Leadership Pipeline Institute

What Leadership Pipeline Institute does

Leadership Pipeline Institute (LPI) is a private leadership development and consulting firm founded in 2008 by Kent Jonasen, headquartered in Copenhagen with a U.S. office in New York and delivery capabilities across 25+ countries, 40+ cities, and 20+ languages. The company positions itself as the official research institute within the Leadership Pipeline arena and serves large multinational enterprises seeking to build internal leadership pipelines, construct specialist career architectures, and strengthen succession planning and talent management. Its most notable documented engagement is a company-wide leadership development program at A.P. Moller – Maersk that impacted more than 10,000 leaders across 100+ countries and contributed to the development of the Specialist Pipeline concept.

LPI's offering is built around two proprietary frameworks — the Leadership Pipeline and the Specialist Pipeline — codified in three books co-authored by the firm's leadership, including the bestseller "The Leadership Pipeline" (more than 300,000 copies sold, with a third edition published in 2024). The product portfolio spans structured transition programs for each leadership level (Emerging Leaders, Leading Others, Leading Leaders, Functional Leaders, Business Leaders, and Onboarding Leaders) and specialist tracks (Knowledge Expert, Knowledge Leader, Knowledge Principal), supported by proprietary 360-degree assessment tools (LPIndex and SPIndex) and a mobile learning platform (LPI WebApp). The firm differentiates on a third-party-audited impact measurement system validated across Kirkpatrick levels 1–4, with reported outcomes of 90% learning retention at three months post-program and approximately 48% increase in positive leadership behaviors.

The business operates as a customized professional services and licensing model. Revenue is generated through quote-based enterprise transition programs, subscription-style access to the LPIndex and SPIndex assessment surveys (available in 15+ languages), impact measurement services, and academic licensing partnerships with business schools including DTU, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Gdansk Foundation for Management Development, and FGV Sao Paulo. Programs are delivered through long, multi-year engagements led by multicultural consultants, often blending in-person classroom sessions with the LPI WebApp digital platform. No external institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity are disclosed in the available sources.

Name

Leadership Pipeline Institute

Legal name

Leadership Pipeline Institute

Website

https://leadershippipelineinstitute.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Leadership Pipeline Institute is a private consulting firm that delivers customized leadership and specialist pipeline development programs, proprietary 360-degree assessments, and a mobile learning platform to global enterprises seeking to strengthen succession planning and talent management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Consulting

SIC

Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA), Leadership Assessment, 360 Feedback & Development Planning (EDABAAAK)

Keywords

• Leadership development consulting
• Succession planning solutions
• Specialist career development
• 360-degree assessment tools
• Executive transition programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Leadership Transition Programs: Customized in-person and digital leadership development programs for different leadership levels (Emerging Leaders, Leading Others, Leading Leaders, Functional Leaders, Business Leaders). Programs are tailored to each client organization's needs and delivered through blended learning journeys combining classroom days with digital solutions.
2. Specialist Transition Programs: Programs for specialist career development including Knowledge Expert, Knowledge Leader, and Knowledge Principal programs. Customized to client organizations and delivered through blended learning.
3. Leadership Performance Index (LPIndex) Survey: 360-degree leadership assessment tool available in 15+ languages. Can be utilized for talent selection, individual development plans, and organizational leadership performance surveys. Customizable to organization's competency models.
4. Specialist Performance Index (SPIndex) Survey: 360-degree specialist assessment tool uniquely designed for specialist roles. Supports talent selection, development initiatives, and organizational specialist performance surveys.
5. Impact Measurement Services: Third-party audited measurement of leadership development impact across Kirkpatrick levels 1-4, including pre-tests, post-tests, and job-tests. Provides customized reports for participants, facilitators, and organizations.
6. Academic Partnership Licensing: Partnership with business schools to deliver Leadership Pipeline certified training within MBA and EMBA programs. Executive consultants also teach other topics at business schools.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Leadership Pipeline Institute designs and delivers customized leadership and specialist development programs built on its proprietary Leadership Pipeline and Specialist Pipeline frameworks. Core deliverables include level-specific transition programs (Emerging Leaders, Leading Others, Leading Leaders, Functional Leaders, Business Leaders, Onboarding Leaders) plus specialist tracks (Knowledge Expert, Knowledge Leader, Knowledge Principal), supported by the LPIndex and SPIndex 360-degree assessment tools, the LPI WebApp mobile learning platform, and third-party audited impact measurement across Kirkpatrick levels 1-4.

Product overview

Leadership Pipeline Institute offers a comprehensive leadership and specialist development ecosystem combining consulting services, structured transition programs, assessment tools, and technology-enabled learning platforms. The core offerings center on the Leadership Pipeline and Specialist Pipeline frameworks, supported by road-tested programs addressing all key leadership transitions (Emerging Leaders, Leading Others, Leading Leaders, Functional Leaders, Business Leaders, Onboarding Leaders) and specialist tracks (Knowledge Expert, Knowledge Leader, Knowledge Principal). Assessment capabilities include the Leadership Performance Index (LPIndex) and Specialist Performance Index (SPIndex) 360-degree surveys. The institute delivers programs through blended learning combining classroom sessions with the LPI WebApp mobile platform, and publishes authoritative books including the bestselling Leadership Pipeline (300,000+ copies sold), The Specialist Pipeline, and The Performance Pipeline. Programs are customizable to client needs and supported by impact measurement frameworks based on Kirkpatrick's evaluation levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leadership First: Core principles underlying LPI's leadership transition programs.
• Signature Practices
• Design/Impact Approach
• Specialist Performance Index (SPIndex)
• Leadership Performance Index (LPIndex)
• Leadership Transition Programs
• LPI WebApp

