Info & Enrolments - People & Culture Accelerator Program

Inspire Transformational Change

Make work better for owners, organisations & employees

According to the results of a CEO Institute Survey, the number one issue keeping chief executives awake at night is ‘sourcing and retaining skilled staff’. Yet when Pricewaterhouse Coopers asked 1300 global CEOs about their operational priorities, talent strategies didn’t make the top five. So while CEOs may claim to be suffering from insomnia, it seems many are doing very little to alleviate the problem.

Often it’s because they just don’t know where to start. Businesses struggle to attract and retain good people because they don’t focus on this area with the same gusto they apply to other business units such as sales, technology or finance. Many HR strategies revolve around compliance, OHS and payroll, with very little attacking the real things that supercharge people and productivity. This may have worked in the past, when there were plenty of great people in the labour market, but it’s an insane approach in the fast-changing workplaces of the 21^st century. Everyone is now in the ‘people’ business and they need innovative tools to give them a competitive edge.

The People and Culture Accelerator Program bridges this gap between knowledge and implementation. Organisations select an achiever (this may be a business or HR leader, the owner or CEO) to train as a People and Culture expert. Over the 4-month program participants will explore innovative tools and techniques, swap ideas with peers, and implement proven and effective people practices that accelerate their organization’s profitability and ability to achieve its business goals. They’ll also create a culture of continuous innovation and kick traditional HR into touch.

Mandy offers a clear and concise solution to one of the greatest business and leadership challenges of our time... practical no-nonsense advice in an area of business that has always been so subjective.

Mike Parsell

CEO Michael Hill Jewellery

Make the switch

From HUMAN RESOURCES to REMARKABLE HUMANS

The People and Culture Accelerator Program runs over a period of 4 months and includes the following:

The Kick-Off

A two-day program in Brisbane where participants meet each other; assess their business’s current people practices for strengths and challenges; learn why the HR revolution is now vital to business success; align people strategies to the company mission; participate in their first masterclass modules; create an action plan to transform their business and enjoy a few drinks at the group dinner.

Masterclass Modules

One-day modules run every four weeks in Brisbane to allow time for implementation between courses. Participants learn new skills and acquire and create tools to fast-track implementation in their organisation. They will be part of a small group, working on their own ‘people’ challenges, discuss how to overcome the obstacles they face, and create an action plan each month to be reviewed for success the following month. In the final session participants celebrate their achievements at a group dinner, where they also receive a Program Graduation Certificate.

Ongoing Support & Innovation

For many SMEs, People and HR Leaders operate in silos or are ‘lone wolf’ business leaders, struggling to implement real change. The People and Culture Program creates a rare opportunity to form a cross-industry network of learning and support. As well as Mandy’s ongoing mentoring, participants will connect through an online group for the effective daily exchange of ideas and information with each other, to offer moral support, and to keep abreast of innovations in this area

"Mandy delivers great content in a thoroughly engaging manner and I return to the business with real tools, ready to roll out after each module. Each time the cohort re-groups we are able to celebrate real outcomes as a result of this course and learn from each other along the way. A truly valuable, practical and enjoyable program."

Jodie Briggs

People & Culture Leader, Agtrade

A Comprehensive Curriculum

Over the 4 months you will engage in a robust program of thought-provoking modules where you will explore case studies, noteworthy research and applicable best practice tools to super-charge your organization. The People and Culture Acceleration Program curriculum includes:

Session 1

The HR Revolution – Why Change Is Now Vital To Business Success, Plus Infrastructure – the Bones of Great Hiring and Retention
Session 2

Attraction & Branding – How to Always Attract The Best People For Your Business
Session 3

Effective Hiring – The Secret Weapons For Great Recruitment

Session 4

Inspiring Interviews , Unbeatable Offers & Onboarding
Session 5

Develop High Performance Individuals & Teams and Build A Remarkable Workplace That Great People Never Want To Leave

Lead Organisational Change & Accelerate Your Impact

Who Is the Program Suitable For?

If you’re in business you’re in the ‘people’ business. This program is open to any current or future People and Culture Leaders or individuals in any organization who are seeking to overcome existing business challenges such as hiring difficulty or poor performance, or simply want to improve profitability via better people practices. The best outcomes are if the participant is an existing achiever in the business who thoroughly understands the organizational culture. This may even be the business owner, or a leader of an existing business unit with a genuine interest in people. The participant should also have a voice at the executive table and enough capacity to implement the changes required at every level of the organization to achieve success.

Expert Insights

Glean insights from an acclaimed industry innovator, plus guest speakers.

Real World Application

Learn from real-world studies and business examples. Apply the learnings immediately.

Expert Support

Receive practical tools and support to solve your current people challenges

Peer Learning

Interact with and learn from others and build your network.

What The Program Is Not: The program focuses on the people practices that accelerate organizational performance such as effective hiring and inspiring teams. The program does not cover HR areas that focus on compliance, administration or policy such as payroll management or employment law. There are a multitude of outsourced organisations that supply this kind of advice

About the Program Creator/Director

Mandy Johnson is a best-selling author and has ‘in-the-trenches’ experience as a start-up founder and director of global travel retailer Flight Centre’s UK operation, opening a store a month.

