“As a new leader, you face countless obstacles—many of which no amount of preparation can fully anticipate. Among the most difficult is translating vision into action, turning what lives in your mind and heart into reality. This is where Council Leadership has been invaluable, directly shaping our growth and ultimately impacting results on the field. Asking for help can often feel like the hardest step—until you recognize that leadership was never meant to be a solitary pursuit. For that reason, I am deeply grateful for our partnership with Council Leadership.”

Clark Lea, Head Coach
Vanderbilt Football

“Council Leadership has given me a group of like-minded leaders who I can count on to encourage and challenge me. Being a part of the Council Leadership community has helped me process ideas in a way that has given me courage and clarity to move forward with real, positive change. This experience will accelerate your growth as a leader, give you a road map for leadership and help you to have a greater impact on those around you.”

Wayne Anderson, President
The Family Office

“Council Leadership brings together rich, integrative content from across disciplines that helps leaders grow into the best versions of themselves—and as they do, their teams, customers, and companies all win. The frameworks are first-class, original, and thoughtfully articulated. The physical space is gorgeous, inviting leaders to slow down, take stock, and grow with intention. The community is next-level—executives who are deeply effective in their fields yet show up growth-oriented, heart-forward, and people-centered. It’s exceptional in every way.”

Cate Tidwell McLeane, Director of External Partnerships
Belmont University, Innovation Labs

“Council Leadership gives you a board of directors for you as a leader that helps you grow personally and professionally. There’s true transparency and confidentiality that is so hard to find anywhere else.”

William Kirkland, Founder
The Kirkland Company 

“Years ago, our leadership team had the opportunity to begin a relationship with Council Leadership and, it’s no understatement, their guidance has helped transform our company.  We have grown exponentially, retained our company culture, all while drastically expanding our operational infrastructure.  We simply would not be as strong, healthy, profitable or impactful of a firm without the close guidance and wisdom of Council Leadership.”

Jeff Dobyns, President
SageSpring Wealth Partners 

“This straight forward, relationship-centered approach gave us the clarity we need to succeed.”

Hunter Connelly
Evergreen Real Estate 

“[This process] enabled us to create and maintain a healthy culture, while still winning start-up of the year awards and being named to the Inc. 5000 list as the fastest growing software company in [TN]”

Chris Redhage, Co-Founder
ProviderTrust; Fair Whistle 

“In the past, I’ve blamed myself for the failures of the people on my team OR I took too much credit for their success.  This rollercoaster was unsustainable emotionally.  I needed the time with other leaders, digging deep into my story, and hearing theirs,

 to truly understand what made me “me”.  The new understanding has helped me be more vulnerable with those I’m leading, and as a result, enabled me to lead people who are different from me. I feel like my leadership has added 1-2 new dimensions.

Before Council Leadership, I was a man angry for success, achievement, and appreciation.  While I’m still angry for those things, in some ways, Council Leadership experience has taught me to search for the meaning in my stories.  As a result, I’ve become less bound by those seminal events.  Today, ten years later, I find myself most concerned with improving as a husband, father, friend, and leader.  I’m forever grateful. If you deeply desire to be a better husband, father, friend, and leader the investment will be immeasurably valuable! Lead on!”

Troy Nunn: Partner
WILCO Wealth Partners, Northwestern Mutual 

“I joined Council Leadership at a time in my life when I was at a crossroads that I could not fully articulate. What I have experienced has challenged me to understand my story and my unique gifts for this world so that I can show up as a better leader, husband and father. Council Leadership has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life.”

Jonathan McNabb, Principal
BLVD Capital  

“Council Leadership has really helped me grow into a more well-rounded leader. Their coaching has made a big difference for me, my companies, and the culture we’re building together. I can’t recommend them enough.”

Blake Harris, Managing Director
BGR Group 

“I started working with Council Leadership 5 years ago.  My experience has been transformative for me both personally and professionally.  I’m a better, father, husband, and leader because of the work we’ve done together.  I don’t know how my business would have navigated the past 5 years without them.”

