The Very Colorful Book Training: EF's Global Manager Program

A look inside EF's global manager development program — and why it matters for leaders around the world.

Managers matter. A lot. That's why we have a global training program to help managers grow, lead, and support their teams. We spoke with Adama from our Global Recruitment & Employee Development team to get the story behind why it was created and what it means for our leaders worldwide.

So, to start, what is the Very Colorful Book training?

The Very Colorful Book Training is EF's global manager development program. It empowers managers by equipping them with the mindset and practical tools they need to be effective leaders in EF's dynamic, diverse, and people-focused environment.

This 9-month program blends hybrid learning with in-person sessions. Core modules are delivered over a few days in person at the beautiful setting of EF's historical 700-year-old Ashridge House. There, managers from over 40 countries and 30 divisions and functions come together, making it a uniquely international and rich experience.

Why was the Very Colorful Book training started?

It was started to ensure all EF managers globally share a common foundation of values and approaches to hiring and managing people. We wanted to deliver training that was not only practical, but reflective of EF's entrepreneurial culture and one which unites managers at every level.

"Managers are often the single biggest lever for performance and belonging—especially at EF, where we often give people meaningful responsibility early. We wanted to be transparent about the leadership behaviors we value and the skills every EF manager should learn how to master over time. Just as importantly, the program brings colleagues together from across our amazing EF world so they can see they're not alone—and leave with a community they can reach out to in the future."

— Maria Norrman, EF Global Chief of Staff & co-author of the program

What was the process for creating the program?

The Very Colorful Book is a highly customized, internally designed program built on both EF's own data and external research. During development, we reviewed existing EF trainings, observed over 100 live interviews at all levels of seniority, and asked managers and their teams what they needed most. We also looked externally, speaking with over 25 top companies on how they interview and recruit, spoke with other companies that use psychometric testing, machine learning, and predictive analytics, and looked at the academic research on the topic. All this led to the development of something based on internal and external best practices and results.

EF and the world around us continue to evolve, so too does the program, ensuring it stays relevant to current challenges and emerging opportunities. The result is a program tailored specifically to EF's culture and the real challenges our managers face.

Can you walk us through the different topics that are covered and why those topics were picked?

The training is built around five core modules that cover the most important aspects of managing at EF:

1. Manager Essentials – Foundational knowledge for new managers, including EF's values, key policies, and the transition into management.
2. Self-Awareness – Understanding one's own strengths, values, and biases to lead with empathy and integrity.
3. Building Your Team – How to hire, develop, and structure teams for growth and high performance.
4. Communicating with Your Team – Developing effective feedback, coaching, and performance management skills.
5. Leading Your Team – Building vision, motivation, and leadership presence to inspire and empower others.

What is your role in running the Very Colorful Book trainings? What is your favorite part?

As Director of DEIB and Development for Global Recruitment & Employee Development, I oversee the Very Colorful Book training program globally, and facilitate the DEIB module, while also contributing to program design and content updates. My favorite part is seeing managers suddenly realize their connection to the wider EF community and the meaningful relationships that grow from it.

Why is the Very Colorful Book training important to EF?

Managers have a huge impact on employee experience and job performance. The Very Colorful Book training ensures we are aligned in how we lead, support growth, and embody our culture. It creates consistency while still allowing managers to bring their unique strengths to the role.

What makes the Very Colorful Book training different from courses someone might do at another company?

Unlike many off-the-shelf management trainings, the Very Colorful Book is tailored specifically for EF. It's practical, grounded in real EF scenarios, and reflects our global, multicultural environment. The design is interactive, not lecture-heavy, so managers practice and apply skills rather than just listen. And, importantly, it's tied to EF's culture and values rather than a generic corporate model.

Faculty with over 30 years of experience, our CEO Eddie Hult, Chief of Staff Maria Norrman, product presidents, a team of professional actors, along with around 30 other internal senior leaders help to deliver the training. This ensures it is grounded in both expert knowledge and real-world experience of leaders who know EF inside and out. This mix of professional development, exposure to leadership, cultural exchange, and global networking is something you rarely find elsewhere.

What do participants say are the best part of the Very Colorful Book training?

Managers often highlight:

The practicality of the tools. They can use them immediately with their teams:

"I'm more thoughtful now and feel more prepared to lead a team with different personalities and challenges. This training has been amazing for me and I even share the knowledge with my family."

"The Very Colorful Book Training has significantly shaped the way I work by providing a clear, structured framework for approaching communication, team dynamics, and problem-solving. I now find myself more aware of the different personality types and how they influence interactions in the workplace!"

The interactive sessions — role plays, discussions, and reflections make the content engaging:

"This is genuinely one of the first trainings I've had where I really felt like I changed my mindset on how best to go about things. The actors in particular were not only a great tool for training, but also offered some really insightful feedback that struck me more than once. Seeing how other managers approach things across other products was also very helpful."

"The experience with the live actors was such a game changer in helping realize I can have difficult conversations without it needing to feel like a confrontation."

The chance to be part of a global community of EF managers, learning, growing, and shaping the future together.

"I feel like I am more motivated to take on the challenges of my new role. Also by meeting colleagues from different products and from around the world, it has reminded me that I am part of something much bigger and reminded me of the size of the company."

"I have really enjoyed getting a deeper understanding of the EF philosophy around management. It was also so valuable to have the time in person at Ashridge to make connections beyond (and within) my product that I wouldn't have made otherwise."