WATERLOO: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM NAPOLEON’S DEFEAT

Preparation.
Pressure.
Decisive Leadership.

Waterloo, Belgium

Join The Fivecoat Consulting Group for an immersive leadership experience in Belgium, at the battlefield where Allied and French forces clashed in one of history’s most pivotal engagements. WATERLOO: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM NAPOLEON’S DEFEAT explores how decisive leadership, strategic patience, and effective coordination shaped the outcome of the battle—and what they can teach us about leading in today’s complex environments.

On June 18, 1815, the fate of Europe hinged on a single day of battle near the village of Waterloo. Faced with Napoleon’s return to power, the Duke of Wellington and his Allied forces stood against one of history’s most brilliant—and unpredictable—commanders. The battle tested leadership at every level: strategy, timing, trust, and the ability to adapt in the face of chaos.

WATERLOO: LEADERSHIP LESSONS FROM NAPOLEON’S DEFEAT invites your team to explore how leaders shape outcomes in moments of high stakes and limited control. From field-level tactics to grand strategy, the decisions made—and not made—during this campaign offer timeless lessons on communication, collaboration, and leading under pressure.

This experience challenges teams to reflect on readiness, resolve, and the consequences of hesitation when timing is everything.

ABOUT WATERLOO:

What Your Team Will Do:

  • Walk the ground where leaders like Wellington, Napoleon, and Blücher faced make-or-break decisions in real time

  • Examine how communication, timing, and trust shaped outcomes in a rapidly evolving environment

  • Apply lessons in preparation, contingency planning, and adaptability to your organization’s leadership challenges

  • Explore the dangers of overconfidence—and the power of patience under pressure

  • Experience an offsite that sharpens decision-making, strengthens alignment, and challenges leaders to anticipate rather than react

What’s Included:

  • 2.5-day immersive program in Waterloo, Belgium

  • Leadership workbook and case studies customized for your team

  • Expert facilitation by combat veteran and leadership coach David Fivecoat and his team

  • Pre- and post-event executive alignment session

  • Optional Add-Ons: Leadership Philosophy Development, Hogan Assessment, and/or Executive Coaching

Interested in bringing your team to Waterloo?

Schedule a 30-Minute conversation to discuss a tailored Leadership Experience for your team