EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION IS OPEN!
Today Early Bird Registration is formally open for the Business Growth Program. Have you been following along with our miniMBA? Then you already have a bite-sized idea of what this program is all about. 2023 will mark the 9th year of this program, and it continues to evolve as always. Below you'll find more information about the benefits of this program, hear from graduates, learn more about the content and schedule, and how to register! And for even more details, including a bit about the history and the philosophy, check out the full 2023 Program Manual here. And check out the commercial to see these lessons brought to life :)
COMMUNITY
This program provides the structure and network to build a supportive and inspiring entrepreneurial community. It is inclusive of entrepreneurs from all industries and stages of business. The common denominator is that all have come to commit to a plan for growth based on their core values. Building relationships, connecting with peers on a big-picture level, and experiencing the camaraderie of moving through change together are the most important aspects of the experience.
CONTENT
Prepare to go deep and wide. There are critical aspects of every business that entrepreneurs must grasp. This program ensures you understand every component, as well as how they impact each other—from culture to visioning to financial planning to marketing to human resources. Whether you personally have a hand in each of these tasks or whether you have a larger team, comprehension is imperative for
CONNECTION
This is a soul-searching process that will feel non-linear and uncomfortable at times. It is about reconnecting to yourself and your motivations, values, and vision, and in doing so, creating a unique plan for growth to sustain your company and your experience as an entrepreneur. It is a rare opportunity to tune out the noise of everyday operations and connect to both yourself and a supportive group of peers, so take advantage.
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TESTIMONIALS
“I met Holly Howard in 2013, when Fort Defiance, my restaurant in Brooklyn, was at a crossroads. We were still recovering from Hurricane Sandy, burdened with debt, and I was exhausted. Holly showed me that I wasn't alone — that there were lots of creatives like me trapped in businesses they started that they didn't know how to run properly — and that there was hope for all of us. Under Holly's tutelage, Fort Defiance became a powerhouse, increasing revenue and profit year after year. She introduced me to ways of thinking about business that were entirely new, and converted me from a frustrated bartender into an efficient operator. I opened the restaurant Gage & Tollner in 2021, and thanks to Holly's advice on securing investment, creating culture, and sound business planning, we raised $1.3M in private equity and close to $500K in regulation crowdfunding, and the business is now a wild success.”
St. John Frizell
Gage & Tollner / Fort Defiance
New York
Listen to St. John share his experience on the Cultures [w/n] Capitalism podcast for more!
“Holly is seriously the best business teacher I have ever had. She combines deep thought, value-alignment, and actionable steps in all aspects of running a business. This course is seriously the cornerstone course if you run a small business or a start-up. If you're going to take one business class, let it be this one.”
Ellie Lum
Klumhouse
Oregon
Listen to Ellie share her experience on the Cultures [w/n] Capitalism podcast for more!
“Because of Holly's clear and kind guidance and thoughtful lessons and coursework, I feel confident in growing my business on a path paved by my values. Holly helped me put together a plan to grow my business intentionally by defining my goals and understanding how I want my business and life to look in the years to come. I no longer feel like I am bumbling through business with good intentions, but am confident and strategic. I know what I want and the steps needed to achieve my clearly defined picture of success.”
Molly Fitzpatrick
Dittohouse
Ohio
“Holly’s class forced me to confront my insecurities about growing my business. She doles out what you need to know about establishing a solid foundation and strategy for your business in easy-to-digest morsels. I feel much more informed and way more capable since taking her course. And Holly’s such a great instructor -- she’s smart, engaging, super funny and makes the material relatable. If you’re on the fence about registering, don’t give it a second thought! Taking her class was an investment in my business and in myself -- and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to learn and grow with her.”
Dr. Cheneve Jeanniton
Epi.logic Skincare / Brooklyn Face & Eye
New York
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WHAT'S INCLUDED
COLLABORATIVE LEARNING
22 Hours of Lecture [(11) 2-hour lectures]: Lectures will take place every other week. The lectures are where the core lessons are taught for each module. Each lecture will be recorded and available for 2 years from the start of the program.
22 Hours of Cohort Groups [(11) 2-hour breakout groups]: Breakout groups will take place in the weeks between lectures. These are small groups during which we will do case study discussion, workshop in-class exercises, and have time for homework feedback and development.
22 Hours of Study Hall: A bi-weekly time for you to log into Zoom and work quietly with your instructor & classmates. You can use this time to hold yourself accountable to finishing the homework or to ask questions as needed. Study Hall is not mandatory for your participation in the program.
Graduation Presentation + Peer Feedback: The course ends with a presentation of your plan for growth, during which you will be given feedback from your instructors and peers.
Opportunities to meet and develop relationships with other creative entrepreneurs, including:
- Digital directory
- Speed Dating / Mixer Night
- Private Learning Community Forum / Group (for 1 year)
- Access to Student-Initiative Accountability Group
- 9 mo / 12 mo Mastermind Check-Ins with your Cohort
TOOLS & MATERIALS
Over 100 pages of digital worksheets, slides, and resources: All materials are shared via Google Drive.
10 books with assigned reading: There are 10 books that come with this course. The goal is to expose you to a range of voices and thought leadership within the entrepreneurial landscape to support the modules of the program for the full bibliography of the course in the Program Manual.
