Training Weekly: Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Successor Development Program

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s Successor Development Program

Recognizing that many of its executive leaders were approaching retirement, the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma—the third largest Indian nation in the U.S.—launched the Successor Development Program in 2021. Designed to ensure continuity and preparedness at the highest levels of leadership, the Successor Development Program establishes a formal succession plan for executive roles and fosters the continuous development of senior leaders as they advance toward executive-level responsibilities. The Successor Development Program focuses on structured development, formal training, and data-informed assessments. Key components include biennial skill assessments using data-driven assessments from Korn Ferry; annual experiential learning tied to core competencies; formal executive training program I shvlihchi (Choctaw for go beyond/do more); quarterly development sessions with Organizational Development specialists and recommenders; and quarterly networking events.

In 2022, the average percentile rank of the Gallup VOA direct report score for practice participants was 59.3; by 2024, it increased to 80.28. The Successor Development Program has resulted in the promotion of 10 successors since its inception.