TARSUS LEADERSHIP CONVERSATIONS SERIES
The Leadership Conversation Series​

As Tarsus accelerates its journey to become the best place to work in eyecare, leaders are being called to do something new: multiply their impact by empowering others. This four-module series builds a shared leadership language and toolkit across Tarsus—moving participants from tactical "doers" to strategic coaches who lead with clarity, create accountability, and build the kind of teams people choose to stay on.

This program is designed to help you:

1

Move from "Nice" to Direct
Replace conflict avoidance with productive, innovative friction. Learn to have the conversations that actually move the needle—without sacrificing trust or human connection.​

2

Shift from "Doing" To "Leading"
Master goal setting and coaching conversations that cure micromanagement and build team self-sufficiency—freeing you for the work only you can do.​

3

Build a "Clear is Kind" culture
Deliver direct, evidence-based feedback that addresses performance gaps early and reframes hard conversations as essential drivers of growth and alignment.
PARTICIPANTS
managers and leaders selected by Cosmos leadership to participate in the pilot cohort
DURATION
four months
TIME
8.5 hours live
​COHORT SIZE 
12-15

Program Curriculum

THREE PRE-WORK FOUNDATIONS:
To ensure the journey is tailored to your unique challenges, participants complete the following prior to Kick-off:
Leadership Principles Self-Assessment (10-15min)
A concise self-reflection survey designed to surface your current leadership challenges and help you define your personal learning goals for the program. Results will inform cohort-level themes on Day 1.
360-Lite
Your direct leader completes a brief observer survey, sharing their perspective on your current strengths and development opportunities. This data is shared with you at the start of the program and revisited at the close—establishing a feedback loop between you and your leader that runs the full length of the series. 
Insights Profile Review (10-15min)
Pull up your existing Insights Profile and spend time with the Management Style section. Come prepared to share: What does your profile tell you about how you like to lead? Where might your natural style create friction with the people you manage? Your Insights results serve as a recurring lens throughout all four modules.
FOUR MODULES. ONE SHARED OPERATING LANGUAGE
Each session opens with cohort survey data and one organizing framework, works through practical application, and closes with a commitment to one real action. Every skill is anchored in Tarsus's leadership competencies and your actual work.​
MODULE 1 (2.5  hours):  Leading & Managing at Tarsus
​Tue, Aug 18th, 10:00am - 12:30pm PT

In this foundational session, you and your cohort will establish a shared leadership language, explicitly defining the shift from short-term tactical management ("doing") to strategic long-term leadership ("empowering"). Leveraging your Insights Profile, you will explore your personal leadership style and values to understand how you influence others. You will also tackle the "manager's balancing act"—managing self, team, and organizational demands—so that you are acting from choice rather than habit as you step into this new cultural framework.
MODULE 2 (2 hours):  The Coaching Conversation
​Tue, Sep 29th,  10:00am - 12:00pm PT

As complexity increases, you can no longer hold all the answers—and in this module, you won't have to. You will shift to a "questions-first" approach, learning how to act as a thought partner to unlock your team's problem-solving resilience. By distinguishing coaching (facilitating insight) from fixing (providing solutions), you will develop your reports' critical thinking skills, preparing your team to navigate the failures and iterations inherent in drug development.
MODULE 3 (2 hours):  The Goal Setting Conversation
​Tue, Oct 27th,  10:00am - 12:00pm PT
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Accountability is impossible without clarity—and in this module, you will master the upstream work that makes it possible. You will learn to translate high-level organizational objectives into clear, actionable expectations before delegation ever occurs. By articulating the "what" and the "why" with precision, you will eliminate ambiguity—the primary driver of performance issues—prevent future friction, and establish the baseline your team needs to operate with genuine autonomy.​
MODULE 4 (2 hours):  The Feedback Conversation
Tue, Nov 10th,  10:00am - 12:00pm PT

​In this final module, you will move beyond the "nice" culture that allows performance issues to linger and put the principle of "clear is kind" into practice. You will deliver direct, evidence-based feedback that addresses gaps early, and learn to distinguish between helpful guidance and criticism. You will navigate the discomfort of corrective conversations and reframe them as essential tools for growth, alignment, and "unsticking" the stalled workflows that slow your team down.

