Lead through others

Design a leadership team with clear accountability, a delegations of authority schedule and an advisory board that adds value without creating unintended director duties.

Fund and expand on evidence

Compare debt and equity, forecast 13 weeks ahead, and test new sites, interstate trading and franchising with twelve interactive tools and two Excel calculators.

Protect the value you have built

Enterprise risk, early warning signs of financial difficulty, due diligence and exit readiness, with clear prompts for when to bring in your accountant, lawyer or insolvency adviser.

About the course

Scaling a business is different from growing it. Growth adds customers and staff; scale means the business keeps performing as it gets bigger and as you step back. This course follows a recurring fictional case, Tidewater Coffee Pty Ltd, in its sixth year, as its owner builds a leadership team, sets up an advisory board, funds a second roasting line, tests expansion into New South Wales and prepares for exit or succession. Every module has short lessons, practice decisions with feedback, an interactive tool, a workbook for your own business and a knowledge check, and the course finishes with your own scale plan and leadership dashboard. Allow about 16 to 20 hours over several weeks. If you are still building your first team, begin with Grow Your Business. This course is general education, not legal, tax, financial or insolvency advice, so check with your own lawyer or accountant as required. The certificate records course completion only.

Monthly live Q&A with Annie

Your enrolment includes a live online Q&A with me once a month. Bring your questions, test your thinking on a real situation and hear how other learners are applying the course. When: every third Tuesday of the month, 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm Sydney time. How to attend: after you enrol, you will find the registration link in the course and in your welcome email. Register once and Zoom emails you a personal join link and calendar invitation for every session. Attending is optional. The sessions are general education, not advice for your circumstances.

Annie Gibbins, founder of Nexus Leadership

Annie Gibbins

Annie Gibbins is the founder of Nexus Leadership and a five-time CEO who has built and led organisations through start-up, growth and change. She is currently CEO of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society and has previously led Glaucoma Australia, the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and the Australian Institute of Ultrasound, and she co-founded the Australasian College of Optical Dispensing. Annie holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Health Science, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and won a 2023 Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business.

Curriculum

13 Chapters · 186 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 0.1 How the course works

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      Practice questions: Lesson 0.1

    5. Lesson 0.2 Your scale baseline Free preview
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      Practice questions: Lesson 0.2

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 0.3 Your advisory team at scale

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      Practice questions: Lesson 0.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 0 Start here

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 0 knowledge check

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 0 knowledge check (second attempt)

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Monthly live Q&A with Annie

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 1.1 Scaling versus growing

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      Practice questions: Lesson 1.1

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      Lesson 1.2 The owner-dependence test

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      Practice questions: Lesson 1.2

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      Interactive tool: Owner Dependence and Scale Readiness Check

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      Lesson 1.3 Choosing your path

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      Practice questions: Lesson 1.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 1 What scale means

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

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      Module summary and readiness card

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      Module 1 knowledge check

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 1 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 2.1 Roles and accountability

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      Practice questions: Lesson 2.1

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      Lesson 2.2 Delegations of authority

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      Practice questions: Lesson 2.2

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      Interactive tool: Delegations of Authority Builder

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      Lesson 2.3 Leading leaders

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      Practice questions: Lesson 2.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 2 Your leadership team

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

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      Module 2 knowledge check

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      Module 2 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 3.1 When an advisory board or formal board helps

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      Practice questions: Lesson 3.1

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      Lesson 3.2 Setting up an advisory board

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      Practice questions: Lesson 3.2

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      Interactive tool: Advisory Board Terms Builder

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      Lesson 3.3 Governance that fits a private company with one shareholder

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      Practice questions: Lesson 3.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 3 Advisory boards and governance

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3 knowledge check

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 4.1 Finance options and personal guarantees

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      Practice questions: Lesson 4.1

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      Interactive tool: Funding Options Comparator

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      Excel calculator: Funding Options Comparator

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      Lesson 4.2 Equity and investors

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      Practice questions: Lesson 4.2

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      Lesson 4.3 Forecasting and reporting for scale