EXPERTISE
2 Private consultations for plan development: Each company gets 2 private consulting hours with Holly. This is a valuable time to get feedback on your plan for growth.
6 Guest lectures: Over the course of the program, there will be an opportunity to attend 6 guest lectures for differing expertise within entrepreneurship.
2 Instructors: After teaching this program independently for eight years, Holly has teamed up with Matt Little as co-instructor (full bios in the Program Manual). Together they bring a wealth of experience, knowledge, and expertise to help creative entrepreneurs thrive in a rapidly changing economic landscape.
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SYLLABUS & SCHEDULE
CURRICULUM OVERVIEW
MODULE
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KEY TOPICS
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Welcome to BGCE
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Introduction to the series, starting with a bird’s eye view of economics and the current business landscape.
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PART 1: DISCOVERY
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Culture
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How to define or refine company values & purpose from your personal point of view.
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Leadership
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How to define your role & personal leadership philosophy based on your company culture.
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Visioning & Goal Setting
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How to set a long-term company vision & establish your roadmap for growth based on company culture.
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Financial Planning
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How to identify & analyze key numbers and set multi-year financial projections based on revenue channels, long-term vision, and company culture.
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PART 2: CONNECTION
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Personnel Tools
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How to create the tools necessary to build a healthy team of employees and/or contractors while aligning the expectations & experience with your company culture.
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Culture Initiatives
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How to create and establish team-building initiatives within your company to actively nurture culture.
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Operating Systems
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How to operationalize your values to build out the standard operating procedures that make up your operations manual.
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PART 3: EXPERIENCE
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Marketing Relationships
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How to identify the key relationships needed to grow your business in alignment with your company culture including customers, strategic partners, and network.
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Marketing Messaging
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How to share your company & product benefits to convey the impact of your company culture on consumers.
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Marketing Systems & Analytics
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How to identify the marketing strategies and systems that align with your culture to grow your business and achieve your financial projections.
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CONCLUSION
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Graduation
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An opportunity to share your plan for growth and receive peer-to-peer feedback.
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SCHEDULE
All lectures, cohort breakout groups, and study halls meet 12 pm-2 pm EST
DATE
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MODULE
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FORMAT
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Tuesday, January 17th
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1
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Lecture
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Friday, January 20th
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1
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Study Hall
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Monday, January 23rd or Tuesday, January 24th
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1
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, January 31st
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2
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Lecture
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Friday, February 3rd
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2
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Study Hall
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Monday, February 6th or Tuesday, February 7th
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2
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, February 14th
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3
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Lecture
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Friday, February 17th
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3
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Study Hall
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Monday, February 20th or Tuesday, February 21st
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3
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, February 28th
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4
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Lecture
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Friday, March 3rd
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4
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Study Hall
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Monday, March 6th or Tuesday, March7th
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4
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, March 14th
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5
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Lecture
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Friday, March 17th
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5
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Study Hall
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Monday, March 20th or Tuesday, March 21st
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5
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, March 28th
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6
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Lecture
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Friday, March 31st
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6
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Study Hall
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Monday, April 3rd or Tuesday, April 4th
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6
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, April 11th
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7
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Lecture
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Friday, April 14th
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7
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Study Hall
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Monday April 17th or Tuesday, April 18th
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7
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, April 25th
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8
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Lecture
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Friday, April 28th
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8
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Study Hall
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Monday, May 1st or Tuesday, May 2nd
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8
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, May 9th
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9
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Lecture
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Friday, May 12th
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9
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Study Hall
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Monday May 15th or Tuesday, May 16th
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9
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, May 23rd
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10
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Lecture
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Friday, May 26th
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10
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Study Hall
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**Tuesday, May 30th 12pm & 2pm
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10
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, June 6th
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11
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Lecture
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Friday, June 9th
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11
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Study Hall
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Monday, June 12th or Tuesday, June 13th
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11
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Cohort Breakouts
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Tuesday, June 20th
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12
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Graduation
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Tuesday, September 5th
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9-Month Review Lecture
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Tuesday, January 9 (2024)
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1-Year Review Lecture
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TUITION
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Fee
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Payment Details
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Early Bird
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$4500 |
Payment due in full by Nov 18
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Standard
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$5000
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Paid in full after Nov 18 or through no-interest payment plan
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Additional Team Members
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$1000
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Due at time of enrollment
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PAYMENT PLANS
6 month, no-interest payment plans are available with $1,000 due at registration and $800 due for the additional 5 months (Jan-May).
REFUND POLICY
All fees are non-refundable.
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HOW TO REGISTER & INFO NIGHT
For more details about the course, including a bit of history, the philosophy of the program, feedback on who should attend, FAQs, and much more, check out the full Program Manual here. If you still have questions, don't hesitate to reach out!
We will host a free info night on Tuesday, November 15th, from 6 pm-7pmEST via Zoom. This is an opportunity to learn more about the program and have your questions answered. Please email me to register.
When you're ready to register for the program, email Holly (hhoward@askhollyhow.com) by responding to this email. Please indicate:
- Which cohort group you would like (Monday or Tuesday)
- If you have additional team members that would like to attend
- Payment option: Early Bird or Full Fee Payment Plan
We'll save your spot and look forward to working with you in 2023!
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