LEAP
Leadership Acceleration Program
Empowering current and emerging software company leaders.
Mainsail’s Leadership Acceleration Program (LEAP) provides cross-functional leadership development with customized paths for managers and executives. During the program, attendees participate in group meetings, get 1:1 coaching, and explore real-world case studies.
Upon completion, program graduates are better equipped to navigate growing companies and take on greater functional responsibility.
During the 6-month program, participants complete leadership assessments, work 1:1 with a dedicated executive coach, participate in monthly cross-functional group coursework, observe other portfolio board meetings, and participate in interactive case studies.
The program hosts a small group of 10-15 senior executives at the VP or C-level, all of whom are recognized and nominated by Mainsail and their CEOs as “high potential” leaders.
Executives learn how to:
- Develop an annual strategic plan for the business
- Become better people leaders
- Make tough decisions with limited information
- Evaluate revenue efficiencies and GTM ancillary revenue streams
- Improve processes for financial planning, budgeting, and valuations
“This program has been incredibly valuable. I would recommend other leaders to go through it, and for CEOs to place their leaders in this program. Learning from other portfolio companies and the other leaders within those companies has been extremely valuable. I would highly recommend the program.”
“If you’re fortunate to go through one of the LEAP programs like I was, I strongly encourage you to show up. It was amazing.”
“When I look at the team that I am a part of, we’re much stronger, we’re more agile, we’re faster because of the lessons that I was able to learn from LEAP. If you have the opportunity to participate in LEAP, I 100% recommend it. It will make you better, it will make your executive team better, and it will make the team you are a part of better.”
“This program far exceeded my expectations. I really had an opportunity to focus on my professional development and figure out what type of leader I want to be.”
To help create better people managers who have the tools they need to succeed, this seven-week learning sprint includes a 360 assessment, weekly virtual group coursework, a coaching style assessment, and access to a Learning Management platform with a library of leadership development content for 12 months.
Participants are identified and selected by their respective portfolio companies and leadership teams. We don’t limit the program to first-time managers, allowing anyone to participate who manages people and would like to freshen up their skills.
Managers learn how to:
- Make the transition from colleague/peer to manager
- Be better metric-driven people managers
- Recruit, retain, and engage a team
- Improve team communication, hold an effective team meeting and 1:1s
- Establish goals and manage performance
- Understand key SaaS KPIs and business metrics
- Effectively integrate into Mainsail’s portfolio network
Certain statements about Mainsail Management Company, LLC (“Mainsail” or “Mainsail Partners”) made by portfolio company executives herein are intended to illustrate Mainsail’s business relationship with such persons, including with respect to Mainsail’s facilities as a business partner, rather than Mainsail’s capabilities or expertise with respect to investment advisory services. Portfolio company executives were not compensated in connection with their participation, although they generally receive compensation and investment opportunities in connection with their portfolio company roles, and in certain cases are also owners of portfolio company securities and/or investors in Mainsail-sponsored vehicles. Such compensation and investments subject participants to potential conflicts of interest in making the statements herein.