The Sounding Board Collective
The Board You Can Afford
The Sounding Board Collective
Make decisions. Gain support. Get results.
Become part of our dynamic collective of business leaders; tapping into a wealth of diverse industry knowledge and enjoy in-person gatherings that combat the isolation of running a business.
Expect collaboration, expert guidance, and an atmosphere rooted in respect, fostering personal and professional growth.
We Get It: It’s Lonely At The Top...
Scaling businesses, managing teams, and navigating markets often leave business owners feeling isolated. Making crucial decisions can weigh heavily when all the responsibility rests on your shoulders.
But… What if you had a group of business owners you could rely on as your personal sounding board – a team of individuals who challenge your assumptions, see what you can’t, and offer guidance or suggestions based on different learned and industry experiences?
It wouldn’t be so lonely then!
That's exactly why we created the Sounding Board Collective!
Enquire Now to be part of The Sounding Board Pilot!
What is The Sounding Board Collective?
The Sounding Board meets face to face monthly and leverages the power of the people in the room to:
Elevate your thinking
Make critical business decisions
Gain support
Celebrate your wins
Who Is It For?
The Sounding Board Collective is perfect for:
Small business owners with teams
You’ve hit that million-dollar milestone, but as you continue to grow, business owners often face challenges related to complexity in operations, team management and maintaining profitability, all while feeling the pressure of increased strategic decision-making.
Through collaborative problem-solving, shared insights, and exposure to experts, members can gain valuable strategies to streamline operations, explore new markets, and implement growth-oriented tactics.
Microbusiness looking to scale
If you’re out of start-up mode and focused on establishing a strong foothold in your market, need effective marketing on a limited budget, and need to optimise internal processes as you grow, this Sounding Board is for you. You’re at a pivotal stage where growth decisions significantly impact future success.
The Sounding Board Collective provides a facilitated platform for peer-driven discussions, expert insights, and collaborative problem-solving. Members can refine their marketing approaches, streamline operations, and gain clarity on key growth steps.
Not sure where you fit, but want to be a part of it?
Register an enquiry and let’s chat.
The Sounding Board Collective Guiding Principle
How Does It Work?
Meetings are held for half a day monthly in South Melbourne or our Members’ offices around the Melbourne area.
Meetings are structured to meet the unique needs of The Sounding Boards.
However, most meetings will include:
Ready to Get Started?
Register an enquiry and we will be in touch with more information.
Our first Sounding Boards commence in October 2023. This pilot program will run for 6 months.
Be A Part of The Sounding Board Pilot!
Becoming a member of the pilot invites you to help define and refine The Sounding Board Collective.
You will be asked to give constructive feedback so that we can refine The Sounding Board Collective to be a valuable support program for business owners. Your insights will be instrumental in fine-tuning this exclusive community for business owners. Moreover, as a gesture of gratitude, your participation also guarantees you access to future Foundation Member Pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peer support groups can provide a platform for sharing best practices, brainstorming solutions, gain exposure to different industries, backgrounds, and approaches, which can stimulate creativity and problem-solving. However, groups can be dominated by single strong personalities, or talking points get so far off topic that it only values one or two members of the group.
Our meetings will be facilitated to ensure maximum impact and engagement of all members of The Sounding Board.
Online options will be available for members who are unable to attend sessions however this is a face-to-face program held in Melbourne.
Shannyn Merlo from Inspired Outcomes Consulting will be your facilitator. Shannyn is known for her engaging, patient and direct style. As a facilitator, she works towards practical solutions, reaching key stakeholders’ outcomes and is passionate about ensuring that each person contributes meaningfully to the conversation.
Ongoing, the Sounding Boards will be a 12-month commitment. Pilot Program pricing will only be valid for the Pilot Program. During the Pilot Program, we will be asking members to provide feedback and insights to guide product development and marketing.
Testimonials
GETTING ON TRACK
“Goal-setting and identifying business KPI’s has been one of the best things we’ve done so far. I now have objectives to measure progress against, and milestones to aspire to. I really feel as though I’m finally on the right track.
The aggregated value Shannyn has delivered is an integral part of the business’ growth in the last 12 months. Shannyn is a crucial piece in the puzzle.”
Working Well Together, Michael Plowright, Founder
A RADICALLY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
“Absolutely I’d 100% recommend Shannyn.” What makes Shannyn special: “She’s extremely open-minded, and her set of skills and vast store of knowledge are extremely fundamental and adaptable to just about any business. There’s a couple of things I especially like about working with Shannyn: She’s really involved and goes very in depth into the issues, and asks a lot of questions. She offers radically different perspectives and lenses for resolving challenges with staff and people outside the business.”
Mobile Monster, Tim Duggal, CEO and Founder
BETTER DECISIONS
“In addition to education on core business fundamentals, Shannyn helped reconcile a dissonance I had between my personal values and business requirements. We did this by defining core business values, creating a decision-making frameworks and implementing this in the business operations.
The work I’ve done with Shannyn has definitely helped me make better business decisions and establish the right people in the business, the best procedures/processes, and the best strategy for employee management (hours, incentives, etc.).”
Wellness Chiropractic, Dr Christian Varney, Business Owner & Chiropractor
A BETTER LEADER
“I soon realised the value that she provides as both a business owner, but also as a business coach.
It didn’t take long for Shannyn to realise that I needed to work on personal development before I could work on the business, which I believe helped me to grow as a leader in preparation for the business growth that was inevitable.”
The CRM Team, Krys Sutton, Technology Consulting Business
SMOOTH TRANSITION
“Our work together allowed me to make some good decisions on who to recruit by reviewing my business purpose, vision & values. Our planning and preparation made for the smooth transition of a new staff member.”
Precision Financial, Inbam Devadason, Director & Financial Advisor
RESOLVE THE THING THAT IS MAKING YOU "STUCK"
“Shannyn has such a high EQ and is able to combine the tangible, the intangible and the emotional to understand what is “really going on”.
She provided me with the tools I needed to deliver my message accurately, articulately and with confidence.”
Eligo Consulting, Renee Hill, CEO & Virtual CFO
IT CAN BE A LONELY JOURNEY
“Being the only director in the company, it was extremely useful to have another business mind to bounce ideas back and forth with, to have the different aspects of the business analysed from a different perspective, to have the right introductions made and a kind word there when needed.
I could say that Shannyn helped me with the right balance of life and business coaching and nourished my self-confidence throughout the journey.”
Unfold Architecture, Laura Litcanu, Founder & Principal Architect
Want to know more?
Send us an enquiry and we will get in touch with more information.