Program
Outcomes
By the end of this four-month journey, you will be equipped with a shared toolkit to lead with confidence, directness, and care. You will graduate with:

  • A "Coach-First" Leadership Approach: You will have made the shift from Fixer to Coach—using trust, deep listening, and powerful questions to unlock your team's own problem-solving and free your time for the work only you can do.
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  • A "Clear is Kind" Communication Practice: You will move hard conversations from the back burner to the table early—delivering direct, evidence-based feedback that drives accountability and innovation without sacrificing human connection.

  • A Shared Leadership Language: You and your cohort will operate with a unified vocabulary and toolkit, replacing fragmented management styles with a consistent, repeatable approach to developing talent and driving performance.
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  • A Cross-Functional Network: You will build real relationships with a cohort of peers from across Tarsus—breaking down silos and creating a lasting community of practice.

Meet Your Coach

INGRID WIESE
Founder & CEO, Axe & Arrow Solutions

You are not getting a trainer. You are getting a coach who has sat across the table from some of the most high-stakes conversations in the world — and learned how to navigate every one of them.

Ingrid began her career with the U.S. State Department in Eastern Europe, coaching political leaders through conflict resolution and peace negotiations. She went on to execute strategies that raised over $100 million for major NGOs before turning her expertise to the leadership challenges of the world's most iconic organizations. Her client list includes Google, Disney, Microsoft, and Facebook — and as senior faculty for the McKinsey LEAD program, she works alongside the leaders who are shaping the future of global business.

Her academic credentials match her real-world range: Advanced Certificates in Influence and Leadership from both Harvard Law School and M.I.T., and a Master's in International Relations from Syracuse University.

What makes Ingrid exceptional isn't just her résumé — it's what she does with it in the room. She brings fifteen years of experience helping thousands of leaders transform the way they communicate, influence, and lead. She will challenge you, tell it like it is, and show up without pretense or ego. And she will make the four conversations you practice together feel less like training and more like a turning point.

​As a member of this founding cohort, you will have direct access to one of the most sought-after leadership coaches in the world — customizing her expertise specifically for Tarsus and specifically for you.

Why Axe & Arrow?

Tarsus chose Axe & Arrow not because they offer an off-the-shelf curriculum, but because they don't. Every element of the TLC series — the frameworks, the pre-work, the coaching approach — has been co-created with Tarsus's Talent Development team to reflect the specific challenges, language, and growth ambitions of this organization. Here is what you can expect from every session:
Real Connections, Real Presence
Axe & Arrow coaches show up without pretense or ego. From the moment you join the first session, you will be in an environment built on trust — one where honest conversation is not just encouraged, it's the whole point.
You Will Be Challenged
These sessions are not designed to confirm what you already know. Axe & Arrow coaches speak out, push back, and are not afraid to challenge you when it means a more successful outcome. You will be invited to think differently — and you will leave with deeper insight each time.
Practical Tools, Not Theory
Every framework you learn, you will practice immediately. Axe & Arrow's approach is built on the conviction that awareness alone doesn't change behavior — application does. You will leave each session with something concrete to try the next day.
An Experience You'll Actually Enjoy
Axe & Arrow believes great learning happens when people are genuinely engaged. Expect a fast-paced, energized environment that uses self-reflection, group discussion, simulation, and real-world practice — designed to be as enjoyable as it is impactful.
Proven at the Highest Level
With over a decade of virtual delivery, a 98% participant satisfaction rating, and a client roster spanning Google, Disney, Oracle, and McKinsey, Axe & Arrow brings world-class expertise to every session. You are in extraordinarily good hands.