She has worked with a wide range of companies including Virgin Australia, Teys Beef, the Australian Stockbroker’s Association, Dairy Australia, Ray White Commercial, Qld State Library and Michael Hill Jewellery. One of only a handful of Australians to present at the Asia/Pacific Talent Conference in Taipei, Mandy has been interviewed for her innovative business ideas on a range of media including Sky Business News, Qantas Radio with Alan Kohler and ABC Radio’s Conversation Hour.

An acclaimed facilitator and keynote speaker, her Bond University masterclass was voted most popular in its year and she is the only UQ Business School Executive Education presenter to achieve a perfect score of 10/10 in participant’s evaluation ratings. Mandy has been a Course Director on the Australian Owner/Manager Program for the last 7 years, teaches high performance strategies to global Ed-X students in 193 countries and her Future of Work essay now features in the introduction to all Wiley’s Australasian university textbooks. Mandy began PCAP because she found that it was impossible to make real change through her 1 day masterclasses and she needed more time to show people how to make their own transformational tools. Her PCAP Tribe – an offshoot of PCAP now meets regularly every 6-8 weeks. For more information on Mandy’s expertise and experience or to subscribe to her Wicked Workplaces newsletter on whats new in the people space visit www.mandyjohnsonco.

Application Process & Pricing

How to Apply

Enrolment is by approved application, to ensure participants are in non-competing businesses and to keep to group numbers (maximum 20 participants). Once you submit your enrolment form you will be sent a confirmation of your enrolment place, the service agreement to sign and the invoice for the initial 50% payment. The second invoice payment will be billed after the completion of Block 3. Pre-departure information will be emailed 1 month before the program start and reminders will be sent a week before each block. See FAQs for all general information.

“We have been working well with your systems and have seen our employee turnover almost half and are seeing positive growth in the profit in the business.”
Stewart Silk , HR Leader, Michael Hill

“Mandy, your presentation at the UQ Exec.Ed Virgin Leadership Program was inspirational and stimulating. They were talking about it long after you left.”
Peter Ferreira, Director, Virgin Leadership Program

“Mandy combines proven business experience with inspiring people skills. Her ideas and practices bring about real change and her seminars have invigorated our people and processes.”
Graham Turner, CEO Flight Centre

Program Fee

For you and your organization to become People and Culture leaders the total for the full five-month program is as follows:

$5549/plus GST

Early Bird Discount*
5 face-to-face 1-day modules, including course folders, group activities, guest speakers and so on
Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea for each module
Group dinners Sessions 1 and 5
Email support from Mandy plus group cross-exchange of ideas to solve ongoing challenges
Signed copies of Mandy’s best-selling books
Membership of an online participant group for ongoing discussion, support and innovation

$5999/plus GST

Early Bird Discount*
5 face-to-face 1-day modules, including course folders, group activities, guest speakers and so on
Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea for each module
Group dinners Sessions 1 and 5
Email support from Mandy plus group cross-exchange of ideas to solve ongoing challenges
Signed copies of Mandy’s best-selling books
Membership of an online participant group for ongoing discussion, support and innovation

Exclusions: Participants pay their own travel costs to get to and from venues; any additional accommodation costs required such as the overnight for Sessions 1 and 5, if required; and all dinner beverages.

*Book and pay by early bird dates as per brochure.
Invoiced 50% upfront.

For More Information

See the general FAQs below or contact us on info@pcaps.com.au
We are also happy to connect you with previous participants if you would like word-of-mouth feedback on the course effectiveness.

Mandy has a wealth of hard-won knowledge to help you grow your business by building a great team! I highly recommend this course for anyone who wants to ensure they are attracting and retaining the best talent they can in this highly competitive market.

Donaugh Austin

Head Of Operations, World’s Biggest Garage Sale

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the program held?

The program is Brisbane-based and usually held in the Simla Room, part of the Spicers Balfour Hotel in New Farm. When this is unavailable (only happens infrequently) then alternative venues used in the past are Bright HQ at Tenerife and the Terrace Room at Royal On The Park.

If I’m coming from out of town where is the best place to stay?

Spicer’s Balfour is a luxury 5-star hotel and they offer a PCAP deal including breakfast (subject to availability – must say you are with Mandy Johnson’s PCAP group). Or as the venue at New Farm is close to Brisbane CBD any central hotel is only a short UBER ride away.

What are the program timings?

The program days run from 9am to 5pm with breaks for morning tea, lunch (1 hour), and afternoon tea. Dinner is included after Blocks 1 and 5 and drinks are organized at a local bar after each block for participants to socialize at the end of the day – these are optional.

What does a typical PCAP group look like?

It’s a diverse group of minimum 10 and maximum 20 people from non-competing businesses and industries.

How much work is there in between sessions?

PCAP is designed so that participants tailor-make a lot of the tools within each session. At the end of each block, each participant sets an action plan of what they would like to achieve before the next block, and then they check in with how they went with their plan at the start of the next block. In effect each person sets their own realistic amount of work.

What is the dress code?

Participants dress in whatever makes them feel comfortable. The focus is on the learning, not the clothing.

Are there any special COVID requirements?

In event of a COVID lockdown or major outbreak that impacts any of the program session times, the affected module will be rescheduled to another agreed date.

Inspire Transformational Change