Transforming Leadership for Telstra International (Digicel)
Creating a unified, future-ready leadership culture across six diverse Pacific markets.
Strategic outcome sought
Digicel, now Telstra International, partnered with RDL to create a unified, future ready leadership culture across six Pacific countries. The objective was bold. Lift performance, build capability from within, and create a succession pipeline that could thrive across diverse national contexts and business pressures.
Our process
RDL designed the Aspire Leadership Program, a bespoke development journey shaped around Pacific realities. The experience focused on behavioural mastery, mindset elevation, accountability, and leadership presence that translated directly into improved business outcomes.
Aspire was delivered through a blend of immersive workshops, targeted coaching and real time behavioural feedback. Leaders from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa, Vanuatu and Nauru took part, learning to apply concepts immediately within their operating environments.
The engagement ensured learning did not remain theoretical. It was embedded into decision making, communication discipline and leadership practice on the ground.
Creating legacies
The impact was profound. Leaders shifted from dependency and hierarchy to self led influence, proactive decision making and stronger strategic thinking.
One of the most compelling outcomes has been the movement of Aspire graduates into larger roles. Many now lead national teams, commercial portfolios and regional transformation initiatives within Telstra. Others have secured senior roles externally, carrying their capability into new arenas.
This reinforced one of RDL’s core beliefs. Leadership excellence is portable. It sits within the person, not the company brand.
The result
Aspire delivered system wide uplift. Leadership became more resilient, collaboration strengthened, decision quality improved and cultural alignment deepened across all markets.
The program is still recognised as one of the most impactful leadership investments in the organisation’s regional history. It created a strong talent pipeline for the Pacific and demonstrated how capability investment can generate legacies of growth long after the program concludes.
