FAQs

A mastermind is a peer-to-peer mentoring group where business owners come together to share experience, solve problems, and support each other’s growth.

Unlike traditional coaching or training, a mastermind isn’t one-way. You give as well as receive, bringing your own knowledge to the table while benefiting from the ideas, feedback, and perspectives of others.

This isn’t a new concept. Masterminds have been around for more than 80 years. Napoleon Hill popularised the idea in his classic book Think and Grow Rich, crediting mastermind groups as a key driver of success. Andrew Carnegie, one of the most successful entrepreneurs in history, swore by them. Even C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were part of an author’s mastermind that shaped their legendary work.

The power of a mastermind lies in its collective wisdom: no matter what challenge you bring, someone else has either faced it, solved it, or can see it from an angle you’ve missed.

Meet once a month, either virtually or in person to discuss your goals and what might be holding you back.

Share skills and knowledge, brainstorm ideas, problem solve, get feedback on plans, create plans to reach your goals and be held accountable.

Great networking opportunity as you form close relationships with others in your group - referrals etc.

Usually, some way to keep in contact outside of the meetings for continued support and contact with each other.

Accountability, powerful brainstorming, access to a master brain when a group of brains work together to solve problems or inspire new opportunities.

Seeing what’s possible, rather than being held back by your own limiting beliefs. Be part of a strong network and access the network of the others in the group, too.

Test ideas and plans, get feedback and objective views to ensure your plans are solid. Celebrate success and unpick failures to learn from them.

A mastermind is for driven people who want to achieve more and don’t want to do it alone.

Most members are business owners, from solopreneurs through to founders, leaders, and CEOs. What matters isn’t the size of your business, but your mindset. If you’re ambitious, open to learning, and willing to both give and receive support, you’ll thrive in a mastermind group.

The common thread? Everyone who joins wants to grow as a person and as a professional by surrounding themselves with like-minded, motivated people.

Masterminds attract a mix of businesses and industries because the real value comes from the diversity of perspectives in the room.

In Boardroom Buddies, you’ll typically find:

Solopreneurs running service-based businesses

Owners of small to medium-sized companies across sectors like marketing, finance, HR, IT, construction, and consultancy

Founders who want to scale sustainably

Established business leaders who don’t want to feel alone in decision-making

The beauty of a mastermind is that you don’t need everyone in the group to be in your exact industry. In fact, it often works better when they’re not, because you’ll get ideas, feedback, and ways of thinking you’d never get if everyone were doing the same thing as you.

The cost of a business mastermind can vary widely, ranging from a few hundred pounds per month to several thousand, depending on the coach, format, and level of access.

At Boardroom Buddies, membership is designed to be affordable but still deeply valuable. Here’s how it works:

Registration fee: £75 (one-off)

First six months: £275 per month (includes 6 x one-to-one coaching sessions with Jackie alongside the group meetings)

Ongoing membership: £209.50 per month after the first six months

That way, you get the benefit of personal coaching at the start to help you bed in, then an ongoing mastermind experience at a reduced monthly fee.

The mastermind process has been around for decades, and most successful people will tell you they didn’t get there alone; they had the right people around them.

The truth is, you can’t always judge a mastermind at first glance. It may take a little time to feel part of it and to see if it’s the right fit for you. At Boardroom Buddies, you’ll be invited to a trial session to make sure current members are happy and you feel it’s right. Then I ask new members to commit to six months. It gives you the chance to benefit from the coaching and group support, tackle some immediate challenges, and experience the power of collaborative thinking.

If you join, give it a fair try and do what you commit to, and if, after six months, you feel it’s not working, you’re free to step away. (For the record, only one person has left, and that was because they couldn't commit).

When choosing any mastermind group, look for:

A facilitator you trust to guide the process and ask the right questions

A small group size, so everyone’s voice is heard

A safe, confidential environment where you can be open

Members who are supportive, ambitious, and willing to both give and receive

Pick the right group, and it will change the way you think about your business and yourself.

I started a mastermind because after more than 40 years in business, from running my own small companies to working in larger organisations, one thing became clear: no one succeeds entirely on their own.

I’ve always been fascinated by how people think and what drives them to succeed. That’s why I trained as an organisational psychologist and became a Master Practitioner of NLP to understand not just what people do, but the mindset behind it.

Over the years, I’ve coached and developed senior leaders and business owners, and I found the most powerful growth happened when people were supported by others who truly “got it.” Creating a mastermind was the natural next step: a way to bring ambitious business owners together, so they could grow themselves, their thinking, and their businesses all with the support of a group of peers who have their back.

I started a mastermind because after more than 40 years in business, from running my own small companies to working in larger organisations, one thing became clear: no one succeeds entirely on their own.

I’ve always been fascinated by how people think and what drives them to succeed. That’s why I trained as an organisational psychologist and became a Master Practitioner of NLP to understand not just what people do, but the mindset behind it.