Mark Deering, Senior Executive Vice President
SageSpring Wealth Partners 

“Navigating any sort of conflict has always been a problem for me. In both a personal setting and in a professional setting. The work we do at Council Leadership has improved my ability to manage conflict in a healthy way in the workplace. 

A key to both professional and personal growth is understanding how to tackle and deal with known unknowns and unknown unknowns. Council Leadership has shed light on these blind spots for me in the context of leadership which has had a direct impact on how I manage my team members.

Hiring the right people for the job is crucial to any organization. The work we have done with Council Leadership will prove instrumental in all future hires. 

Do it. I can’t be around Stephen James and his team enough. It can be really lonely being a leader. Having an avenue to discuss challenges that I face on a day-to-day basis ,and that I have struggled with my entire life, as a way to not only understand the root cause, but to also understand how it impacts my ability to be a leader, both at home and in the workplace, has been life-changing for me. “

Beau Fowler, Founder
Wedgewood Avenue

“My cohort has been a source of life-giving friendship, encouragement,  and wisdom. In a professional landscape that feels full of programs that help take your career to the next level, Council Leadership was the first place that helped me go deeper into true connection with myself. In the context of that deep and meaningful work, I have been able to lead more purposefully in every arena of my life. I’m tremendously grateful for the work that Stephen and his team do. If you are looking to grow into a whole version of yourself, look no further.”

Will Acuff, Co-Founder
Corner to Corner 

“All my relationships have improved - personally and professionally being a part of Council Leadership.  I have learned real skills that help me deal more effectively with interpersonal conflict and development of others. 

What surprised me the most about my experience in Council Leadership is how actionable Council Leadership practices are.  I was also surprised at the thought diversity amongst members.  This is not a cult or an echo chamber. 

Council Leadership has helped my business partners align and execute decisions that would have otherwise taken longer or not happened at all.

It's challenging to fully understand the breadth of impact that Council Leadership can have on your life - it may be easier to tell you what it won't do.  My life is simply better with Council Leadership.”

Tre Killian: Partner
WILCO Wealth Partners, Northwestern Mutual  

“Council Leadership has been a place of meaningful growth, reflection, and connection. It’s helped me become more in tune with myself while also giving me the gift of deeper and meaningful friendships that I greatly cherish.”

Jim Jacobs: Principal
Cherry & Associates 

“Council Leadership has given me more clarity on who I am and what unique talents I have as a leader. I have gained more empathy to understand others and more confidence to share my voice as I take on more leadership responsibilities in my life and work.”

Brad H. Barnes, CFP: Executive Vice President
SageSpring Wealth Partners

“I’ve been a part of Council Leadership for the past two years, and it has had a profound impact on my life. This group has given me a space to reflect on my personal story and how it shapes the way I lead, in business and in life. From our meetings each month, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of my own strengths and weaknesses, my relationships, and my goals both personally and professionally. 

What makes this group unique is the openness and honesty it fosters. We talk about things most of us would rarely bring up outside of this space. If you are open to digging deeper into your own life and exploring how your experiences shape the way you lead, I would highly recommend Council Leadership. It’s not about leadership tactics, it’s about becoming a more self-aware, authentic leader by first understanding yourself.”

Marshall Burridge, Principal
UrbanNashville

“Since being part of Council Leadership, I’ve noticed meaningful improvements in both communication and community. Communication has become more consistent and clear, making it easier for me to access the information I need when I need it. Beyond that, I’ve felt a stronger sense of belonging—not only within my own cohort, but also within the broader Council Leadership community. Even without participating in every extra activity, I feel deeply connected to something larger than myself. Within my cohort specifically, there has been a real emphasis on unity and cohesion, which has fostered close ties and genuine support.

What surprised me most was the depth of personal transformation I experienced—and how similar that journey felt to others in my cohort. The phrase “your work is everyone’s work” came alive for me. I’ve shifted from a posture of false humility to openly sharing what I’m thinking and feeling, recognizing how valuable and relevant it can be for others. I also discovered that leadership isn’t about control or dominance—it’s about understanding people’s stories, discerning the stage they’re in, and choosing to walk with them through it. That reframe has been paradigm-shifting for me, something I now apply in every context. 

