Cactus Club Cafe.
Industry Sector:
Hospitality
Date of Partnership:
2007
Duration of Partnership:
Ongoing
Company Overview
Founded in 1988, Cactus Club Cafe is a Canadian-owned chain of premium casual restaurants that originated on the West Coast and has expanded across Canada. Cactus Club Café offers top global cuisine using local, fresh ingredients served in a modern setting.
Opportunities
The Cactus Club CEO, COO and Directors identified two critical issues hindering their growth. A major challenge was a high turnover rate of leaders, with 50% lasting less than six months. Additionally, the relocation of top talent from established restaurants to newer ones created a vacuum, leaving less experienced staff to manage profitable establishments. It became evident to Cactus Club that while they could teach staff about restaurant operations and financial management, there was a gap in leadership skills development. This realization underscored the need for a comprehensive leadership development program to address these pain points and foster sustainable growth within the organization.
Outcome
The impact of the leadership development program - Cactus University, has been nothing short of transformative for the culture of Cactus Club. Job applications for leadership roles now recommend completion of one to three years of Cactus U, reflecting its integral role.
Building on the success of Cactus U, it became evident that higher-level leaders required additional support. The Regional Leadership Team (RLT) development initiative was created for managers and directors, while the Operational Leadership Team (OLT) initiative is for Vice Presidents & Directors. Both programs underscore Cactus Club’s dedication to fostering leadership excellence and cross-functional teamwork across all organizational levels.
ViRTUSfied Initiatives & Solutions
Interviews with executives and regional managers were conducted to discern the skill sets for effective leadership within the organization, resulting in the identification of 18 skills. These findings formed the basis of a comprehensive three-year leadership development program, comprising six sessions annually, each spanning six to seven months. Initially conducted regionally and in-person, the program transitioned to an online format during the pandemic, proving to be more efficient and cost-effective. This shift enabled the inclusion of a broader participant base, encouraging diversity of thought by bringing together people in the same roles from across the country in a single cohort.
“Since 2007, our partnership with the ViRTUS team has been instrumental to our growth. Their leadership programs have equipped our teams at all levels of the organization with essential skills for both professional success and personal development. We deeply value their expertise and the positive impact they have had on our organization.”
Andy Latchford, President Cactus Club Cafe
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