Where the next era of strategic leadership begins
The most successful Fractionals, Consultants, Advisors, and Leaders share a common thread that keeps them in-demand - they are lifelong learners and expanders.
Never one to settle for the status quo...
They remain curious about what's emerging, committed to refining their craft (no matter how seasoned they are), and see opportunities where others only see obstacles.
If you're here, I am guessing this describes you.
Small businesses need leaders like you now more than ever...
Welcome to the SOL Collective, the place where you deepen what makes you distinct and position yourself to lead through what comes next.
The SOL Collective is an elite space where forward-thinking fractionals, consultants, founders, and right-hand leaders sharpen their strategic leadership skills, stay ahead of shifting expectations, and stand out in an ever-evolving market.
SOL: Strategy. Operations. Leadership.
Inside the SOL Collective, everything centers around The Differentiation Code (TDC)
TDC includes the 3 critical pathways to differentiating yourself in today's market
1. Strategic Leadership
2. AI Enablement
3. Signature Positioning
Each are areas that help you remain in-demand and unmistakably distinct as the market continues to shift.
Pathway 1: Strategic Leadership
The advisors who stand apart are not defined by how much they know, but by the clarity and influence they bring to the conversations that matter most.
They are the ones who can take a founder’s big vision and distill it into strategy that inspires confidence. They are the ones trusted to ask the hard questions, steady the team in uncertainty, and expand what is possible without losing sight of what is practical.
In this pathway, you will strengthen your ability to:
- Translate vision into clear strategic direction that earns buy-in and delivers successful outcomes
- Guide conversations where the stakes are high and the path is not obvious
- Anticipate challenges before they hit, connect the dots, and see what most others miss
- Effectively bridge the messy middle between the founder and the team
- Serve as the possibility partner founders rely on to stretch their thinking while grounding it in reality and measurable results
This is how you establish yourself as an indispensable trusted advisor that founders need most.
Pathway 2: AI Enablement
AI is already reshaping what founders expect from strategic leaders.
The value isn't in simply knowing the latest tools & prompts. It's in being the one who understand where AI belongs, how and where it should be applied, and how it changes the way businesses scale - without damaging client experience.
In this pathway, you will learn how to:
- Position yourself as the strategist who can see how AI fits into the bigger picture of growth, efficiency, and scale
- Apply AI to real advisory challenges such as scenario planning, system design, and strategic reporting
- Integrate AI into your own thinking so it extends your capacity
- Confidently lead conversations about AI with clients who are curious, skeptical, or overwhelmed
- Strategically implement AI for scalable operations and sustainable business growth
This is about being one of the few who knows how to strategically leverage AI in ways that are practical, impactful, and future-focused.
Pathway 3: Signature Positioning
Experience and excellence used to be enough. Today, they are the baseline.
What makes you irreplaceable is how you intentionally design and position your work so that in a crowded market of fractionals and consultants, your expertise stands out as the only choice.
In this pathway, you will elevate how you:
- Clarify and communicate your value so clients immediately recognize the difference between you and everyone else
- Develop intellectual property, frameworks, and language that embody your unique approach and signal authority
- Align your positioning with the depth and breadth of your expertise so the right clients see you as the obvious choice
You will also learn your Signature SOL Archetype which simplifies how you market and sell your services and speak to what your clients need most.
This is how you rise above the noise and differentiate yourself as a category of one.
The SOL Collective is NOT a course or digital program.
It is a live and interactive experience and community designed to help you differentiate your services while elevating your strategic thinking and leadership skills.
As with everything we do, we keep things lean, giving you everything you need and nothing you don't. Here's what you won't find:
- Endless Zoom calls (we keep it at only 2 per month)
- An overstuffed library of fluff-filled or outdated content
- Surface-level concepts you could find elsewhere or get from ChatGPT
- A community of leaders and advisors not at your level (that's why SOL Collective is application-only)
What You'll Find Inside
Every month inside the SOL Collective, you will have access to:
Strategic Leadership Advisory with Crista
Private monthly audio feed on how to influence, advise, and guide at the highest and most complex level. Each download is followed by a live Q&A with Crista, where you can bring situational questions and apply the month’s topic directly to your client work and business.
AI Implementation Labs with Jessica
Led by Jessica D. Maine, these workshops keep you ahead of AI’s rapid developments. You will see what’s worth paying attention to, what to ignore, and how to strategically integrate AI in ways that expand your strategic value in live and interactive labs.
Expert Insights and Real-World Experiences
Gain insights and hear experiences from those who deeply understand the unique intricacies of your work and who have sat in the COO seat, built 7-figure consultancies and agencies, and successfully scaled businesses ranging from Fortune 500 giants to online small businesses.
Curated Peer Network
A carefully selected network of fractionals, consultants, founders, and leaders who operate at your level. This keeps the conversations in the chat and on the Q&A advanced and highly relevant for you.
