Career Mastery™ Leadership Accelerator
Lead With Confidence and Excel at the Next Level
Have you recently been promoted or taken on a new role? Or have you been told you’re high potential and are at the cusp of promotion?
You’re now facing higher expectations and bigger challenges. The stakes are higher, the politics are more nuanced, and the way you’re being judged is less clear. You have the opportunity to make a greater impact and you don’t want to blow it.
If you want to show you can perform at a higher level, then you can’t leave it to chance.
Hi, I’m May Busch, former COO for Morgan Stanley Europe and now the Founder and CEO of Career Mastery, executive coach, speaker, advisor and author.
What I’ve learned from my 24-year corporate career and now coaching senior professionals in new executive roles is this:
No one succeeds alone, especially as you get to more and more senior levels.
As you step up into larger roles, the challenges become more complex, your decisions carry greater impact, and there’s more at stake for your career and reputation.
This is why it’s so important to have people you can trust to help you navigate the path in the right way. People who have traveled a similar road and know how to avoid the common pitfalls professionals face in taking on bigger roles.
But as you rise in the organization, there are fewer and fewer people internally who you can turn to for confidential, impartial advice. That’s why they say “it’s lonely at the top”.
I’ve seen how essential it is to have trusted advisors to turn to based on my own career and also while helping my executive coaching clients avoid the common pitfalls and turn challenging situations into big opportunities.
That’s why I’ve created a unique and exclusive program to help you make the most of the opportunity ahead of you.
Introducing
Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator Program 2025
Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator (CMLA) is a personalized six-month leadership development program for senior leaders who have been recently promoted or are on the cusp of a promotion.
This unique program develops and hones the skills you need to step up as a leader, perform at your best, and achieve your full potential.
The program runs from January through June and focuses on the intangible skills you need at this next level and that set you up for future advancement as well. You’ll discover the nuances you won’t get from reading books or listening to podcasts.
What you’ll learn is practical, actionable and personalized to your situation. Think of this as a special, not-off-the-shelf executive MBA that’s tailored to your needs and at a fraction of the price.
Over the course of the six-month program, you’ll come away with the actionable strategies, insights and support you need to lead with greater confidence, command respect, overcome whatever challenges you may face, and excel at the next level.
In essence, I will be taking you under my wing to help make your transition smooth, seamless and successful in a way that also sets you up for continued advancement and the financial benefits that come with it.
Here’s what you’ll get in Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator:
- Brain Trust Sessions
- Actionable Strategies for Leading at the Next Level
- Personalized Leadership Game Plan
- Real-Time Support
Let’s start with the Brain Trust…
Brain Trust Sessions
This is where the magic happens
Every successful executive needs a trusted group of people to turn to for advice and support in a confidential setting. People who understand what you’re going through yet are impartial in a way that isn’t possible with colleagues and mentors within your organization.
That’s where the Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator group comes in. Think of us as your private “Brain Trust”. A group where you can ask questions and bounce ideas around without fear of hurting your reputation at work.
We’ll meet live on Zoom twice a month for six months, 90 minutes per session. This is where the magic happens and I’ll share things I wish someone had told me when I was taking on a new role.
While the sessions will be recorded, you’ll want to attend every session live to have your questions answered and get your Member Spotlight (see below). Part of the commitment of being in this exclusive group is that you attend at least 9 out of the 12 sessions live.
The Brain Trust sessions will include:
Strategy Spotlights
Discover proven, actionable strategies for addressing the key challenges you’re facing (or are likely to face) in transitioning to a new, bigger role. Through our discussions, you’ll be able to tailor the strategies to your personal situation so they can make the maximum positive impact.
Member Spotlights
Get your immediate challenges sorted out in your Member Spotlight. You will benefit from not only my insights and advice but also the “wisdom in the room” your fellow members bring.
As a member of our Brain Trust, you won’t be making the transition alone.
You can count on us to be there to help make sure you don’t set a foot wrong and to share innovative ways to handle any challenges that come up along the way.
This brings us to the next part of the program…
Actionable Strategies for Leading at the Next Level
Innovative ways to handle leadership challenges with confidence
Before each Brain Trust session, I’ll share a strategy, tool or resource that addresses a topic area essential for you to be outstanding in your new or next role. This will prepare you for our live sessions where we will cover these topics in greater depth and tailor the strategies to your situation.
