Challenge
Balancing Expansion and Succession
HRA Group, a global innovator in the diamond trade, experienced rapid growth after launching Dialog, the world’s first diamond subscription service for retailers. While this success brought opportunity, it also introduced new complexity—both operationally and organizationally.
At the same time, the Ariel family was preparing to pass leadership to the next generation. To grow sustainably and secure the company’s legacy, HRA needed to:
- Align Growing Teams: Establish a shared strategic focus across newly formed departments and global offices.
- Professionalize Strategy Execution: Replace informal processes with structured OKR practices that scale.
- Improve Communication: Create systems for visibility, clarity, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Manage Succession Smoothly: Support the leadership transition with coaching that balanced business needs and family dynamics.
“OKRs made sure everyone was swimming in the same direction, and Wave Nine’s leadership coaching was transformative.” — Itay Ariel, President, HRA Group
The Solution: A Dual Approach of OKR Implementation and Leadership Coaching
From Family-Led Growth to Structured Strategic Execution
HRA partnered with Wave Nine to introduce a sustainable, scalable OKR system while supporting the generational transition of leadership. Their engagement included:
- OKR Rollout Across the Organization: Wave Nine coached teams to write clear, outcome-oriented OKRs, integrated WorkBoard as a single source of truth, and established a digital operating rhythm.
- Hands-On Coaching: Quarterly reviews, structured rituals, and weekly check-ins helped HRA shift from passive OKR tracking to active insight generation.
- Leadership Alignment: One-on-one and group coaching supported the Ariel family in navigating emotional dynamics and operational challenges.
- Operational Clarity: The coaching culminated in a leadership retreat, where the team defined clear decision-making frameworks and conflict resolution protocols.
Today, OKRs support every major initiative—from lab-grown diamonds to sustainability efforts—and the company operates with newfound clarity and cohesion under its next generation of leaders.
