“The Optify team is incredible. They’re very professional and they lean in to ensure that our needs are met. If there’s something we need that they don’t have, they look for a way to create it for us.” Jodi Atkinson, Senior Director of Global Learning, Deltek
Challenge
Deltek, a global leader in software and solutions for project-based businesses, set out to build a culture of coaching to accelerate the growth of its top talent. Deltek was committed to creating a values-driven environment where the growth and development of its people are central to business success.
While the company had seen strong results from its leadership coaching efforts, they wanted to extend coaching beyond the C-suite to include high-potential and senior leadership employees, embedding it as a core part of their learning and development strategy. The challenge was to build on this foundation and design a consistent, scalable approach that could meet leaders at every level—while staying aligned to Deltek’s culture and business context.
Before Optify, the team was managing coaching through a patchwork of spreadsheets, emails, and external vendors, alongside their own internal coaches. Deltek needed a consistent, scalable approach that could:
- Provide standardized processes and agreements
- Deliver transparency on participation, progress, and results
- Integrate seamlessly with existing L&D workflows
Deltek wasn’t just looking to run a program; they aimed to build an infrastructure that could fuel leadership growth for years to come.
Solution
Deltek partnered with Optify to bring structure, strategy, and scale to their leadership development programs, building on Deltek’s existing competencies to create a capabilities model tailored to their business. Over the years, the program has been intentionally bespoke and iterative, evolving based on outcomes and feedback. As Deltek gained clarity on the capabilities needed at each leadership level, Optify translated those insights into guidance for coaches—enabling them to better support participants in ways most aligned with Deltek’s business context.
With Optify, Deltek created a coaching ecosystem that combined:
- Expert 1:1 coaching through Optify’s curated network
- Integrated learning experiences aligned to Deltek’s leadership competencies
- 360 feedback and assessment tools (including the Leadership Circle Profile)
- Technology-enabled oversight, giving L&D leaders visibility into coaching activity, satisfaction, and outcomes
With Optify, Deltek Leaders could schedule coaching sessions, capture notes, track goals, and engage with curated resources—all in one secure place. At the same time, Deltek’s L&D team could monitor engagement across cohorts, measure progress toward goals, and ensure coaching aligns with business priorities.
This foundation enabled Deltek to launch the LIFTT (Leaders Immersion for Top Talent) program, a seven-month experience combining assessments, facilitated workshops, and sustained 1:1 coaching.
Impact
Deltek’s coaching initiatives are now driving measurable growth at the individual, team, and organizational level. In 2025, the LIFTT program received the prestigious Silver Brandon Hall Award for Leadership Development Excellence. This award is one of the most respected in the HR and learning industry, recognizing organizations that deliver measurable results through world-class programs and strategies.
“Optify has been an invaluable partner in helping us strengthen how we develop and support leaders at Deltek,” said Ed Hutner, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Deltek. “Their scalable coaching model has enabled us to reach more leaders, accelerate growth, and deliver meaningful impact across the organization.”
Optify and Deltek’s ongoing partnership continues to deliver critical value to the business:
Leadership Growth
- 21% of coached leaders were promoted during the program
- 97% retention rate among coached leaders
- 100% reported making meaningful progress on their development goals
- 70% reported becoming more effective as leaders/managers
Business Results
- 92% reported an increase in positive outcomes from their work
- 85% saw stronger internal customer relationships
- 77% saw improved team engagement and collaboration
- 70% saw gains in team productivity and personal productivity
Program Excellence
- Program Net Promoter Score: 69 (well above the industry average of 43)
- Coach Net Promoter Score: 85 (extraordinary satisfaction)
- 92% found the coach-matching process highly effective
- High program demand from top talent across business
With Optify, Deltek has built a coaching system that scales, enabling them to live their values, develop future-ready leaders, and create a culture of learning that powers business performance. The program is not a one-time effort but an ongoing journey, continuously evolving, learning, and improving. By working in partnership over time, Deltek gains the advantage of a long data history, which deepens insights and drives even stronger results year after year.
“There’s really nothing else that provides the same functionality as Optify. It’s progressive in the way it allows us to track every aspect of a coaching relationship.” Jodi Atkinson, Senior Director of Global Learning, Deltek