Products and services

• Leadership Pipeline Framework Foundational framework for developing leaders across organizational levels, defining how leaders create value differently at each transition point.
• Specialist Pipeline Framework Framework addressing the career architecture for specialists, creating visible career paths and structured development for knowledge workers.
• Emerging Leaders Program Two-day training program for individual contributors exploring leadership career paths, designed to prevent wrong career choices and prepare high-potential leaders for leadership roles.
• Leading Others Program Transition program for frontline leaders stepping into responsibilities of leading others, providing insights, tools and practical applications for success.
• Leading Leaders Program Transition program for mid-level managers who lead other leaders, clarifying specific performance expectations and developing correct work values, time application and skills.
• Functional Leader Program Training program equipping functional leaders to fulfill their roles and value their unique positions through clarification of work values, skills and time application.
• Business Leader Program Transition support program for leaders moving from functional to business leader roles, providing insights, practical steps and tools to succeed.
• Onboarding Leaders Program Six-month digitized learning journey combined with facilitated online workshops for newly appointed leaders of others, addressing transitional issues and fundamental leadership skills.
• Knowledge Expert Program Specialist development program helping specialists make their first challenging step into a specialist career, creating visible career paths.
• Knowledge Leader Program Specialist program supporting knowledge leaders in their transition from knowledge expert, helping them step up and into more independent specialist roles.
• Knowledge Principal Program Specialist program supporting senior knowledge principals in stepping up and into their role, addressing organizational positioning challenges.
• Leadership Performance Index Survey (LPIndex) Online multi-source 360-degree feedback system assessing leaders based on the Leadership Pipeline concept, enabling organizations to evaluate leaders on actual job requirements rather than abstract competencies.
• Specialist Performance Index Survey (SPIndex) Online multi-source 360-degree feedback system for specialists, bringing together views from managers, peers and stakeholders to assess specialist performance based on the Specialist Pipeline concept.
• The Leadership Pipeline (Book, 3rd Edition 2024) Bestseller book (300,000+ copies sold) considered one of the most influential leadership models, providing the foundational framework for leadership transition and development.
• Tailor-Made Programs Customized program design combining LPI's track record with organization-specific needs, building on road-tested programs while incorporating client tools, processes and content.
• Impact Measurement Service (Kirkpatrick levels 1-4) Third-party audited measurement of leadership development impact across Kirkpatrick levels 1-4, including pre-tests, post-tests and job-tests at 3-6 months post-training.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of learning retained into sustainable behavioral change in knowledge, attitude, and behavior 3 months post-program
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Independent Third-Party Training AuditorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLPI has collaborated with the leading third-party training auditor since 2009 to provide best-in-class measurement systems. This auditor has been recognized with three international awards (Bersin Award, Brandon Hall Award, Bersin and Associates Award) and its impact measurement solution is based on more than 25 years of research and development, drawing on evaluation theories from Kirkpatrick, Phillips, Brinkerhoff, and Bloom.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Development Dimensions International (DDI): Global leadership development and 360-degree assessment provider with comparable enterprise client base and similar consulting-plus-content delivery model. Closest direct competitor in leadership transition programs and behavioral assessment for leaders at all levels.
• FranklinCovey: Public leadership and management development firm selling enterprise-wide training programs (e.g., The 7 Habits) with similar blended-learning delivery and global consultant network. Competes for the same enterprise L&D budget with a more productized content portfolio.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Research-driven leadership development provider offering leadership programs, 360 assessments, and custom enterprise solutions. Closely comparable in research-led methodology, evidence-based impact claims, and enterprise consulting delivery.
• The Ken Blanchard Companies: Management and leadership development firm built around a foundational framework (Situational Leadership) with similar blended learning delivery and global partner consultant network. Closely comparable in IP-led, founder-anchored go-to-market.
• BTS: Strategy-aligned leadership and capability development firm serving large enterprises with customized leadership programs and business simulations. Comparable in size, customization-heavy delivery model, and enterprise focus.
• Right Management (ManpowerGroup): Talent and career development arm of ManpowerGroup offering leadership development, assessment, and succession planning services to enterprise clients. Comparable in enterprise sales motion and assessment-led methodology.
• Wilson Learning: Global leadership and sales training provider offering customizable enterprise development programs and assessments with a global partner consultant network. Comparable in program customization, blended delivery, and global enterprise sales.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm whose Leadership Development and Professional Services segments compete directly with LPI on enterprise leadership transitions, assessments, and succession planning, while also offering executive search and broader HR advisory services.
• Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning: Enterprise leadership development arm of Harvard Business Publishing combining premium content, research, and digital learning with customized programs. Competes with LPI in enterprise leadership development and offers a recognized brand alternative at premium price points.

Emerging players

• BetterUp: Tech-enabled coaching and leadership development platform combining AI-driven assessments with one-on-one coaching. Adjacent competitor targeting the same enterprise leadership budget with a more digital, scalable model that could pressure traditional consulting delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@leadershippipelineinstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leadership-pipeline-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leadership Pipeline Institute