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Sonoco University — Education Unpacked

Programs

Leadership Programs

A connected pathway that takes you from leading yourself to leading change across the business.

Sonoco University Leadership Programs: three blue SIMON mascots walking up a rising bridge pathway toward a gold flag, the last wearing a graduation cap

The pathway

Five programs that build on each other

You can join at the step that matches your role today. Most leaders move through the pathway over two to three years.

  1. Step 1Preparing for a Leadership Role

    BRIDGE to Leadership

    Builds the bridge between doing the work and leading the people who do it, with reflection and peer practice between sessions.

    Ideal audience
    Individual contributors preparing for their first people-leader role
    Skills developed
    Ethical behavior, respectful communication, problem solving, and decision making
    Estimated format
    Hybrid eLearning and 3 live virtual sessions — 12 hours total over 3 months
  2. Step 2New people leader

    Foundations of Leadership

    The core operating manual for leading at Sonoco: expectations, accountability, and day-to-day team rhythms.

    Ideal audience
    Supervisors and managers in their first two years of leading a team
    Skills developed
    Goal setting, Delegation, Performance feedback
    Estimated format
    2-day in-person workshop
  3. Step 3All leaders

    Crucial Conversations

    Practical skills for the conversations that matter most, when opinions differ and emotions run strong.

    Ideal audience
    Anyone who needs to hold high-stakes discussions with clarity and respect
    Skills developed
    Dialogue skills, Emotional regulation, Shared meaning
    Estimated format
    2 half-day sessions, in-person or virtual
  4. Step 4Experienced leader

    Crucial Influence

    Moves beyond persuasion into designing the conditions that make new behaviors stick across an organization.

    Ideal audience
    Leaders driving change across teams, plants, or functions
    Skills developed
    Influence without authority, Behavior change, Change adoption
    Estimated format
    3 virtual sessions, 2 hours each
  5. Step 5All employees and leaders

    Getting Things Done

    A repeatable system for capturing, clarifying, and completing work so commitments never slip through the cracks.

    Ideal audience
    Anyone managing competing priorities and heavy inbox load
    Skills developed
    Prioritization, Workflow systems, Focus habits
    Estimated format
    1-day workshop plus a 30-day habit follow-up
A stylized learning pathway compass with open books, conversation, and leadership symbols branching across calm water.

Choose your starting point

Compare the programs side by side

If two rows look right, start with the earlier step. The pathway is designed to be sequential.

ProgramLevelStart here ifFormat
BRIDGE to LeadershipPreparing for a Leadership RoleIndividual contributors preparing for their first people-leader roleHybrid eLearning and 3 live virtual sessions — 12 hours total over 3 months
Foundations of LeadershipNew people leaderSupervisors and managers in their first two years of leading a team2-day in-person workshop
Crucial ConversationsAll leadersAnyone who needs to hold high-stakes discussions with clarity and respect2 half-day sessions, in-person or virtual
Crucial InfluenceExperienced leaderLeaders driving change across teams, plants, or functions3 virtual sessions, 2 hours each
Getting Things DoneAll employees and leadersAnyone managing competing priorities and heavy inbox load1-day workshop plus a 30-day habit follow-up
Ask which program fits your role