It's Time to Become the Strategic Force Small Businesses Can't Imagine Scaling Without
(Even in a noisy, AI-obsessed market)
As a fractional, consultant, advisor, or leader you face a unique challenge in a rapidly changing market...
Clients expect you to be ten steps ahead of what's coming and successfully lead their business through it...
While you're trying to figure things out and quickly adapt in your own business at the same time.
You carry a weight few appreciate as you try to:
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Remain seen as a trusted expert who is ahead of new tech and AI advancements - without chasing every new thing
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Translate your expertise into positioning that sells itself and differentiates you from similar-sounding competitors
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Protect pricing and scope when buyers push for more for less and question the value of investing in operations
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Balance giving the business what it thinks it needs versus what it actually needs for sustainable success
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Avoid burning yourself out while keeping the founders you work with from burning out
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Get prospects to trust that you'll actually deliver measurable results - unlike the last 2 people they hired who burned them
This is where the SOL Collective comes in because the market is demanding a new kind of leader...
A Strategy & Operations Leader (SOL) who thinks like an owner, operates like a partner, and bridges the gap between a founder's vision and measurable results.
SOLs strategically leverage operations to scale businesses sustainably.
They're the missing link between what founders dream of building and the results that actually happen.
SOL Collective is where forward-thinking fractionals, consultants, and leaders become the in-demand right-hand advisor that clients wouldn't dream of scaling without.
SOL: Strategy. Operations. Leadership.
Three Core Capabilities That Define and Distinguish Strategy & Operations Leaders
Inside SOL Collective, everything is built around three core capabilities that distinguish Strategy & Operations Leaders from those who simply execute:
Strategic Leadership
AI Enablement
Signature Positioning
Each are areas that help you remain in-demand and unmistakably distinct as the market continues to shift.
These are more than skills you add to your toolkit - they're the foundation of how you show up, how you think, and how you deliver value that can't be replicated.
Pathway 1: Strategic Leadership
Strategy & Operations Leaders create the strategic direction that makes sustainable scaling possible.
They take a founder's sprawling vision and distill it into strategy that people actually follow. They ask the questions no one else will. They steady the team when uncertainty hits. And they expand what's possible without losing sight of what's practical.
In this pathway, you master:
- The ability to translate vision into strategy and leadership that earns buy-in and delivers measurable outcomes
- The skill to guide high-stakes conversations where the path forward isn't obvious
- The instinct to anticipate what's coming, connect dots others miss, and see the full picture while everyone else is focused on fragments
- The capacity to bridge the gap between founder vision and team execution without getting crushed in the middle
- The positioning to become the possibility partner founders turn to when they need their thinking stretched - and grounded in reality
This is how you become the trusted strategic advisor founders can't imagine scaling without.
Pathway 2: AI Enablement
SOLs understand that AI isn't the strategy - it's a lever for executing strategy better and faster.
Your clients are drowning in AI noise. They don't need another tool tutorial - they need you to be the one who knows what matters and what's just distraction.
The real value isn't in knowing the latest prompts. It's in being the strategist who understands where AI belongs, how it should be applied, and what it changes about the way businesses scale - without destroying the client experience in the process.
In this pathway, you learn:
- How to position yourself as the strategist who sees AI as part of the bigger picture - not a shiny object
- How to apply AI in real world use cases (we do this together live every month)
- How to integrate AI into your own thinking so it extends your capacity instead of creating more noise
- How to confidently lead conversations with clients who are curious, skeptical, or completely overwhelmed
- How to strategically implement AI for operations that scale sustainably
This is how you become one of the few who can leverage AI in ways that are practical, impactful, and future-focused.
Pathway 3: Signature Positioning
The most in-demand Strategy & Operations Leaders are recognized as the category-of-one partner founders can't scale without.
They understand that doing great work is only part of the equation. The reality is that experience and expertise are table stakes now.
What separates you is how intentionally you package and position your work so that when clients are comparing options, you stand out as the only choice.
In this pathway, you elevate:
- How you clarify and communicate your value so the difference between you and everyone else is immediately obvious
- How you develop signature frameworks and language that embody your approach and signal authority
- How you align your positioning with the depth and breadth of your experience and what makes you unique
You'll also discover your Signature SOL Archetype - a framework that simplifies how you market and sell by speaking directly to what your clients need most.