Fast Track Toolkits, Tips, and Templates
We make it simple to implement what you learn with tangible assets and time-saving tips that strengthen the way you think, advise, and lead. Each can be put into practice immediately within your business.
Immediate Vault Access
Get instant access to a curated library of our most loved past workshops and toolkits so you can deepen your skills and revisit topics whenever you need them. No need to wait for the next live call or audio drop!
Plus Get Instant Access to the Signature Positioning Pathway
A collection of high impact trainings, templates, examples, and prompts to help you stand out in a crowded market. When you dive right in and take action, you can elevate your positioning within the 1st 30 days.
This gets you started and we build on the topics each month in the audio feed and Q&A.
APPLY TO JOIN THE SOL COLLECTIVE NOWThe SOL Collective is for you if:
Why Now?
You're feeling it - marketing, selling, and delivering your work is becoming more complex every day (and you are allergic to complexity!).
- More competition than ever: New fractionals and consultants are entering the market constantly. Many look polished on the surface even if they do not have the depth of experience you bring, making it increasingly difficult for seasoned leaders like you to stand out.
- Buyers are more skeptical: Many buyers have been burned by someone who made big promises but failed to deliver. With AI and slick copy making it easy for anyone to sound convincing, skepticism runs high and true expertise is often overlooked or undervalued.
- Slower buying cycles: Founders are hesitant to invest and when they do, they often prioritize marketing and growth investments first, overlooking operations until it’s too late and not realizing their growth will stall without scalable systems and strategic leadership.
- Sea of sameness: Even experienced fractionals and consultants end up describing their work in similar ways. You know what you do is different, but if a potential client can't clearly see it, you risk being passed over for work you are the best choice to lead.
- Change is accelerating: Emerging tech and AI advancements are moving faster than most leaders can keep up with. Sorting what is relevant and valuable from what is noise can feel overwhelming.
This is why SOL Collective exists.
SOL Collective is not another generic community or self-study course filled with content you will never use... It is where seasoned fractionals, consultants, agency owners, founders, and right-hand leaders come to:
The SOL Collective is where you strengthen your leadership, elevate your positioning, and stay ahead of accelerating change so you continue to grow your influence and lead at the level the market now demands.
There are 2 Ways to Join SOL Collective
Until now, the only way to join SOL Collective was through joining one of our certification programs.
Now, we’ve opened a limited number of spaces for those who want to join directly.
Option 1: Automatically included with your Scalable Ops Manager or Chief Strategy & Operating Officer Certification
Option 2 (New!): Apply now to secure one of only 100 open spaces
Your Investment
$2500 Only $997* for 12 months access
*Special pricing exclusively for the first 50 people who join
Payment options available once application is approved
APPLY TO JOIN THE SOL COLLECTIVEMeet Crista Grasso, Founder of Strategic Ops Institute
Crista is a scaling and operations strategist and creator of the Lean Scaling System™
With over 30 years of experience in strategy and operations, Crista has supported thousands of businesses to scale more sustainably, profitably, and with less complexity.
She’s known for helping founders get out of the day-to-day operations and for helping experienced operators become the strategic partner every founder wants and every small to mid-sized business needs.
Crista has built multiple 7-figure businesses of her own and has spent decades advising fast-growing small businesses and Fortune 500 companies alike.
She knows firsthand what it takes to evolve from a high-performing doer to a trusted advisor and right-hand leader responsible for the success and scale of the business.
Her work (and this community) is rooted in real-world experience and designed for those who lead the work and shape the future of a business from the inside out.
Crista leads the monthly Strategic Leadership Advisory inside SOL Collective.
Meet Jessica D. Maine, Leader of the SOL Collective
Jessica is the Chief Strategy & Operating Officer (CSOO) at Strategic Ops Institute
Jessica is a seasoned strategist, coach, and consultant who has a passion for optimization, empowerment, and sustainable growth, bringing a human-first approach to her work.
She privately mentors everyone who gets certified as a Scalable Ops Manager or Chief Strategy and Operating Officer and she also leads the SOL Collective.
With over 15 years of experience in executive leadership, management, and consulting across various industries, she has a deep understanding of the driving forces behind success and the cultivation of authentic professional relationships.
She believes that the key lies in connecting genuinely with the people you serve through effective communication and a profound comprehension of their needs. She strives to make a difference not just as a business leader but as a human being committed to equity and fairness.
Jessica leads the monthly AI Implementation Labs inside SOL Collective.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SOL Collective a 12-month commitment?
What are the payment options?
What do you cover in the strategic leadership advisory?
When are the monthly workshops and Q&A?
How is SOL Collective different from the CSOO and SOM Certifications?
What's the time commitment each week?
Can I use the templates with my clients?
What is the application process like?
Do I have to be at a certain level to join?
Here's a Reminder of Everything That's Included in SOL Collective