Over the years, I’ve coached and developed senior leaders and business owners, and I found the most powerful growth happened when people were supported by others who truly “got it.”

Creating a mastermind was the natural next step: a way to bring ambitious business owners together, so they could grow themselves, their thinking, and their businesses all with the support of a group of peers who have their back.

I’ve been involved in masterminds for more than a decade.

My first experience was around 12 years ago with a women’s business group called Achievers Academy for Women, run by Jo Cameron. She trained all of her team leaders, and in many ways, we became our own mastermind. It showed me first-hand just how powerful this format can be.

Since then, I’ve been part of the Institute of Directors’ Women as Leaders initiative, where I served as vice-chair for the Midlands. We met regularly, and members found the mastermind approach invaluable. Two of those women are still clients today.

I also stepped in to run the mixed-gender regional mastermind for the IoD, which gave me further experience facilitating groups of ambitious business owners and leaders.

All of that experience led to what I do now with Boardroom Buddies and bringing together small business owners to share, support, and grow together.

Not right now. As the facilitator of Boardroom Buddies, I get so much value from the group itself. I often make notes during meetings and put those ideas into action straight away.

I’m also used to setting my own goals and actions each month, so I get many of the same benefits as a participant. That said, I’d never rule out being part of another mastermind in the future.

Boardroom Buddies is a face-to-face mastermind group that meets for a full day each month at The Roe Deer, Wordsley. Between meetings, members stay connected through a private WhatsApp group and Zoom catch-ups, so the support doesn’t stop when the day ends.

Before joining, every member signs a non-disclosure agreement. That way, you know you’re in a safe, confidential space where you can share openly about your business.

Groups are intentionally kept small, with a maximum of six people. This ensures:

Everyone has time to bring their goals, challenges, or ideas to the table

Conversations go deeper, with enough time for discussion and feedback

A balance of mastermind problem-solving and personal development sessions

Members say one of the things they value most is the chance to acknowledge and celebrate wins, as well as having purposeful time to set clear goals for the month ahead.

As one member put it on the Boardroom Buddies Podcast:

“We don’t just solve problems, we celebrate what’s been achieved and create space to think about what’s next.”

A mastermind gives you the time, space, and support to work on your business instead of just in it.

When you join Boardroom Buddies, you can expect to gain:

Breakthroughs and problem-solving – tackle barriers to success with the support of fresh perspectives and shared experience

Mindset growth – overcome psychological blocks and build confidence to take bolder steps

Practical learning – pick up knowledge and skills that improve how you run your business

A close-knit community – build strong relationships with people who understand your journey

A sense of belonging – no more feeling isolated; you’ll have a trusted group in your corner

Accountability that works – you won’t be “told off” if you miss a goal, but you’ll feel motivated to follow through because you’ve committed out loud to your peers

Dedicated thinking time – space to plan, review, and get objective views from people outside your day-to-day bubble

All of this inspires and energises you to take action in ways that feel right for you. Members report everything from more sales and business development activity to greater confidence, to simply running their business more effectively.

In short: you’ll move your business forward, at your pace, with the support of people who want to see you succeed.

It’s natural to wonder if you’ll “fit” with a group; after all, the right mix of people is what makes a mastermind powerful.

At Boardroom Buddies, we take this seriously. Before joining, you’ll be invited to a discovery session so you can experience the group for yourself. Current members also have a say in who joins, because the integrity and trust within the group are paramount.

I know my members well and carefully assess every new candidate’s suitability. That way, you can feel confident you’ll be joining a supportive, respectful circle of peers who want the best for each other.

Confidentiality is taken seriously. Every member signs a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before joining. This ensures you can share openly and honestly about your business, knowing that everything stays within the group.

Mastermind groups work best when they’re small. At Boardroom Buddies, there are never more than eight members per group. That way, everyone gets enough time to share their challenges, get input, and contribute meaningfully to others.

Not necessarily. What matters most in a mastermind is your experience, attitude, and willingness to contribute, not just how long your current business has been running.

You may be new to this business, but if you’ve run others (or have valuable professional experience), you’ll still bring insights the group can learn from. At the same time, the group will help you get established and grow more quickly than if you tried to do it all alone.

In short: if you’re open, driven, and ready to give as well as receive support, you’ll fit right in, whether you’re at the very start of your journey or several years in.

If group settings aren’t for you, that’s absolutely fine. Masterminds aren’t the only way I work with people.

You can choose 1:1 coaching, where our sessions are entirely focused on you and your business. This can be more flexible around your schedule if you can’t make regular group meetings, and you’ll still get the same level of support, challenge, and honest questioning.

The main difference is that you won’t have access to the group’s collective ideas and experience. Many clients find that input invaluable, but if you’d prefer a private space, 1:1 coaching can be the right fit.

You’ll also have access to my podcast episodes, where subject-matter experts share insights on everything from cash flow to marketing, so you’ll never be short of fresh ideas.