Company: Lab49
Function: Software Consulting
Industry: Financial Services
Fun Facts:
- Lab49 was established to bring Silicon Valley innovation to Wall Street, and has since delivered over 1,200 successful projects for top-tier financial institutions.
- Lab49 fosters a collaborative and fun work environment, hosting global contests and team-building activities to strengthen its community.
TL;DR: When Lab49 needed to reduce regrettable attrition and elevate manager effectiveness, it turned to LifeLabs Learning. With tailored training and strong internal alignment, the company achieved a measurable impact: a 50% reduction in regrettable attrition, stronger manager-employee relationships, and enhanced team cohesion, culture, and productivity.
Situation
Lab 49, a leading software consultancy for the financial services industry, relies on consistent staffing and highly skilled talent to deliver exceptional service to its clients. However, like many high-growth firms, it faced a critical challenge: high rates of regrettable attrition.
“We had a problem with attrition, and we wanted to retain our great people,” said Helena Cantrell, Head of Global Talent Engagement. “And part of that is having great managers.”
While Lab49’s talented consultants and technologists excelled at their craft, many lacked the skills, training, or time to lead teams effectively. This gap not only impacted retention but also disrupted client relationships.
“It’s really important that our clients have consistent staffing – the people they know, with the skills and experience they need to meet their goals,” said Helena. “We’re in the people business. Our people are what make our business special.”
Solution
Lab49 partnered with LifeLabs Learning to enhance its management capabilities, beginning with the Manager CORE 1 program.
“LifeLabs was an obvious choice,” said Helena. “We came to them with a problem and they came to us with answers.”
With guidance from their dedicated LifeLabs Consultant, Christina, the team co-created a solution that fit Lab49’s fast-paced, high-performance culture. Christina helped secure executive buy-in, tailored the experience to resonate with the audience, and ensured a smooth rollout.
“Every step of the way, Christina made sure the training was appropriate, that it would hit the mark and achieve our business goals,” said Helena. “She gave me the tools to pitch it the right way to my boss and to get the team on board.”
While Helena focused on getting people “in the room,” LifeLabs delivered engaging, actionable learning experiences that stuck.
“We had to wrestle them into the room,” said Helena. “But once they were there, what LifeLabs did was just take that and run with it. They were really clear, concise – the training was effective. ”
Helena Cantrell’s Favorite Workshop
“I love the Productivity & Prioritization workshop – I still use my pomodoros! It was a personal benefit to have been there.”
– Helena Cantrell, Head of Global Talent Engagement
Results
The training impact was measurable.
- 50% reduction in regrettable attrition
- Stronger onboarding and communication between managers and employees
- Improved team culture, cohesion, and productivity
- Sustained demand for more training across teams
“Part of the work we’ve done with LifeLabs has halved our regretted attrition. A big win for us — and a huge win for our clients,” said Helena. “They know they have the right people in the right seats to complete their needs.”
“Part of the work we’ve done with LifeLabs has halved our regretted attrition. A big win for us — and a huge win for our clients. They know they have the right people in the right seats to complete their needs.” – Helena Cantrell, Head of Global Talent Engagement, Lab49
Beyond metrics, Lab49 saw a shift in team cohesion and culture. People connected more openly with their managers through consistent feedback and coaching, and teams continuously improved throughout the year.
“Training our managers has brought us further in building a culture of excellence,” Helena shared. “It’s a chance for our technologists and our consultants to become extraordinary. We’ve seen better time management, more productivity. Our retention has been incredible, and attrition has gone down.”
Conclusion
By investing in leadership development, Lab49 turned a talent retention challenge into a competitive advantage. With LifeLabs Learning, it has built a stronger management team, boosted team performance, and created a culture where great people want to stay — and grow.
In fact, employees regularly ask: “When’s the next session?” and “How can we keep learning?”
Ready to boost leadership skills at your org? Get in touch.
