Sharpen the Axe Series: Where Members Meet External Thought Leaders

Members and their teams get access to eight monthly meetings where we interview top thought leaders on various timely topics. These leaders include CEOs, New York Times Bestselling authors, and other key experts. These sessions are designed to get us to broaden our thinking with new innovative and insightful perspectives needed to succeed in today’s world of constant disruption. 

Our guests are thought leaders who often command fees ranging from $20,000 to over $50,000 per engagement. Consequently, participating in eight separate sessions with such esteemed experts could amount to a total cost between $160,000 and $400,000. However, through our program, you and your extended team gain access to these top thought leaders, providing invaluable insights and perspectives essential for thriving in today’s rapidly changing environment.

Quarterly Future Trends Newsletter

Every year members receive four newsletters packed with information on signals that tell them how trends are developing and advice on how to prepare to seize future opportunities and avoid obstacles. CDOs are executive business leaders. Access to this type of future-focused information is more critical for CDOs than ever due to rapid change across industries, economies, and societies. Technological advancements like AI and automation are reshaping industries faster than traditional planning can keep up. Geopolitical shifts, globalization, workforce transformations, and shorter business cycles demand that all organizational leaders anticipate and proact. And these forces will continue to accelerate tomorrow, making access to future insights even more vital for staying ahead as a leader shaping the future rather than struggling to survive in it. 

The Annual CDO PowerCircle Summit

Members get seats for themselves and select team members at the annual hybrid CDO PowerCircle Summit, where participants and top thought leaders gather to develop and establish long-term measurable business-impacting strategies and tactics. This exclusive event offers unparalleled access to high-level coaching and strategy development. These sessions with leading experts typically cost tens of thousands of dollars if purchased outside of membership. Given the caliber of thought leaders and the tangible business results derived from the event, the benefits provided by this program would likely range from $50,000 to $100,000 or more, making the Summit an invaluable investment for CDOs seeking to drive lasting business impact.

Skill Development for ERG leaders and Executive Sponsors

Investing in training and development for ERG leaders and Executive Sponsors is vital for CDOs who want to produce business impact. It equips these supportive leaders with the practical, business-focused skills they need to align their groups with strategic organizational goals. ERG leaders and sponsors who understand how to drive results contribute directly to bottom-line performance and a positive organizational culture. ERG Leaders and Executive Sponsors of member organizations are invited to attend 12 discussions with top thought leaders. By participating in ERG PowerTalk discussions, these leaders gain access to expert-led, actionable insights that are key to unlocking the full potential of their ERGs, making them a powerful force in achieving measurable business impact.

Without membership, the cost for a CDO to get this type of high-level training and development for ERG Leaders and executive sponsors would be around $10,000 per session, totaling $120,000 for 12 sessions. This makes the membership an invaluable, cost-effective way to gain the insights and strategies needed to drive lasting business and social impact. Joining these conversations is easy. Participants can enter our virtual discussion room from their homes, car, or office.

Members Get a Powerful, Risk-Free Way to Elevate their Employer Brand Across All Demographics

Through the CDO PowerCircle’s ERG PowerTalk podcast, members can extend their outreach to diverse communities in a way that is both impactful and legally safe in today’s challenging environment. Our podcast goes out through channels, reaching over 300 million listeners across major streaming platforms tapping into a rapidly growing audience of working-age professionals. By providing free, high-value leadership inspiration and training to Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders, members, and sponsors worldwide, we ensure our message resonates with women, people of color, veterans, LGBTQ+ professionals, and other underrepresented groups.

90% of our listeners are Millennials and Gen Z, who comprise 60% of the workforce and are a growing force shaping the future of business and innovation. Each episode opens by recognizing CDO PowerCircle members for championing this innovative, no-cost approach to expanding education—anytime, anywhere. This allows members to strengthen their employer brand without legal risk while authentically signaling a welcoming environment to all workforce demographics inside and outside their organizations.

The Virtual Academy

Members get seats to six to seven 90-minute instructor-led Virtual Academy workshops for your entire extended team. The Virtual Academy is an online learning environment designed to provide top-notch training conveniently and cost-effectively. The programs cover many topics, including emotional intelligence, influence, and leadership.  Our Learning Partners who lead these sessions are top-of-the-line thought leaders in their space who will keep your entire team current on the timeliest topics in their fields.

Based on conservative prices, the cost for high-quality, instructor-led 90-minute workshops with top-tier thought leaders on these types of topics typically ranges from $5,000 to $10,000 per session. The total cost for six to seven workshops would range between $30,000 to $70,000. Membership gives your team access to premium training that typically comes at a higher price when purchased by non-members.

24 by 7 Access to an AI Powered Assistant

Access to DAVE, an automated AI expert system that lets member CDOs quickly get answers to key questions and support in preparing presentations and reports—turning tasks that generally take days into just minutes. DAVE delivers fast insights, streamlining data gathering, strategy creation, and fine-tuning, enabling member company CDOs to make decisions and present quickly and accurately. This powerful tool frees up valuable time, allowing members to focus on driving impactful business results instead of tedious, busy work.

The cost of a 24/7 custom-built system tailored to your specific needs can range anywhere from $100,000 to over $500,000 per year. This highlights the significant value of having DAVE’s expert-level AI support as part of your membership, providing high-quality assistance at a fraction of the cost.

 Savings of Hundreds of Thousands of Budget Dollars

Membership in the CDO PowerCircle delivers exceptional value—providing access to a high-impact, all-encompassing leadership development program for a fraction of the cost. Imagine acquiring a 50-foot yacht for the price of one year of cheap lunches. That’s the level of leverage our members are getting. The resources, expert insights, and strategic tools our members receive would generally cost far more if sourced separately. This unparalleled investment unlocks the power of top-tier expertise and transformative strategies, ensuring our members and their teams can drive profound business impact—without draining their budgets.