When it comes to navigating challenges and difficult seasons, Council Leadership has been both a safe space and a vital anchor. It’s one of the few environments where I feel I can bring my hardest challenges, knowing they will be met with honor and respect. One-on-one coaching with Stephen and Dane has been especially impactful, helping me dismantle false beliefs I’ve carried for years. More personally, they’ve walked alongside me in a profound transition—from a life fueled by shame to one fueled by passion and purpose—providing steady truth and support throughout that journey. 

To anyone considering joining, I’d say this: get ready for exchange. You’ll be invited to let go of what needs to be left behind—lies, shame, fear—and take hold of what will propel you forward—truth, purpose, courage. It’s not easy work, but it’s transformative work. Council Leadership is one of the rare spaces that integrates your vocational, relational, and spiritual life, offering insight and clarity across all three spheres. It challenges your paradigms, tests your beliefs, and leaves you stronger, clearer, and more deeply convicted about what is good and meaningful. You won’t find that in a church small group or in a business consultancy meeting. If you’re serious about becoming a leader who brings about real and lasting change, Council Leadership is the place to do that work.”

Dale Clay, CTO
Provider Trust   

“Council Leadership has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Learning to lead myself with curiosity and heart has deepened the way I show up—at home and at work—with consistency and courage. The impact has been undeniable: my wife recently told a friend how much of a difference it’s made in our family, and my team often reminds me with feedback like, ‘thank you for leading with head and heart.’ The receipts show up daily.”

John Byers, SVP, Market Leader,
NewFront

“My experience has helped me be more honest in my relationships and help me to better understand why other people act the way they do. I value the chance to back up from work and reflect on how I am leading alongside other business owners.”

Clay Bright , CEO
Megasite Authority of West Tennessee 

“I have learned that a lot of the issues or challenges I face are not unique. It is how to respond to them and having a trusted community to share and gain insight on how to respond that is most helpful. Brutal honesty and compassion have challenged me to be better at seeing things about myself that I had not known.”

Michael Rosen, Co-Founder and Partner
ProviderTrust

“My experience has brought a lot of clarity to my goals, established new boundaries, and revealed components of my work that I had not previously considered, which is creating a more integrated and powerful life.”

Todd Prevost, Founder
Big Tent Commercial Real Estate

“Little did I know the impact this would have on my life! My children have seen a difference in the way I parent. My wife has a better husband, and my employees have a better leader.”

Tim Whittemore, Owner, Operator
Chick-Fil-A

“Being a leader is a lonely place, and most family and friends just don’t understand or relate.  Having a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and leaders who are willing and able to go deep is invaluable.”

James (“Jay”) M. Adcox III
Legacy Law Group, PLLC

“In partnering with Council Leadership over the past few years, I’ve sensed an increase in awareness of myself and others, a higher degree of intentionality, a general slowing of the pace of life, and greater presence in the ordinary moments of the day. It’s been encouraging to have a guide in asking better questions of myself and also learning from the other members’ experiences and perspectives. The Hardison House member location is beautifully curated and one of my favorite places to be.”

Cash Tunstall, Executive Vice President
SageSpring Wealth Partners 

“Being part of a group of men who are high achieving, smart and brave and want the same things out of life, business and family has been transformative for me. These are men who have the same fears that I do and are willing to share them with other men.”

Scott Haley, Founder and Partner
HR Properties  

“In the six years I have been a member of Council Leadership, my life has transformed for the better by monumental amounts. I am a more collaborative co-worker, a more attentive and passionate father, and a stronger and more caring husband.  

When I began, I thought maybe I was in the wrong room because this was unlike any other leadership development course I had ever taken.  I dove in headfirst, and faced fears and joys and gratitude that I never believed I could allow to see daylight.

I would encourage anyone looking to grow personally, professionally, and emotionally to consider joining. Life is short and my only regret is not starting sooner.”

Zach Goodyear, President
Village Real Estate