Building a Cohesive Leadership Team: Our Partnership with Rmada United

As Merrimac International has grown as a retained executive search firm, we have remained deeply focused on one priority: building a strong, values-driven leadership culture that supports our people, our clients, and our long-term vision.

While our team is highly experienced and collaborative, we recognized that continued growth required intentional leadership development. We needed shared tools, a common language, and the confidence to navigate complex conversations as trusted advisors. To support that goal, we partnered with Rmada United, whose leadership philosophy strongly aligned with our people-first approach.

The Challenge

Our founder and president, Mary McIntyre, has seen firsthand the impact of leadership training throughout her career. As the firm expanded, she wanted to ensure that our entire team, not just senior leadership, was equipped to lead with clarity, self-awareness, and accountability.

The objective was not to check the box on training. It was to build a leadership foundation that would strengthen communication, support decision-making, and scale with us as the firm evolved.

The Approach

Rmada United began our partnership with an immersive three-day leadership offsite designed to be practical, impactful, and immediately applicable. The program focused on:

• Understanding individual leadership styles, strengths, and growth areas

• Leveraging DISC behavioral assessments to improve communication and self-awareness

• Applying leadership concepts through hands-on team exercises and real-world scenarios

From the outset, the experience was collaborative and intentional. The emphasis was on creating shared understanding rather than theory that would sit on a shelf.

Going Deeper

Following the offsite, several team members continued their development through Rmada United’s Leadership Cohort Program. This multi-month experience combines group learning, one-on-one coaching, and peer engagement across industries.

What made this approach especially effective was consistency. With multiple team members participating, leadership tools and frameworks became embedded into our daily operations. Today, DISC assessments remain part of our onboarding process, reinforcing clarity, communication, and alignment as new team members join the firm.

Why This Partnership Worked

Our partnership with Rmada United was built on shared values such as servant leadership, accountability, and a people-first mindset. Their disciplined, experience-driven approach to leadership development aligned closely with how we serve our clients and support our team.

Rather than offering a one-time solution, Rmada United helped us build leadership capability that continues to shape how we work together.

The Impact

As a result of this engagement, Merrimac International has developed a shared leadership framework that supports stronger communication, greater confidence, and consistent decision-making across the organization. Leadership development is no longer a standalone initiative. It is part of our culture.

Investing in our people ultimately strengthens how we partner with clients, deliver results, and grow with intention.