The Advisory Relationship

Most advisory relationships are built for volume. This one is built for depth.

A small number of clients. A genuine working partnership. And a model designed to grow with you as your needs evolve.

"Michael is a catalyst for transformation. His unique ability to blend strategic insight with genuine empathy helped me navigate complex challenges with clarity and confidence." Amanda, University CIO

A Different Kind of Advisory Relationship

The typical advisory model is built for scale. Firms grow by expanding client rosters - more clients, more revenue, thinner relationships. That's not a criticism. It's the structural reality of a public company optimizing for shareholder returns. There is genuine value in that model. There is also a ceiling on what it can deliver to any individual client.

This was my typical week.

Nineteen client calls (blue boxes). Back to back, all day, every day. Names blurred - but the density tells the story. There wasn't time to go deep. That's not a criticism of Gartner. It's the math of the model.

CxO Amplify is built differently. A deliberately small number of clients means the relationship can go where transactional advisory cannot - into the specific context, the real constraints, the conversations that don't fit neatly into a scheduled call. The diagnostic is where most relationships begin. The advisory subscription is where the work continues.

This is not consulting. A consultant delivers a product and exits. This is an ongoing working partnership - flat fee, no clock running, built around your specific situation and the results your organization needs to see. The depth of the relationship is the point.

Three engagement levels reflect three different scopes of impact - from the individual CIO to the broader leadership team to the executive bench and next generation of leaders. The two primary levers that distinguish the tiers are workshop depth and team reach. Everything else follows naturally from the expanded circle of who is being served.

The right starting point isn't always obvious. That's what the first conversation is for.

THE ADVISORY RELATIONSHIP

Three engagement levels. One relationship model.

More than advice. More than a retainer. A genuine working partnership.

Amplify

For the CIO who wants a trusted thought partner in their corner.

You're navigating complexity at the top of a demanding organization. The challenges are real, the decisions are consequential, and the people around you have their own agendas. Amplify gives you a single, trusted advisor who knows your situation deeply - available when you need it, not just when a call is scheduled.

Strategy and decision support calls scheduled around your needs - typically 1 to 2 per month
Same-day accessibility - direct access to Michael, not a scheduled callback
1 on-site workshop per year
2 CxO Amplify diagnostics per year
Annual strategy and operating model review
Board presentation coaching
Key hiring decision support
2 virtual training webinars

Elevate

For the CIO who wants advisory impact to reach the leadership team.

The most important leverage point for a CIO isn't their own clarity - it's the clarity of the team around them. Elevate extends the advisory relationship beyond the individual to the people whose alignment determines whether strategy actually moves.

Everything in Amplify, plus:

Bi-weekly strategy and decision support calls
2 on-site workshops per year
1 Executive Leadership Team retreat - 2 to 3 days, with extended follow-ups. Can include organization strategy, OKRs, change leadership, 5 Dysfunctions of a Team, and more
Senior team coaching - 2 individual coaching tracks, 3 sessions each
Stakeholder interviews to surface what you can't see from your seat
Leadership team effectiveness review
Facilitated team sessions to work through specific challenges where alignment is needed
DiSC team alignment assessment
5 virtual training webinars
2 diagnostics per year

Ascend

For the CIO who wants to build the bench while leading the enterprise.

Ascend is two advisory relationships in one. You get everything in Elevate - and so does one named rising leader in your organization. Not a hand-me-down relationship. A dedicated advisory partnership built around their development, their challenges, and their path forward. This tier is for leaders who think about succession, bench strength, and what the organization looks like after them.

Everything in Ascend and Elevate, plus:

A dedicated monthly advisory call for your named rising leader - their own relationship with Michael, not a shared one
3 on-site workshops per year
2-hour response SLA for both you and your rising leader
Succession and bench assessment
Executive stakeholder alignment assessment
Dedicated working sessions with IT and key business partners on critical initiatives
On-demand diagnostics tied to major initiatives

"Michael was my partner for five years. I valued his advice, his perspective and his genuine approach to our interactions. The executive layer at my organization was in turmoil, and Michael was a port of calm for me and my team. I consider him a partner and a friend."

Joyce, CIO, Investment Management Company

Ready to Find Clarity?

Let's have a conversation about what's possible for you and your organization

703.629.4332

Michael@CxOAmplify.com

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