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IDEAL CLIENT PROFILE (ICP) 

Partnerships built on trust, equal business stature, and lasting leadership transformation 

 

CORE MINDSET

Our ideal client sees leadership transformation as an ongoing investment, not a one-time HR project. They value true partnership, where InitiativeOne sits at the same table as senior leadership, collaborating on culture change that reaches every level of the organization. 
 
They recognize that our work is not a transactional training event. Instead, they commit to a process that delivers measurable impact and requires full engagement from the CEO and senior leadership team. 

 

1. GEOGRAPHIC
 

Preferred 

Wisconsin 
Illinois 
Minnesota 
Georgia 
Tennessee 
Virginia 
Florida 

Ohio 
Arkansas 

Arizona

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Considered 

United States (select opportunities aligned with values and investment mindset) 

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2. DEMOGRAPHIC 

  • Leadership Team Size: 8+ senior leaders actively engaged 

  • Employee Count: 201–2,000 

  • Revenue Range: $1 M–$1 B

 
Preferred Industries: 

  • Education (public, private, charter) 

  • Manufacturing and family-owned enterprises 

  • Healthcare 

  • Finance and banking 

  • Government (county level and Native American Tribes) 

  • For-profit corporations with growth trajectory 

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3. PSYCHOGRAPHIC

A true partnership is an enduring commitment and loyalty between two parties, respecting each other’s equal business stature,.
A partnership   Is characterized by  a win/win relationship which adds greatly to each other’s success,  Each party cares about the best interests of the other, as reflected in their agreements. 

 

Our best partners share these traits: 
 
CEO-Driven & All-In 
The CEO personally drives the engagement and models commitment, signaling to the organization that leadership growth is mission-critical. 
 
Mutual Respect & Equal Business Stature 
Senior leaders respect InitiativeOne’s value proposition and recognize the ROI of their investment. They invite collaboration as peers, not as vendors. 
 
Process, Not Project 
They view leadership transformation as an ongoing process requiring deep cultural change and sustained accountability. 
 
Growth-Oriented & Courageous 
Whether experiencing rapid growth or organizational hot mess moments, they embrace transformation and seek root-cause solutions. 
 
Financial Readiness & Value Focused 
They invest at the level necessary to achieve impact, focusing on value over price. 
 
Influential and Networked 
Clients actively refer others and champion InitiativeOne within their industry. 
 
Facilitator Partnership 
They understand the importance of day-to-day facilitation leadership and welcome guidance to strengthen internal bench strength. 

 

Characteristics of true partners 

  1. They recognize you as a trusted advisor and indispensable resource for their success. 

  2. They honor and respect your pricing structure, demonstrating your profitability is as important as their own. 

  3. They are loyal, raving fans who become major sources of warm referrals. 

  4. They treat you with respect in their dealings with you and your team, always seeking a win/win outcome in contracts, conflict,  and misunderstandings.  

  5. You love doing business with each other.  

  6. They are ongoing business relationships, not one-off engagements.  

  7.  There is equal investment in the relationship, not taking advantage at the other's expense.  

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4. CHARACTERISTICS WE DO NOT PREFER

  • Top executives who do not take ownership or fail to prioritize root-level change 

  • Leaders who view training as a one-time event rather than a transformation process 

  • Organizations that limit direct interface with the decision-making group 

  • Required RFP procedures that reduce partnership to a bidding exercise 

  • Price-driven decision making or attempts to beat down value 

  • Transactional mindset focused on checking a box, not transforming culture 

 

Red Flags & Considerations 

  • Senior leaders frame the engagement as an HR project rather than a leadership investment 

  • Lack of buy-in from the CEO or senior leadership team 

  • Disrespect for mutual commitments or attempts to undercut the value of the process 

  • Signs of fear, defensiveness, or unwillingness to address root causes  

 

BOTTOM LINE

Our ideal client views InitiativeOne as a strategic partner, not a vendor. Together we create lasting cultural transformation, anchored in trust accelerators and measurable leadership outcomes. 

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