These resources will include a video to enrich your thinking and worksheets to help you make the strategies your own. You will come away with innovative ways to handle key leadership challenges with confidence when they arise, and even prevent them from coming up in the first place.
The topic areas we cover will be around the three fundamental pillars of leadership and career success:
- How you work with People
- How you work on the Business
- How you work on your Self
The specific topics include:
- Achieving Success at the Next Level
- Driving Results as a Leader at the Next Level
- Prioritizing and Deciding Where to Focus
- Setting the Vision and Strategy For Your Business Area
- Communicating With Gravitas and Impact
- Negotiating For What You Need
- Developing the Network of Relationships You Need at New Senior Levels
- Leading and Managing Your Team
- Establishing Yourself as a Higher-Level Leader in the Eyes of Others
- Managing Your Time and Energy as You Take on More Responsibility
- Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Building Confidence
For each topic area, you’ll come away with actionable strategies that are tailored to your needs and focused on helping you get results.
And this leads us to the third part of the program…
Personalized Leadership Game Plan
Strategic game plan to guide your progress over the next year
In order to succeed, you need to have a plan. One that helps you stay on course while providing flexibility to make adjustments as things change and as you evolve.
You’ll emerge from this program with a Leadership Game Plan to help guide your progress over the next year. This will be a living, breathing document you’ll want to refer to regularly because it provides:
- Clarity on what success looks, feels and sounds like for you
- The milestones you’ll need to hit in order to stay on track
- The most important action steps to take in the next 90 days
This is a simple yet strategic game plan that’s linked to your aspirations and easy to keep track of. I’ll review your plan to help you make it practical and actionable.
And this brings us to the fourth part of the Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator program…
Real-Time Support
Trusted advice and feedback at any time
We all face moments when we need input from people we trust and who understand what we’re going through. When it can’t wait until the next live Brain Trust session, we’ve got you covered.
At any time, you can tap into the Brain Trust and get feedback and support from me and fellow members when you need it.
Private Brain Trust Forum
This is the private and safe “members-only” area where you can post questions and challenges at any time and receive advice and feedback from me and the rest of the Brain Trust group.
This is also a space where we can post the actions you’ve committed to, celebrate your wins (my favorite!) and share articles, book recommendations, podcast links and other resources to accelerate each others’ leadership development.
Learning Partners
You’ll be paired with 1-2 other Brain Trust members to support each others’ development, discuss leadership strategies you’re learning and how best to apply them, and hold each other accountable for taking action between sessions.
Helping You Succeed in Your Next Level of Leadership
I know how challenging it is for anyone to succeed in a corporate career, and there’s an even higher degree of difficulty when you’re stepping into a new leadership position or being actively considered for one.
Having had my “big corporate career” already, earning 10 promotions over the course of my 24-year career, I want to share all the things I learned – mostly the hard way – so others don’t have to go through the trial and error that I did on my way to becoming COO for Morgan Stanley Europe.
Looking back on my various promotions over the course of my career, the first couple of transitions were relatively straightforward. But the challenges became more and more complex as I took on new roles and bigger responsibilities.
What I wish I’d had back then was an independent group of supportive, experienced people I could trust and turn to for help without the risk of looking clueless or insecure.
That’s why I created Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator. This program is designed to support your success as you take on your next level of leadership.
This will be a safe place with a group of supportive peers who learn from, contribute to and celebrate each others’ wins. And where I’ll be sharing the strategies that helped me succeed in my 24-year career and helped my executive coaching clients make their successful transitions.
This is all about helping you succeed.
What alumni say about Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator
(formerly Next Level Leadership program)
“A unique program I’d highly recommend”
As an HR leader with my fair share of leadership program experiences, CMLA is a very unique program and one I’d highly recommend.
The strategies, models and approaches May shares in each session are progressive, relevant and directly applicable. I continue to return to the program materials to deepen my leadership capabilities as a newly promoted vice president.
‒ Jenn
“The program enhanced my thinking, problem-solving and relationship management skills”
Before CMLA, I was struggling to demonstrate my value to others. The program enhanced my thinking, problem-solving, and relationship management skills, and this positive shift has been noticed by my leadership, peers, and team.
My favorite aspect of the program was the sense of community. Connecting with others facing similar challenges provided me with new perspectives, ideas, and strategies to help me succeed in the next phase of my career.
