Introducing the Rivendell Mastermind: An extraordinary peer community of world-class tech CEOs, to help you think & lead at a whole new level and multiply your impact, within your business and upon the world

SOLD OUT!

January 2022 admission to the Rivendell CEO Mastermind is closed and we have a full group.  If you would like an information pack for our next cohort, please contact us. 

Being a mission-driven impactful CEO is one thing.
Being surrounded by them is another.

Most people believe CEOs to be at the top of their game. But the truth is it's just the start.

I coach, study and work with ambitious CEOs leading fast-growing tech-driven businesses. For example, my clients include the CEO of a $2 billion IT services group, the Founder of a hugely successful telecoms new entrant, and the CEO of a scale-up tech ‘unicorn' that raised record-levels of financing.

And when you’re in top leadership, there are some specific challenges that emerge:

  • You’ve never needed help. You’re one of the highest-achieving people you know, and it didn’t even seem that hard. You definitely don’t need support - but perhaps you do want an accelerator to get to your next level of impact
  • It can be lonely.  There are few people for you to turn to, and there are few people willing to speak the unvarnished truth to you.
  • You’re always in action. The Grey Zone is the pace set by a runner that is too fast for recovery and too slow for growth.  You’re making progress, but not creating space for real breakthroughs.
  • The cost can be high.  You’re creating incredible success at work, but you might be suffering at home or your health is taking a toll. 
  • There’s always a gap.  You create a powerful vision, but you’re always aware of the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

In other words, your default future is great, but you know you can create exponentially more impact on all of your stakeholders. The path to this preferred future involves stepping out of the day-to-day and engaging in high-value conversations and high-level relationships.

That's where the magic happens and this is why Rivendell is my #1 project.

--Richard Medcalf, Founder

Introducing Rivendell

Rivendell is an an extraordinary international community and mastermind group of world-class tech/digital Founders/CEOs.

Our mission: multiplying our impact 10-100 times

We are committed to helping each member create an order-of-magnitude increase in their positive impact - within their business and upon the world.

Our commitment: we each make this community extraordinary

  • Present. We make this group a top-priority commitment. We know that others are counting on us as much as we are counting on them.
  • Prepared. We come ready to bring our A-game, and to let others bring theirs.
  • Engaged.  We know the magic happens when we play full-out.  We do our part to make this community extraordinary.
  • Supportive.  We create a safe & confidential space for each other to share anything they want.
  • Transparent. We will leave our ego at the door and bring the real issues we're facing.
  • Bold. We speak boldly to each other, and hold nothing back.
  • Receptive. We show up as learners, coachable and ready to be challenged.
  • Accountable. We are initiators. We take personal responsibility. We don't need to be reminded.

Everyone in the group is extremely successful and at the top of their game. I could write a whole essay about my learning from those few hours that we had last week!

RIVENDELL PARTICIPANT

European Tech CEO

What Rivendell provides

Fresh perspective and laser-focused peer input

Your time is incredibly valuable: you don’t want fluff but you do want powerful input that makes a difference.

So the agenda is YOU.

Game-changing, trusted
relationships

You’ll be part of an elite cohort of up to 10 top CEOs in relevant but non-competing sectors.

You’ll build deep relationships with high-achieving peers who share the same pressures and who really get you.

Just one of these relationships could open up a major, multi-million, opportunity.

Space & structure to think deeply

Our very best ideas come when we create time for space and reflection. We’ll help you think bigger and expand your sense of legacy.

What’s the impact that you want to make in the world, on your customers and on your team? What’s so important to you that you want to 10X or 100X it?

Business transformation & personal transformation

Many CEO groups end up just addressing business challenges. We’ll help you with those, but the deeper question is: what’s the personal stretch for you to lead at a whole new level?

We’ll support each other on your business transformation and on your personal transformation.

How it works

  • Every quarter, we’ll come together virtually, for a half-day session with two agenda items: to expand your ambition, push your thinking and spot what you might be missing, and to work together on your top opportunities or challenges from any aspect of work or life.
  • Once a year, we'll meet face-to-face for an incredible two-day retreat (probably in London or Paris).  You'll forge lifelong relationships and think more expansively than ever about your future.
  • Each quarter, you'll maximise the impact of the group session with a 1:1 coaching session with Xquadrant's Founder, Richard Medcalf. You'll sharpen up your thinking, refine the insights from the group call, and make sure you harness the full value of what you experienced.
  • We'll stay connected through our private curated online group and 1:1 peer calls, as required and desired. There's be an optional mid-point review call between quarterly sessions for anyone who would benefit.
  • There'll be surprises.  Sometimes because we'll plan them, and sometimes because the community itself will decide what the most impactful activities will be. One CEO, who runs a $5B business, is already investigating hosting a bonus retreat in an incredible global location for the entire group!

Member Profiles Include...

  • The CEO of a $2B IT managed services provider, with a footprint in over 20 countries and around 7000 employees.   A strategic and inspirational leader who has led a successful transformation and reorientation of the business towards next-generation services.
  • The Founder & Chairman of an international broadband services provider that has secured 9 figures of funding and is on their way to $1B revenues. A serial entrepreneur with two highly successful exits, nominated Entrepreneur of the Year by E&Y for 'growth and profitability others can only dream of', with a truly visionary leadership style and very clear social impact purpose.
  • CEO of a leading provider of circular supply chain solutions provider in sectors including telecoms, online retail, healthcare and FMCG.  Experienced as entrepreneur and executive in the USA and in Europe, he is a strong commercial leader in the B2B space.
  • US CEO of a global digital innovation firm and certified B-Corp delivering digital strategy, experience design and product development services. Since taking over the business she has doubled revenues, and is on a trajectory to add a further $100M in the next couple of years.
  • Operating partner at a major technology fund and recently CEO of a US-based software & media business with a worldwide reputation. A former Accenture partner and previously a direct report to Cisco's CEO, he was also a major contributor to the World Economic Forum telecommunications working group

Richard Medcalf
Founder

Richard Medcalf describes himself as "what you get if you were to put a McKinsey consultant, a slightly unorthodox pastor and an entrepreneur into a blender".

