CM Leadership Programs

A three-tier peer program for A/E/C firms — built to develop the leaders, sellers, and next generation your firm depends on.

One Brand. Three Programs. A Complete Leadership Ladder.

CM Consulting’s peer programs are built specifically for architecture, engineering, and construction firms. Whether you’re a firm principal, a business developer, or an emerging leader, there’s a program designed for exactly where you are — and where you want to go.

CM Ascend

Peer Advisory for Firm Leadership

CM Ascend is a monthly peer advisory group for A/E/C firm principals and owners — built for the specific challenges of running a firm in the built environment. Each half-day session pairs expert content with structured peer issue-processing. The third month of every quarter expands to a full day with an outside speaker and 90-day Rock-setting. Individual accountability touchpoints between sessions drive retention and momentum.

Who This Is For

Principals, owners, and managing partners of A/E/C firms who are ready to grow — and want peers who understand the built environment, not generic business advice.

What You Get

Monthly half-day group sessions with structured issue-processing, quarterly full-day sessions with expert speakers, individual accountability touchpoints between meetings, and a confidential peer network of non-competing firm leaders.

12-Month Curriculum

Monthly half-day peer sessions · Quarterly full-day with outside speaker · Quarterly arc: Vision & Strategy → People & Leadership → Process & Efficiency → Data & Execution

Vision & Strategy

Kickoff: Vision, Values & the 3-Year Picture
Strategic Positioning in a Competitive Market
Q1 Full Day: Strategic Planning & Rock-Setting

Tools: Vision One-Pager, Positioning Worksheet, Q1 Rocks

People & Leadership

Building the Leadership Bench: Right People, Right Seats
Succession Planning & Ownership Transition
Q2 Full Day: Leadership Development & Rock Review

Tools: Leadership Seat Map, Succession Readiness Checklist

Process & Efficiency

Operational Systems: Standardizing What Works
Financial Efficiency: Margins, Overhead & Utilization
Q3 Full Day: Technology & AI Across Industries

Tools: Core Process Template, Financial Health Scorecard

Data & Execution

Scorecards & KPIs: Running the Business by the Numbers
Disciplined Execution: Building an Accountability Culture
Q4 Full Day: Year in Review & Next-Year Planning

Tools: Leadership Scorecard, Annual Review + Year 2 Vision

CM Grow

BD Training & Accountability for Business Developers & Doer-Sellers

CM Grow is a monthly training and accountability cohort for BD staff, project managers, and doer-sellers at A/E/C firms. Each two-hour session combines practical curriculum with a live pipeline or pursuit exercise so tools get applied immediately — not just discussed. Every session closes with a happy hour that builds the peer relationships that make everything else stick.

Who This Is For

BD directors, project managers, and technical staff at A/E/C firms who are responsible for winning work but didn't come up through a sales training program.

What You Get

Monthly sessions covering BD strategy, marketing, pipeline management, and sales techniques specific to A/E/C. Structured scorecards, capture-plan templates, and peer accountability — plus a social component to build the relationships that make everything else work.

12-Month Curriculum

Monthly 2-hour session + happy hour · Quarterly arc: Foundations → Pipeline & Pursuit → Capture & Proposal → Retention & Culture

Foundations

The Doer-Seller Mindset Shift
Personal Branding & Your Professional Network
Building Your 90-Day BD Action Plan

Tools: BD Goals Worksheet, Personal Brand Plan, BD Action Plan

Pipeline & Pursuit

Identifying & Qualifying Opportunities: Go/No-Go Discipline
CRM & Pipeline Management
Relationship Mapping & Client Intelligence

Tools: Go/No-Go Scorecard, Monthly Pipeline Scorecard, Relationship Map

Capture & Proposal

Capture Planning 101: Building a Winning Strategy
Proposal & Interview Strategy: Storytelling That Wins
Pricing & Positioning in Competitive Pursuits

Tools: Capture Plan Template, Proposal Narrative Outline, Pricing Framework

Retention & Culture

From Client to Advocate: Account Management & Referrals
Building a Firmwide BD Culture
Year in Review: Measuring BD ROI & Setting Next Year’s Plan

Tools: Client Advocacy Plan, BD Culture Action Plan, Annual BD Scorecard

CM Accelerate

Leadership Development for Emerging A/E/C Leaders

CM Accelerate is a leadership on-ramp for rising stars at A/E/C firms — project managers, senior engineers, and team leads who are ready to take on more. Monthly two-hour sessions run 60% practice and role-play over lecture, matching an audience that is building leadership muscle for the first time. A happy hour closes each quarter, and CM Ascend/Grow alumni serve as mentors and guest speakers throughout the year.

Who This Is For

Project managers, senior technical staff, and emerging leaders at A/E/C firms who have been identified as future principals — or who want to be. Often employer-sponsored.

What You Get

Quarterly full-day learning events with experiential curriculum, monthly peer accountability groups, access to CM Ascend and Grow alumni as mentors and speakers, and a clear path toward Grow or Ascend as your career advances.

12-Month Curriculum

Monthly 2-hour session · Happy hour at each quarter close · Quarterly arc: Leading Yourself → Leading Others → Business Acumen → Future-Ready Leadership

Leading Yourself

Self-Awareness & Leadership Style
Time Management & Prioritization for Emerging Leaders
Communication & Executive Presence

Tools: Leadership Style Self-Assessment, Executive Presence Checklist

Leading Others

Delegation & Building Trust
Giving & Receiving Feedback
Managing Up, Down, and Across

Tools: Delegation Planning Worksheet, Feedback Conversation Guide

Business Acumen

Reading a P&L: Financial Literacy for Non-Finance Leaders
Understanding Corporate Strategy & Growth Levers
Client & Project Economics

Tools: P&L Literacy Worksheet, Growth Levers Framework

Future-Ready Leadership

AI & Technology: Practical Tools for the Next-Gen Leader
Innovation & Change Management
Building Your Leadership Path: Career Planning & Mentorship

Tools: AI Tools Starter Kit, 3-Year Leadership Development Plan

Interested in Joining a Program?

Cohorts are small by design. Reach out to learn about upcoming program dates and availability.