‒ Allison
“I definitely feel more comfortable in my new role and have improved my gravitas”
As a result of the CMLA program, I definitely feel more comfortable in my new role and have improved my gravitas. I also used May’s model for setting a strategy when I was presenting a new AI strategy for my business area. It was successful and everyone involved thought the model was very productive, easy and straightforward to use.
‒ Petra
“I’ve gained so much clarity [and] I have a lot more confidence”
It’s been incredible. I’ve gained so much clarity around how to more consciously and effectively drive results and influence my team.
I was looking for help with the invisible dynamics that go on at work, to understand power and who's influencing what, how to have conversations that are really difficult, and how to manage people properly. I didn't feel like I could get that from a book. What I really needed was somebody who could just coach us through some of these challenges.
I have a lot more confidence in certain situations. Before, at times I felt like, “I have no idea how to handle this difficult personnel dynamic.” Now, I have many more skills to handle those situations. I’ve also gained the skills to get people on board with my vision. I feel so much more competent in being able to do that.
The biggest thing I gained from the program was learning how to communicate to leadership. That's been hugely valuable and instrumental. And I've had really good results from this new skill. The program was tremendously valuable.
‒ Clare
“The quality of the group was amazing”
The quality of the group was amazing. The team built upon each other and did not hold back. May created this safe space for us to discuss any topics so I was not afraid to put myself out there.
As a result of the program, I’ve gotten promoted much faster than anybody else in my role and I'm already being considered for a next level promotion.
I wouldn’t be in the role that I have right now if I didn’t have this program and also May’s Get Promoted Program, because I used to be that shy woman sitting, head down doing my work and not thinking strategically about my career. I’ve made huge gains for myself.
‒ Mariana
“It has ‘leveled up’ my leadership”
This program has been incredible. I have focused primarily on my communication patterns, particularly with executive leaders. This program has given me very tangible tools to use in approaching my work. I can say without hesitation it has “leveled up” my leadership. For me, [the transformation] is having the confidence to step into the role and knowing that I can own that space.
‒ Cary
“Such a fantastic experience”
I joined CMLA as I started my transition into a C-Level role. This has been such a fantastic experience and I am grateful for what each member has brought into my life and leadership. I have learned so much from the videos, worksheets, and conversations with our Brain Trust.
My goal was to learn from the knowledge and experiences of May and my fellow wonderful leaders. I wanted to improve my skills as a leader, increase my business savvy, and gain advice on ways I can help move our company and culture forward.
As a result of the program, I have taken on more C-Level duties and have been working with our new director to assist in her transition into that new role, while offloading my own duties there.
‒ Angie
“I'm on the way to reach my milestones, even ahead of time”
When I joined the program, I wanted to find out how to best support the company's transition to a new product offering and was wondering about how to stand out and build relationships at a higher level. I feel like I've made clear progress in all the targeted areas, and I'm on the way to reach my milestones, even ahead of time.
The biggest change in my behavior from the program is learning how to “promote myself”, how to be confident to reach out to more senior leaders and when discussing with peers, not downplay myself. In general, I’m more determined and focused.
A huge benefit and source of confidence is the connection with everyone else participating here.
Now I lead more engaging group discussions and I’m more confident and relaxed about discussions about career growth with my team. In terms of strategy and development, I feel I can better position myself for future promotions. I have a clearer idea of my long-term career growth and how to take the next steps.
‒ Patricia
“Going from being a ‘caretaker’ to being a ‘rainmaker’”
I couldn’t appreciate more in meeting everyone in the group, and the inspiration and power they brought to me during the journey.
I entered the program amid a regime change in my organization. In the short run I wanted to gain trust from the new regional CEO, further nurture my relationship with key stakeholders and raise my strategic thinking and action to the next level.
Every video and spotlight session was so constructive. I can clearly feel my trend in going from being a ‘caretaker’ to being a ‘rainmaker’. I’ve formed a few new habits like not being afraid to challenge the status quo, preparing solutions before flagging issues, thinking and talking in my stakeholders' shoes, getting alignment and also setting necessary boundaries.
I’m so grateful to have May and the peer group to guide me through the tough decision making and negotiations in my career transition into a new product area.
‒ Cathy
Meet Your Coach
May Busch was promoted 10 times during her 24-year career on the way to COO of Morgan Stanley Europe. Now, she's the Founder and CEO of Career Mastery, a sought-after executive coach, speaker, and author of Accelerate: 9 Capabilities to Achieve Success at Any Career Stage.
