While both CSOOs and SOMs partner with founders to help them lead and scale their business, there are distinct differences in the roles and therefore the content.

SOMs typically work full-time within a single business and bridge strategy and execution, leading the projects, systems, and team.

They need to understand the scaling and leadership strategy and deeply know how to operationally implement on it.

SOMs get certified in Lean Scaling.

CSOOs lead their own business as a fractional, consultant, advisor, or agency owner and partner with founders at a strategic level to lead the scaling efforts for the business in partnership with or on behalf of the founder.

They need to understand how the team implements and deeply understand scaling strategy and leadership both for their clients businesses and their own.

CSOOs get additional access to intensives and content on signature positioning and building a scalable CSOO service offering. 

CSOOs get certified in Lean Scaling and also get a license to use the templates, toolkits, and playbooks with their clients.

We don’t guarantee placements, but certified members are listed in our Certified SOL Directory, and we refer interested businesses to it regularly.

Expect 3–5 hours per week, including learning, calls, and application.

We believe that the best way to develop mastery is by DOING, not only learning, so we design the experience for the majority of your time to be focused on implementation. 

We care deeply about maintaining the integrity of the certifications as the gold standard for small business success.

As a result, we are selective about who we admit into the certification and issue a license to. 

We care much more about fit than we do filling seats so we keep our cohorts relatively small.

This gives you personalized attention and limits the number of people licensed to use the Lean Scaling System which creates more opportunities for each license holder.

The exact number varies cohort to cohort based on number of qualified applicants. 

Right now, we are capping each cohort at 20 people per cohort, but if we only receive 5 qualified applicants, that's all we'll accept in.

If you would prefer a large scale program you can be a passive participant in, this is not it.  It is intimate by intention so we can deep dive into your business challenges and opportunities and set you up for the best possible success.

Both tracks require successful completion across 3 areas as follows:

1. Knowledge: Complete 80% or more of the content which includes participating in the live sessions or watching the replays 
2. Knowledge / Situational Exam: Pass an exam per pillar that validates your understanding of what you learned as well as how to apply what you learned situationally; 80% or higher score is required
3. Application: CSOO's: you must submit capstone projects from 2 businesses (at least 1 client business; the other business can be a client business or your own business) to show you understand how to successfully implement and generate measurable results; SOM's: you must submit a capstone project for the business you work for showing the same

Yes. Certification and directory listing are renewed annually to keep your materials current, support high-quality delivery, and ensure continued access to resources.

Licensing renewal is $500/month or $5000 annually.

This gives you access to monthly strategic think tank calls with other certified members, the ability to re-attend workshops and 1-day intensives, and continued support. 

For the lifelong learners who are committed to getting the most out of their certification and licensing, and who are interested in continuing their journey, there are 2 additional tiers of certification.

You'll start with Certified Lean Scaling Professional in the first 6 months (like receiving a Bachelor's degree). Then you can move on to:

• Certified Lean Scaling Expert: (like receiving a Master's degree)
• Certified Lean Scaling Master: (like receiving a Doctorate degree)

Stages are as follows:

• Stage 1: Learn + Implement
• Stage 2: Advance
• Stage 3: Master
• Sustain (ongoing)

For those who continue into the Expert track, this is where you will work closely with Crista on advanced techniques.

Those who successfully achieve the Lean Scaling Expert designation will receive increased visibility and placement opportunities and will have the opportunity to join the faculty of Strategic Ops Institute as a mentor to stage 1 and 2 members.

Moving from one stage to the next is dependent on successfully meeting the criteria for certification at each stage and not time bound.  Stage 2 requires capstones submitted for 4 client businesses which can be done in as little as 1 year.  Stage 3 requires capstones submitted for 10 client businesses which will typically take longer.  You will work closely with the Strategic Ops Institute team all throughout your certification journey.

Yes, this is our SOM track which includes slightly different requirements for certification that are focused on generating measurable results within the business you work for instead of within your own business and client businesses.

Fill out an application and we will review the nuances with you when we meet.

We recommend filling out an application and we can talk through the best solution for your agency or team that includes a blend of license for the business and certification for each individual who will be leveraging the Lean Scaling System.

We offer specialized pricing when certifying a team of 3 or more, and offer personalized cohorts for large teams of 12 or more. 

We specialize in certifying founder + right hand duos and look forward to discussing your unique needs.

You will be fully licensed upon successful completion of the requirements. This can happen in as little as 4 months although most people take 6 months to fully complete their exams and submit their capstones.

Should you decide not to complete your certification, you will not be eligible to license the content and your access to all assets will be limited for internal use within your own business ONLY and you will not be authorized to use them with clients.

We assume that you do.  As an experienced consultant or right-hand, you couldn't have gotten to where you are today without identifying the patterns of what works and what doesn't and likely creating some of your own systems, frameworks, and ways of working that are successful for you and your clients.

What makes the Lean Scaling System different is that it is not a prescriptive paint-by-numbers system that you have to implement the same way in every business.

If that's what you're looking for, this will not be a good fit for you. 

But what it does better than anything we have seen on the market is help you understand what a business needs across the 9 engines required for sustainable and scalable growth and be able to apply the right technique at the right time to provide the biggest leverage for the business.

That's why the first cycle ensures you deeply understand the Lean Scaling System and how and when to address each engine in the business. Plus it is critical to understand how all the puzzle pieces in the business fit together and that's what the Lean Scaling System helps you do.

From there, you get access to a very robust suite of templates, tools, assessments, and frameworks for use.

If you already have something you've developed, you can use it and augment it with what we provide. 

This is not a franchise where you have to do things a specific way.  We give you the knowledge, experience, and situational awareness to know what to do when - not a cookie-cutter approach you are forced to follow.

The very first step is to fill out an application. From there, you will be able to set up a call with us and we will address any questions you have to ensure it is a great fit for both of us.