About Twitch
Twitch is the leading platform for gaming and content. It features video game live streaming, esports competition broadcasts, music broadcasts and more. In 2014, Twitch was acquired by Amazon and has since grown to over 2,000 employees.
Twitch L&D seeks to build scalable, virtual development programs
With a rapidly growing employee base, Twitch sought to create coaching programs that would support the development of high potential leaders and new managers. This need, amplified with the onset of COVID-19, forced Twitch to re-strategize training and development.
Twitch moved former in-person training online but quickly identified the need to find a single point solution. The Learning and Development team needed to streamline coach matching, scheduling, communication and progress tracking. Torch became the integrated platform Twitch needed to help their employees grow.
Tabitha Nelson, Talent Program Manager at Twitch, described, “We are really pleased with the platform. I have loved using it because it keeps programs in one place. It clarified the programs’ processes and is very easy to use.”
Twitch partnered with Torch to build two virtual leadership coaching programs that addressed the following needs:
- Build a strong leadership bench with foundational management skills
- Train new managers at scale
- Provide additional support to leaders during the pandemic and civil unrest inclusive of guilds (Black Guild, LGBTQ+ Guild, Parents Guild, Women Plus Guild)
- Create and sustain virtual learning programs
- Develop employees to drive internal promotion
Twitch develops new managers and HiPos at scale with Torch leadership coaching
Twitch turned to Torch to roll out two leadership coaching programs to meet its employees’ needs. The first program, Manager Foundations, is a leadership coaching program for new managers to learn the art of management and how to lead with empathy and accountability. The second program, High Performing Leaders, is a leadership coaching program for leaders who have managed for at least three months.
Employees in each program are provided Torch’s comprehensive 360 review and work with their coach for a minimum of eight weeks. After this initial period, each employee has the opportunity to continue coaching by making a request to their individual department. This allows Twitch’s L&D team to create leadership coaching at scale, which can then be transferred over to departmental budgets for continued development.
Since April 2018, over 400 leaders at Twitch have gone through their Manager Foundation and High Performing Leaders coaching programs. Many employees request to continue coaching, because of the value it provides to their ongoing development.
Key Results
- 30% of employees request ongoing coaching past initial engagement
- Scalable programs launched on a monthly basis
- Coach NPS of 79
Successful coaching leads to launch of mentorship program
As Twitch moves into 2021, the L&D team is looking at the success of their coaching programs with the intention to optimize. They are evaluating the structure and sequencing of programs with consideration of the skills their leaders need to develop.
In addition to supporting high performers, Twitch is rolling out a mentoring program with Torch to encourage the development of employees at all levels. Tabitha is excited about the rollout to grow employee engagement noting that Torch serves as an extension of Twitch. She said, “I highly recommend working with Torch because they are a partner. We have been blown away by Torch’s support, especially during this pandemic.”
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