As an executive coach and mentor, May brings 24 years of front-line corporate experience and expertise to help professionals overcome (often hidden) obstacles, advance to the next level in their careers and reach their full potential.
She’s a seasoned business executive with a passion for helping leaders be the best they can be.
Your Investment in Success
As an investment in your future, the Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator program is one of the highest return on investment options available.
Unlike generic leadership courses, expensive Executive MBA programs, or 1-1 coaching, CMLA provides a unique blend of training and group coaching in a confidential small group setting.
The program addresses the often overlooked nuances of leadership, such as stakeholder management, communicating with influence, and overcoming self-doubt. Our emphasis is on practical strategies that can be applied in real-world leadership scenarios with immediate results.
Being part of a group of other highly accomplished professionals provides a valuable confidential network to turn to for solutions to business challenges. You will hear about issues you’re likely to encounter in the future so you’re more prepared to handle them well. And the opportunity to learn from each other's experiences will broaden your perspective.
You will have the benefit of all the lessons I learned as an undergraduate and MBA student at Harvard University and over my 24-year corporate career, from entry-level to COO for Morgan Stanley Europe. You will also be part of a group of other highly accomplished professionals supporting each other and rising together.
We will select each of the 10 group members through an application and interview process to ensure we have a committed and complementary group from diverse backgrounds.
Not only will you deliver results with greater ease and certainty, you’ll enjoy the financial rewards and career upside that accompany outstanding performance.
Through our work together, you’ll be able to:
- Secure your promotion status at a time when the organization is evaluating how well you’re handling your role by having access to my real-time, personalized advice.
- Influence perceptions and demonstrate you are invaluable at this next higher level by deploying the proven strategies I’ll share.
- Set yourself up for your next opportunity while excelling at the current one through the Leadership Game Plan we’ll create.
- Keep your life balanced (and not burn out) as you transition thanks to the support and strategies from our Brain Trust.
Limited spots available
In order to provide every member with an extraordinary and personalized experience, only 10 people will be accepted into the program. I’d love to help you get results too, so I encourage you to apply right away.
Investment in the Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator Program
USD $12,000
Plus VAT where applicable.
Transitioning successfully into a new and bigger role doesn’t happen by accident
No matter how ambitious, hardworking and skilled you are, there will be unexpected situations and people that put you to the test. You could try to “figure it out” on your own. But how long would that take?
You could search the Internet for solutions to new challenges you’re facing for the first time. But with stakeholders watching closely to see whether you’re up to the task, do you really want to risk your reputation and credibility on tactics that may or may not even work? Or worse yet, be seen as unfit for the role even though you’re working hard and doing a good job.
And how many opportunities in your career – and in your personal life – will you have missed while you were trying to “figure it out”?
When you go it alone, you leave yourself vulnerable to the risk of making the big but avoidable mistakes and not knowing how to recover from them until things have gone too far and it’s too late.
Wouldn't you rather enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having proven strategies to address virtually any challenge you’ll face?
And the peace of mind of having a trusted group to help you avoid the common pitfalls and recover from mistakes when they happen?
And imagine the feeling of calm and confidence that comes with knowing you’re doing the right things at the right time in the right way.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go it alone as you pursue your aspirations and take on greater responsibilities.
The Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator program is designed to help you make a smooth transition to a bigger role, exceed expectations at the next level, and set yourself up to be seen as a strong candidate for future opportunities.
If you’d like me to take you under my wing and help you grow into your bigger responsibilities with poise and without overextending yourself, I invite you to apply now.
I look forward to helping you achieve your full potential and continue your success in your career.
Apply now and achieve your full leadership potential.
Common Questions
When will the Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator program take place?
The program will run for six months from January through June 2025. The exact timing of the Brain Trust sessions will be finalized once the group is formed.
Who else will be in the group?
All group members will be high-achieving professionals who have been recently promoted or are on the cusp of a promotion, are managing managers, and are responsible for a function or part of the business with the potential to rise further in the future.
Everyone will be committed to both learning from and contributing to the group. They will be from a variety of backgrounds, organizations and geographies so that there is no competition and people can speak freely.
How much time will I have with May?
I will host and facilitate the Brain Trust sessions and be available to support the group in our private instant messaging group. I’m serious about supporting you in your transition, which is why I’m providing this incredible level of access that’s typically reserved only for my one-on-one executive coaching clients.
How much of my time will this take?
Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator is designed for successful professionals whose time is at a premium. Everything we do is geared around delivering as big an impact as possible in the smallest amount of time.
Other than the two 90-minute Brain Trust sessions per month, which is where the magic happens, there are no significant time commitments. Just whatever it takes for you to take action and implement the strategies in the context of your normal work.
Ultimately, the program is meant to save you time by helping you avoid mistakes, reduce uncertainty and create a glide path for your transition.
What kind of results can I expect?
This program is geared toward helping you excel at the next level of leadership so you can make a smooth and successful transition to your new role, whether you’ve just taken it on or expect to be doing so soon. You’ll get out of this program as much as you put into it. So the more committed and engaged you are and the more action you take, the greater the value you’ll receive.
At the start of the program, we’ll agree what success looks, sounds and feels like for you, including the results you want to achieve. Based on this, we’ll form a tailored Leadership Game Plan to achieve those results with the support of the Brain Trust.
How do I know this will help me make the transition?
I’ll be sharing proven strategies that have helped my executive coaching clients make successful transitions into new, bigger roles. These are also the strategies I used during my 24-year career to transition into 10 different roles successfully.
Of course, each person and situation is different. Through our Brain Trust sessions, you’ll gain access to a variety of strategies and tools that you will be able to adapt to suit your style and situation.
Is there one-on-one coaching?
Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator is a group coaching program. If you’re interested in one-on-one coaching with me, complete my Executive Coaching inquiry form and a member of my team will get back to you. Please note that I only coach a handful of one-on-one clients at a given time and there is currently a waiting list.
What if I can’t make a session?
The success of the program depends on having all members actively participate in the Brain Trust sessions. That said, there are times when something unavoidable gets in the way. To join the Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator program, we ask that you commit to attending at least 9 out of the 12 sessions live.
Will the sessions be recorded?
Yes, the sessions will be recorded so that members can refer back to the discussion and especially their Member Spotlight.
Please note that you must commit to attending at least 9 out of the 12 sessions live. That’s because your fellow members will be depending on each other to be present and provide input and support.
Is there a payment plan?
Yes, you can pay USD $2,300 per month for 6 months or save 15% by paying USD $12,000 upfront.
Can you help me get my organization to sponsor me?
Yes, we can! To help you make a clear and compelling ask, here are resources you can use to raise the subject with your manager, sponsor or HR professional:
- Use this sample email that you can adjust to fit your situation or use as is, and
- Download and attach this program overview with your email.
What if I find the program is not for me? Do you offer refunds?
We do not offer refunds. This highly interactive group coaching program requires commitment from all parties. As a result, it is essential that you determine whether this is for you before joining.
All that said, if at any point you feel things aren’t working for you, I want you to let me know right away so I can work with you to make your experience a success. This is all about helping you be successful.
This is a unique coaching and development experience that will help you accelerate your success at the next, higher level in your career and set you up for continued advancement and the rewards that come with it.
The kind of person who will flourish in this special group is a high-integrity, open-minded achiever who is committed to their career and to being part of a supportive and talented community that helps each other rise higher together.
And the program is ideal for high-achieving professionals who see the value of being part of a special group like this and to have my guidance and support.
You’ll get out of this program as much as you put into it, so the more committed and engaged you are, the greater the value you will receive.
What are the next steps to be considered for the program?
To optimize the experience and impact for group members, we will be forming the group in a way that brings together professionals from a diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and roles who are committed to supporting each other as they transition to greater responsibilities.
Learning more about you is a critical part of that process. So the next step is to fill in the application to be considered for the program.
The deadline is Tuesday, November 26th, 2024. I suggest you apply right away as there are only 10 spots and we’ll review applications on a rolling “first-come first-served” basis.
Once my team and I have reviewed your application, we’ll let you know where things stand and invite those on the shortlist for a Discovery Call to confirm that we will be a good fit.
Here are the key dates:
- The deadline for applications is Tuesday, November 26th at 11:59 PM US Pacific Time.
- Discovery Calls with shortlisted applicants will be held on a rolling basis from the date of application.
- Accepted applicants will be notified by email by December 15th.
- A pre-program induction session will be held in the week of January 13th, 2025.
- The program will begin on January 23rd.
- The program will end on June 26th.
I have a question that isn't answered here. How can I get help?
Please email us if you have any other questions about the Career Mastery Leadership Accelerator program. We’re happy to help.