Why it matters
The skills that made someone a top performer are not the skills that run a function, set direction and lead other leaders. That gap is where high-potential talent stalls, disengages, and eventually leaves. The Independent Executive closes it.
Your leader can say what they do, what they fix and why it matters to the business in one sentence. Most senior people have never written that sentence.
Composed under pressure, decisive with incomplete information, and credible in front of senior stakeholders.
Aligning people they don't manage, communicating hard decisions, and building relationships across functions and across the industry.
How a business finds customers, prices value, protects margin and makes decisions. Leaders who think like owners make better calls with your money.
Your leader builds four concrete assets in the first 90 days, and you can see the change in how they show up in meetings.
In the first 90 days, then less. Every call is recorded with AI notes, so a travel week doesn't break the rhythm.
The first 90 days
The program starts with real data on how your leader is wired and the gap between that and what the role demands. From there, every asset is something they build, keep, and can show you.
A clear, one-sentence statement of the value they bring, backed by proof. A leader who can represent their function to the executive team and to customers.
The value proposition one-pager
Composure, decisiveness and bottom-line-up-front communication in senior settings.
The 90-Day Presence Plan, with a map of the people whose decisions shape their work
Working relationships across functions and across the industry, and a professional profile that reflects well on your company.
The Market Map: 20 real relationships, with the first conversations booked
How to get found, get chosen and deliver value, taught two ways: as an executive inside a company, and as the owner of a business. The second one is where owner-level thinking comes from.
An executive career roadmap and a first-90-days plan for their next level of scope
How we deliver
It starts with a 3-hour live kickoff workshop. From there, four coaching calls a week. Your leader attends the ones they need, and every call is recorded with AI notes.
Training from Tom or a guest speaker, with the whole Vertical Motion community.
Your leader brings the real situation. Hosted by Tom or Ryan.
The value proposition and the executive brand built on it.
How your leader speaks, decides and carries a meeting.
How a business finds, wins and keeps customers. Owner-level thinking.
Hands-on agentic AI, so your leader runs the AI instead of being replaced by it.
Two 1-hour calls a month on their specific situation, on top of everything in the program. Every VMCC is a former client who made the move to the executive level themselves. Your leader also gets a 1:1 onboarding with Ryan Roberts and a 1:1 strategy session with Tom Cox.
Trained on every course, Tom's book and more than 3,800 hours of coaching calls. Available the night before the board presentation.
Every lesson, every recording and 40+ worksheets in one dashboard. After the 12 months, your leader keeps lifetime access to a community of 300+ leaders.
Who it's for
A director, senior manager or high-level expert already trusted with real responsibility, ready for more, and willing to be coached and do the work.
Someone looking for a quick credential, or unwilling to change how they show up.
Leaders who grew with us
Where our members come from
The investment
Reimbursable through most professional-development and L&D budgets. We provide an itemized invoice for approval, and can coordinate directly with your finance or HR team. Sponsoring more than one leader? Talk to Tom.
Your leader enrolls, completes onboarding, and attends their first coaching call. If within the first 7 days it isn't the right fit, we refund your investment in full. Sponsor with confidence.
Or send this page to your leader's manager or HR. Thirty minutes is enough to confirm fit and answer questions.
An itemized invoice and the program overview for approval. We coordinate directly with finance or HR if that helps.
Every cohort starts with the live kickoff workshop. The next one is Saturday, November 7, 2026.
We provide an itemized invoice, a certificate of completion and this program overview, and we'll build you a reimbursement kit with talking points and a sample email for HR. Email tom@vmleader.com.
Questions HR asks
Most professional-development, tuition and L&D budgets cover it. We provide an itemized invoice and this overview, and we'll coordinate with your finance team directly.
About 5 hours a week in the first 90 days, then less. Four live calls a week are offered; your leader attends the ones they need, and every call is recorded.
Yes. What your leader shares with their coach stays between them. The company receives the invoice, a certificate of completion, and, if your leader chooses, a short summary of what they worked on.
Yes. Six months of 1:1 coaching with a Vertical Motion Certified Coach, two 1-hour calls a month, plus a 1:1 onboarding with Ryan and a 1:1 strategy session with Tom.
Cohorts kick off with a 3-hour live workshop. The next one is Saturday, November 7, 2026. A leader approved after that joins the following kickoff.
Yes. Talk to Tom about a group from the same company.
Your leader enrolls, completes onboarding and attends their first coaching call. If within the first 7 days it isn't the right fit, we refund your investment in full.
Who your leader will work with
3x CEO, 2x VC-backed founder and US Army veteran. 30 years in aerospace and tech sales with more than $1.5B in closed contracts. Author of The Executive Career Handbook. Leads Leadership Edge and Coaching Q&A, and holds the 1:1 strategy session with your leader.
20 years as a US Air Force officer and fighter pilot. 3x CEO; co-founded and sold a defense contracting firm. Built the LDNA instrument and Sherpa. Leads the AI Lab and your leader's 1:1 onboarding.
Ten former clients who had success in our programs, then went through a rigorous certification. A mix of corporate executives and business owners, all following our process. Your leader's 1:1 coach comes from this cadre.
Sponsor a leader
Thirty minutes with Tom is enough to confirm fit and answer your questions. Or email tom@vmleader.com.
