? They aren't given the training to succeed as people managers. Suddenly, they're expected to lead teams, manage conflicts, and inspire others without guidance. Many struggle in silence, figuring things out through trial and error, and organisations pay for it too, in disengaged teams and managers who burn out or leave.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

That's exactly why The Leadership Pod Programme was created — so that new managers don't have to go through the same struggle, and organisations don't have to watch it happen.

Now in its fourth year, it is Building Better Leaders' signature leadership development programme, giving new managers the structure, support, and accountability to grow into their full potential.

🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♂️ This programme is designed for companies investing in their managers, or an individual looking to step up. If your group of first-level managers is too small to justify building an in-house programme, this is a good place to start training them.

⚙️Core Methodology

Structure

Proven leadership frameworks and training to equip you with the right tools, so you don’t have to figure things out on your own.

Support

A peer-driven mentoring circle where you can get real guidance from experienced and trained Pod Leaders, honest feedback, and accountability from people on the same journey.

Who is this for?

New Managers (Level 1)

1 to 3 years of people leadership exposure.

HR Professionals

Responsible for developing and supporting leadership talent.

Note: This program is currently only available to young leaders residing in Klang Valley, Malaysia

What you’ll gain

Learn core leadership frameworks and key competencies

Engage in group discussions with fellow learners across industries, sharing and learning from each other to gain new perspectives

Reflect on your strengths and areas for improvement through experiential activities

Have the confidence to apply what you’ve learned at your workplace

How it works

Format: 4 in-person sessions, 5 virtual sessions
Date: 5 Sep 2026 - 31 Oct 2026 (Saturdays)
Pod size: 4 learners per pod
Learners will be carefully selected and matched to the most suitable Pod Leader
Each learner will also be entitled to 2 sessions of 1-on-1 coaching with their Pod Leader to work through challenges they're facing at work.

9 weekly sessions

First 30 minutes — Check-in
Next 15 minutes — Kausern teaches the leadership lesson in person
Next 45 minutes — Lesson discussion in 4 pods, led by your Pod Leader
Last 60 minutes — Discuss current workplace challenges. Wrap-up.

In-person sessions (2 hrs 30 mins)

First 30 minutes — Check-in
Next 15 minutes — Cohort watches a pre-recorded leadership lesson, taught by Kausern
Next 45 minutes — Lesson discussion in 4 pods, led by your Pod Leader
Last 60 minutes — Discuss current workplace challenges. Wrap-up.

Virtual sessions (2 hrs 30 mins)

Format: In-Person
Onboarding: Welcome learners.
Module 1: Trust & Psychological Safety
Build the foundation for open, honest teams.
Format: Virtual
Module 2: Emotional Triggers & Regulation
Learn to identify what sets you off, so you can pause and respond instead of react.
Format: In-Person
Module 3: Leading with Values
Anchor your leadership in what matters most to you.
Format: Virtual
Module 4: Authority vs Influence
Knowing when to shift from telling to inspiring people.
Format: Virtual
Module 5: Delegation & Managing Expectations
Learn to assign work effectively without micromanaging.
Format: In-Person
Module 6: Questions & Listening
Hands-on learning on how to coach your team through better questions, not more answers.
Format: Virtual
Module 7: Giving Difficult Feedback
Turn hard conversations into moments of real growth.
Format: Virtual
Module 8: Strategic Awareness
Connect your team's work to the bigger picture.
Format: In-Person
Leadership Showcase & Graduation
Reflect on your growth and commit to your next move as a trained leader.

Programme Outline

Your Lead Trainer

Kausern Hieu

Founder and Managing Director, Building Better Leaders

20+ years leading young professionals in marketing and advertising. HRD Corp Accredited Trainer, ICF Accredited Coach, author of Leadership is Not Automatic.

Your Pod Leaders

Huiying

Pod Leader

Huiying is proof of the power of empathetic leadership. As a neurodivergent senior leader, she thrived because of the support and inclusion she received early in her journey. When leaders foster psychological safety, people unlock their full potential. She’s here because she believes those same principles can help others lead with impact and authenticity.

Isaiah

Pod Leader

Isaiah feels there’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing someone shift into a higher gear they didn’t even know they had. Growth happens in moments of challenge and discovery, and he’s here to explore that journey together!

Sue Faye

Pod Leader

Sue Faye wants to enable growth. She may not have all the expertise, but she aims to help others discover their own wisdom, feel heard, and find their own solutions. She wants everyone to learn together, cause she believes young leaders have valuable insights to share. She’s here to learn from them and support their growth.

Elaikha

Pod Leader

Elaikha wants to to guide and encourage open dialogues amongst leaders. What excites her most about being a Pod Leader is the opportunity to mentor and inspire people, while learning from fresh perspectives and passion.