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      Practice questions: Lesson 4.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 4 Funding and financial architecture

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4 knowledge check

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 4 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 5.1 New sites: site economics and lease risk

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      Practice questions: Lesson 5.1

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      Excel calculator: Expansion Decision Model

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      Lesson 5.2 New channels and interstate trading

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      Practice questions: Lesson 5.2

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      Lesson 5.3 Franchising, export basics and the decision

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      Practice questions: Lesson 5.3

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      Interactive tool: Expansion Checklist

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      Interactive workbook: Module 5 Expansion decisions

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

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      Module summary and readiness card

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5 knowledge check

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 6.1 Structures and culture across sites

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      Practice questions: Lesson 6.1

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      Lesson 6.2 Remuneration and agreements

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      Practice questions: Lesson 6.2

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      Lesson 6.3 Obligations across states

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      Practice questions: Lesson 6.3

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      Interactive tool: Multi-state People Obligations Map

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      Interactive workbook: Module 6 People at scale

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

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      Module summary and readiness card

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6 knowledge check

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 7.1 Standardising quality across sites

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      Practice questions: Lesson 7.1

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      Lesson 7.2 Data, privacy and cyber at scale

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      Practice questions: Lesson 7.2

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      Interactive tool: Privacy and Cyber Uplift Planner

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      Lesson 7.3 AI at scale

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      Practice questions: Lesson 7.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 7 Operations, quality and technology

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 7 knowledge check

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 7 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 8.1 Positioning and choosing where to compete

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      Practice questions: Lesson 8.1

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      Lesson 8.2 A brand that does not depend on the founder

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      Practice questions: Lesson 8.2

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      Interactive tool: Brand Independence Check

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 8.3 Customer and channel strategy

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      Practice questions: Lesson 8.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 8 Brand and market position

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 8 knowledge check

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 8 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 9.1 Partnerships and joint ventures

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      Practice questions: Lesson 9.1

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      Lesson 9.2 Buying a business and due diligence

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      Practice questions: Lesson 9.2

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      Interactive tool: Due Diligence Tracker

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      Lesson 9.3 Integration and merger notification

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      Practice questions: Lesson 9.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 9 Partnerships and acquisitions

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 9 knowledge check

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 9 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 10.1 Enterprise risk management

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice questions: Lesson 10.1

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      Interactive tool: Enterprise Risk and Early Warning Dashboard

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      Lesson 10.2 Warning signs of financial difficulty

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      Practice questions: Lesson 10.2

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      Lesson 10.3 Safe harbour and small business restructuring

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      Practice questions: Lesson 10.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 10 Risk, compliance and financial difficulty

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      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 10 knowledge check

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 10 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 11.1 Exit readiness

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice questions: Lesson 11.1

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      Interactive tool: Exit Readiness Scorecard

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 11.2 Value drivers and valuation basics

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      Practice questions: Lesson 11.2

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 11.3 Succession and sale preparation

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      Practice questions: Lesson 11.3

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      Interactive workbook: Module 11 Exit and succession

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 11 knowledge check

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 11 knowledge check (second attempt)

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module overview

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson pack (PDF download)

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 12.1 Strategy on a page

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Practice questions: Lesson 12.1

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 12.2 The scale plan

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      Practice questions: Lesson 12.2

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      Interactive tool: Scale Plan and Dashboard Builder

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson 12.3 Your leadership dashboard and review rhythm

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      Practice questions: Lesson 12.3

    10. (Included in full purchase)

      Interactive workbook: Module 12 Your scale plan

    11. (Included in full purchase)

      Workbook (Word and PDF download)

    12. (Included in full purchase)

      Model scale plan and dashboard (compare after you self-assess)

    13. (Included in full purchase)

      Module summary and readiness card

    14. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 12 knowledge check

    15. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 12 knowledge check (second attempt)

    16. (Included in full purchase)

      Talk it through with Annie (optional)

Lead a business that grows beyond you

Start with your scale baseline in Module 0, then work through to your own scale plan and leadership dashboard.

$597.00

Enrol now Free preview