FAQ | Cxo Amplify

Top

What is a SLP and what does...

What is a Strategic Leadership Partner and what does this mean for me?

In today’s world, executives face a flood of information, competing priorities, and constant change. It’s not the lack of insight that slows progress — it’s connecting insight to action in a way that’s aligned, timely, and sustainable.

A Strategic Leadership Partner bridges the gap between what you know and what you need to do. I work side-by-side with you to clarify priorities, pressure-test decisions, and translate plans into action.

We don’t publish research or sell one-size-fits-all recommendations. Our work is deep, contextual, and tailored to your goals — giving you an experienced thinking partner who knows your business and is there when the stakes are highest.

What's the value

What's the value of Michael's services?

In an era of generative AI disruption, geopolitical instability, and rapid market shifts, businesses and institutions are being forced into massive transformation, whether they want it or not. These high-stakes games will create winners and losers, and navigating these waters will be critical for organizations to survive and thrive.

As an executive, you are paid to think and to make high quality decisions. Your success - and the success of your organization — hinges on the clarity and quality of your decisions. Exceptional executives make exceptional decisions. Mediocre executives make mediocre ones. It’s that simple.

At the core, executive effectiveness is about knowing where to focus time and energy to create the greatest impact. Executives must make decisions about strategy, operating models, organizational structure, staffing, initiative prioritization, culture, partnerships - and more. It’s impossible to overstate the importance of these choices.

A chef’s primary tool is her knife. Without a whetstone to keep the blade sharp, even the most skilled chef would struggle. My services are like a whetstone for executives — helping keep them sharp so they can make the very best decisions for their teams and organizations.

The result: you turn uncertainty into strategic clarity and act decisively while your competitors hesitate.

Typical client engagement

What does a "typical" client engagement look like?

Every engagement is unique because every leadership team faces its own set of opportunities, pressures, and dynamics. Rather than following a fixed advisory script, we design a program that adapts as your priorities evolve.

We begin by working closely with you — and often your senior team or board — to establish clarity on your most pressing strategic questions. From there, we facilitate targeted working sessions, scenario explorations, and collaborative planning exercises designed to produce actionable decisions, not just ideas.

Some engagements center on aligning the leadership team around a multi-year strategy; others dive into restructuring initiatives, building execution roadmaps, or strengthening cross-functional collaboration. We use immersive workshops, focused decision labs, and structured reflection sessions to make sure each conversation moves you forward.

Between sessions, we remain on call as your sounding board and rapid-response partner — available to pressure-test ideas, explore alternatives, and help you adjust course when the environment shifts. This combination of deep facilitation, ongoing thought partnership, and practical follow-through ensures that momentum doesn’t stop when the workshop ends.

Some specifics:

We develop a plan with 90, 180, and 1-year goals that are aligned to the president/CEO's objectives. This plan may include training for your team, multi-day on-site workshops, or other engagements that include the member's team, the executive leadership team, or board.
We review and often strengthen your existing strategic plan and operating model for their department.
We frequently access the team, the org structure, and your governance to ensure you have the fundamentals of success. We often assess the team culture and make any adjustments needed.
Depending on the engagement, we will work with the leader to assess their leadership style and how they can most effectively work across the organization.

All of these involve a wide library of frameworks and toolkits that we use with our clients.

Who is this for

Who is this for?

You're in organization in Flux - New leadership/strategy, board or PE mandate, activist pressure, or budget shock; you need roles and rhythm fast.
You're facing a defining transformation in the next 3–12 months. (Strategic plan, major system, reorg, platform/AI rollout, vendor change, M&A) - and want an experienced partner to help bring clarity, de-risk and sequence it.
You're a fast-brain/ADHD-style leader with 15 #1 Priorities - Brilliant, overcommitted, constant context-switching, and need a simple operating rhythm.
On the ascent or new in role (first 180 days). You want to go from a seat at the table to a voice at the table: sharpen value, frame trade-offs, and turn updates into decisions.
Stuck in the weeds despite your title. You're solving problems your team should handle while big-picture strategy sits on the back burner.

Who is this NOT for

Who is this NOT for.

Executives looking for quick fixes or silver bullet solutions to deep organizational challenges.
Organizations seeking tactical implementation support or hands-on project management
Executives who prefer directive consulting where they're told exactly what to do step-by-step
Executives unwilling to examine the root causes — strategy, culture, leadership behaviors — that drive most problems.
Organizations looking for narrow functional expertise (HR, finance, operations, etc.) rather than strategic leadership development
Leaders who aren't prepared to invest time in reflection and strategic thinking processes
Organizations seeking compliance-focused or checkbox consulting services
Leaders who confuse activity with impact.

I work best with executives who are ready to do the work, embrace challenge, and move faster and smarter than their competitors.

Difference SLP and Coaching

What's the difference between working with a Strategic Leadership Partner and executive coaching?

Coaches help you reflect. Consultants hand you a playbook. I do something different: I sit in the trenches with you as a thought partner, cutting through noise, challenging assumptions, and helping you act with clarity. If you want only coaching or only consulting, there are plenty of options. If you want a catalyst who blends both and keeps you focused on what actually moves the needle — that’s where I fit.

Difference SLP and consulting

What's the difference between working with a Strategic Leadership Partner and consulting?

Consulting firms are built for project delivery — defining a scope, executing, and handing over a finished product. Often a giant binder that quickly collects dust.

My services are built for leadership momentum. Instead of dropping in for a project, we embed alongside you over time — guiding, challenging, and accelerating your decision-making through ongoing working sessions, facilitated leadership conversations, and targeted workshops.

The result isn’t just a deliverable — it’s a leadership team that’s aligned, decisive, and ready for what’s next.

Process for Onboarding

What's our process with onboarding a new client?

For us to be effective and give context relevant insights, we need deep, intimate knowledge of your company, your department, your team, and you. We can't deliver value by being just another person with an opinion, we need to be seen as an extension to your leadership team.

Onboarding a new client starts with a 2-hour discovery call. We go into depth understanding the company, your specific market, the President/CEO and his/her goals and objectives, your department, and you. We go over your company strategy, your department's strategic plan, your org structure, and operating model. And finally, we go over all your large initiatives that are in flight and on deck.

Depending on the client and their preferences, this also may include a meeting with the client's boss to gain even greater context as to the organization and better understand their goals. And depending on the level of contract, it may include 1:1 conversations with the member's direct reports to understand and build even deeper context.

From these engagements, we create a 30/180/365 plan, outlining how we will partner together for you to achieve your goals. This plan may include workshops with your department, the executive leadership team, or the board. It will include toolkits and frameworks that will help guide our discussions moving forward.

Pricing Model

What's our pricing model?

CxO Amplify works using an annual subscription model. Where consulting is usually based on solving a specific problem, this model allows you full access to a partner to help you throughout the year with all your challenges. Because your partner has deep knowledge of your organization, they don't need to be re-educated every time something new arises - they are always there for you no matter what.

First Step

What's the first step if I'm interested?

We offer a free hour-long consultation with prospective clients to give you a CXO Amplify-like experience, as if you were a client. We will sketch out a rough plan for how we will engage in the future and discuss which tier would be the best option for you and your needs.