Richard is a leadership consultant and trusted advisor to exceptional CEOs & Founders of complex technology-driven businesses, and to their leadership teams. 

His clients are elite performers who've already achieved incredible things, and still have the ambition to 10x their impact and influence and achieve something that seems impossible right now. That can involve 1:1 coaching, taking the leadership team to its next level, or scaling high-performance culture throughout the business.

After a Masters Degree at Oxford University, where he came top in his year, Richard started his career in a premier strategy consultancy where he rose to become the youngest-ever Partner. He then spent 11 years at tech giant Cisco, firstly elevating Cisco’s relevance in the C-suite of its Fortune 100 customers before being selected for an elite team set up by Cisco’s President and CEO, John Chambers and Chuck Robbins, to catalyse strategic partnerships & new business models.

Richard has advised Founders and C-level execs for 20 years,  from Fortune 100 companies (Comcast, Mastercard, Sanofi, Sky, Orange, Bosch…) to high-growth tech firms (in AI, networking, robotics, fintech, …). He has overseen >$2B of deals.

Keen to marry the disciplines of strategy and leadership in service of his clients, he qualified as an executive coach with a global leadership brand before founding Xquadrant in 2017.

Richard is bi-national English/French, lives near Paris, and is happily married and the proud father of two. He's also a licensed lay minister in the Anglican Church, and has an insatiable love for spicy food and the electric guitar.

Client Appreciation

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Pierre-François Thaler CEO/Co-founder, EcoVadis

Create lasting change

As a co-Founder and Chief Executive, I've experienced many shifts since my executive team and I started working with Richard. For example, I've become better at coaching my team and we've become better at avoiding procrastination when it comes to complex and ambiguous initiatives. I see three distinctive benefits of working with Richard. Firstly, his strong business acumen means that we very quickly zoom in on the key issues. Secondly, the Xquadrant toolbox is very practical and simple and helps accelerate decisions or make management decisions. And thirdly, there's a real focus to move beyond 'an interesting or inspiring conversation' and create real, lasting change.

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Mikael Sandberg Chairman, VX Fiber

Team problem solving

Richard adds direct value to me, as executive Chairman, and to my team by quickly understanding the business context and the key issues. He addresses problem solving by supplying appropriate frameworks and tools to the team and guiding the team to come up with its own solutions. He works with great enthusiasm and engagement to bring even large groups together focused on solving intra-team issues, that can be tricky. He strikes the right balance between empathy and challenge to me and the team. Richard has a deep understanding of business in general and technology business in particular and his work always has a clear business focus.

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Robert Bailkoski CEO, Logicalis

Strategic challenge

Through Richard's support I've become more confident and more assured in the delivery of key strategies. The support is highly customised and I wouldn't get the same level of challenge if I were to have those conversations internally. I'd definitely recommend Xquadrant to anyone who wants to focus on bigger, more strategic issues and have a bigger impact in their role.

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Curt Hopkins CEO, EPIC

Helpful & insightful

My time with Richard for the Leadership Intensive was immensely helpful and insightful. I learned about my tendencies in high stress situations, how to be more liberating in my leadership and how to observe patterns of my behaviour that need work. I’m confident that you will find it equally insightful as well!

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Rivendell begin?

The programme will run from the beginning of 2022.  Precise dates will be locked down once we have confirmed the majority of the membership.

Who are the other members?

Membership is confidential.  However, we can guarantee that every single member is a CEO, President or Founder of a significant tech/digital growth business.  More importantly, we interview each applicant to ensure a fit in terms of values and ambition.  Speak to us live about this.

Does my physical location matter?

This is a global group, and the international composition is important to us, as it brings diversity of perspective and unlocks new networks and opportunities. 

It's highly likely that calls will be convenient for Europe and the Americas - and inconvenient for the Far East and Australasia. However, we may run a second cohort to accommodate those time zones, so do reach out if you are inspired by the mission and values of the group.

Application process

Membership is for a year at a time, and by invitation or application only.

There are under 5 places currently available for the next cohort. We want to make sure every single leader in the group is a great fit, because the programme is designed to be uncomfortable and challenging and to push you to your highest level. 

Rivendell is the place for you if...

  • You’re a founder, president of CEO of an established tech-driven growth business.
  • You refuse to be bound by linear thinking.
  • You thrive on challenges and you're hungry to multiply your impact and your legacy.
  • You’re seeking extraordinary, fascinating peers to inspire you and stretch your mind.
  • Despite all that, you don’t take yourself too seriously!

Rivendell is NOT the place for you if...

  • You’re only interested in financial rewards and recognition.
  • You’re not committed to being surrounded by people who can push your thinking.
  • You’re looking to passively consume, instead of actively engage.
  • You’re not committed to investing in your professional & personal development.
  • You’re not committed to creating at least a 10X return on your investment of time, money and attention.

We don’t admit direct competitors for obvious reasons.

In a nutshell, we seek world-class CEOs who ‘want’ this community but don’t ‘need’ it.

You should be a little intimidated by us. And we should be a little intimidated by you!

If you’re looking for something entirely ‘cookie cutter’, this isn’t for you for two reasons.  Firstly, this is a community to participate in and not a product to consume. Secondly, as a Founder Member you’ll help to shape the feel, focus and modus operandi of the group.

However, if you’re ready to be challenged and stretched, and be part of something special, then let’s talk.

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