| What led you to start a Business Development Cohort?
Last year we presented a 3-part training series hosted by WESST on Marketing and Branding strategies. From there the idea developed to establish a Business Development Cohort to offer ongoing support for our members - whether establishing a new business or refreshing their brand. There was a lot of interest in continuing to collaborate given how hard it can be to establish your business as a solopreneur.
How does the Cohort work?
The Cohort comes up with the agenda and topics for our monthly sessions. Sometimes we decide to collectively dive into a topic and see what comes out of it. And sometimes we bring in an expert in a specific area. We serve as a resource for each other regardless of what stage we are in our business practice. Participants range from brand new coaches to very experienced coaches, and each person brings their own unique strengths and expertise to share with the group.
What topics are you covering?
We initially started with Branding and Online Presence, because we wanted to see how far we’ve progressed with everything we learned in the WESST program last year. We also asked Members to share business goals for 2025 so we can check in with each other and serve as accountability partners. The group brainstorms other areas of interest such as technology tools, operational systems, and legal issues that we might want to target throughout the year.
How can others join the cohort?
It’s an open cohort, so you can drop in for a particular topic or come every month. We generally average around 8 people each session, but we always have room for more! The Cohort is a free benefit offered exclusively for ICF New Mexico Members and Associates. We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 4:00 Mountain time, and Members can register through our Events Calendar here. We also provide one ICF CCEU in Resource Development for each session that you attend live.
What topics are in the works for future months?
I’m excited to share that in May we’ll have a guest presenter – Jackie Appleby. Jackie is the owner of Diligent Assistant and specializes in supporting Coaches and their business needs. She’ll be sharing with us best practices, operational processes and tools for solopreneurs in managing your business. Register HERE.
Is this program something you plan to continue on a long-term basis?
Excellent question. So far the response has been very positive. We have a lot of returning members who see the value in the community. And that's one of the things I wanted to emphasize. Yes, it is closing gaps in our skills and knowledge, but it’s also creating a safe and supportive environment where we can bounce ideas off of each other and share feedback.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Please reach out to me if anyone has questions or would like to touch base before joining a cohort meeting. I can be reached at businessdevelopment@icfnewmexico.org. Additionally, we are always looking for people with expertise in any specific areas of business growth and development that they can contribute. We’d love to have you join us! |