Strengthening Leadership for a Successful Exit
Winturb, a pioneering green energy firm in Germany, had grown into a market leader under its founder, Hannah. With significant expansion opportunities ahead, she set her sights on a successful exit. To ensure a smooth transition, she began building an executive team that could run the business without her daily involvement, positioning herself as Chair and reassuring potential buyers of the company’s stability beyond her leadership.
As the exit plan progressed, Hannah aimed to take the business to market within 12 months. But cracks started to appear. Mia, the Operations Director and a long-serving, high-performing executive, became visibly frustrated and withdrawn. Her relationships with the team suffered, tensions with the CEO escalated, and Hannah feared she would leave—risking both business performance and investor confidence. The once-unified leadership team was destabilising at a critical moment.
The Turning Point
In conversation with a friend, Hannah was advised to explore executive coaching for Mia—a step the business had never taken before. Keen to find the right support, she was introduced to TWYD, a firm known for its expertise in leadership challenges within founder-led businesses.
Hannah shared her concerns with TWYD, outlining the challenges Mia was facing. We listened, taking the time to understand both the business and the personal dynamics at play. With Mia’s agreement, we introduced three highly experienced executive coaches from our global advisor network, all of whom had a track record of working with leaders in high-growth businesses. After a series of discovery sessions, Mia selected her coach, and the process began.
The Outcome
Six months later, Hannah described the coaching as a turning point. Through the process, Mia gained clarity on the root causes of her frustration and developed the skills to manage them effectively. Her confidence and relationships within the leadership team were restored, and stability returned just as the business prepared for its next phase.
With the executive team aligned and performance back on track, Hannah’s exit plan was once again a viable reality. TWYD’s tailored approach didn’t just help resolve leadership tensions—it strengthened the foundations of the business at a crucial time, ensuring continuity, stability, and a successful transition.