This is how you rise above the noise and become a category of one.
What Makes Strategy & Operations Leaders (SOLs) Stand Out
Most leaders are valued for what they do. SOLs are valued for how they think.
They act as the bridge between a founder's vision and measurable results - translating big ideas into strategy, systems, and structure that actually scale the business.
- SOLs think like owners: They see the full picture, not just their piece of it.
- SOLs operate like partners: They lead with the long game in mind while staying focused on what moves the needle today.
- SOLs deliver what founders can't achieve alone: They make results possible that aren't dependent on the founder being in the weeds.
This is the identity shift that changes everything - from how you position yourself, to how you're valued, to the impact you're able to create. SOL Collective is where you master this evolution.
SOL Collective is a Live, Interactive Experience - NOT Another Course
It's built with intention for busy leaders who want a curated high-value experience without unnecessary fluff or wasted effort.
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 outdated content
- Surface-level concepts you could get from ChatGPT
- A community of people not operating at your level
What You'll Find Inside
Every month inside the SOL Collective, you get:
Strategic Leadership Advisory with Crista
A private monthly audio feed - SOL Unfiltered- on how to influence, advise, and guide at the highest level - the kind of strategic thinking that defines Strategy & Operations Leaders. Each is followed by a live Q&A where you can bring situational questions and apply learnings in real time.
AI Implementation Labs with Jessica
Real world use-case-based interactive workshops that keep you ahead of what's actually worth your attention in AI. You'll see what to use, what to ignore, and how to integrate AI strategically in ways that expand your value as a SOL - not just add more tools to your stack.
Expert Insights and Real-World Experiences
Perspectives from people who've actually sat in the f-COO seat, built 7-figure consultancies, and scaled businesses from Fortune 500s to online small businesses. Real world experience applied to your real world challenges.
Curated Peer Network
A carefully selected group of fractionals, consultants, founders, and leaders operating at your level keeping the conversations advanced, relevant, and worth your time.
Fast Track Toolkits, Tips, and Templates
Tangible assets and time-saving tips you can implement right away to strengthen how you think, advise, and lead as a Strategy & Operations Leader.
Immediate Vault Access
Instant access to our most loved past workshops and toolkits. Deepen your skills and revisit topics whenever you need them - no need to wait for the next live session.
Plus: Instant Access to the Signature Positioning Blueprint
High-impact trainings, templates, examples, and prompts designed to set you apart in a crowded market and discover your SOL Archetype.
Dive in and take action to elevate your positioning within the first 30 days.
The SOL Collective is for you if:
Why Now?
You're feeling it - the market is noisier, buyers are more skeptical, and standing out is harder than ever. And what founders are looking for is fundamentally changing.
They're not hiring someone to manage tasks or run projects anymore. They're searching for a Strategy & Operations Leader - someone who can think strategically, bridge the gap between vision and execution, and lead their business through rapid change. Meanwhile...
- New fractionals and consultants flood the market daily with a polished presence but no where near the depth of expertise you bring
- Founders hesitate to invest because they've been burned by people who talked a good game but couldn't deliver
- Even when you know you're the best choice, you're being lumped in with people who just sound like you on the surface
- And that's assuming someone invests in operations and doesn't prioritize marketing and growth first, not realizing their growth will stall without the systems and strategic leadership you provide
- Add to that, AI and emerging tech are moving faster than ever and knowing what to pay attention to feels like a full-time job you don't have bandwidth for
This is exactly why SOL Collective exists.
It isn't another generic community or self-study program you'll never finish.
SOL Collective is where seasoned fractionals, consultants, agency owners, founders, and right-hand leaders make the shift from being seen as the 'backend of the business' to being recognized as the 'backbone of scalable growth.'
This is where you master the strategic leadership, AI fluency, and positioning that defines Strategy & Operations Leaders - and where you become the leader founders can't imagine scaling without.
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 at checkout
JOIN THE SOL COLLECTIVE
Join Now Before Our Next Monthly Workshops
11/4: AI Implementation Lab: The power of AI Agents in Notion: Interactive Workshop to Create, Maintain, and Optimize Your Playbooks
11/18: Strategic Leadership Advisory: Becoming a Visionary Whisperer - Audio + Live Q&A Discussion with Crista
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Meet 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?
Do I have to be at a certain level to join?
Here's a Reminder of Everything That's Included in SOL Collective