Our Impact
Why Focus on Founders?
Growing a business from 50 to 500 employees is a tough journey. You’re managing the largest organization you’ve ever led, often facing unknown challenges. Rapid learning is essential—there’s no room for trial and error. Either you evolve quickly, or risk falling behind.
We partner with the top 1%—entrepreneurs steering companies through sustained growth over multiple years. Scaling doesn’t have to mean drowning in paperwork, losing key talent, or handing over control to outside executives. The founders we support remain in charge, build exceptional teams, and develop companies that grow steadily without sacrificing their health or stability.
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Why Use Proven Frameworks?
Scaling isn’t a guessing game, yet many founders act like it is. The same obstacles keep appearing, and trial and error wastes valuable time and energy. Having worked with over 100 businesses and experienced firsthand what succeeds and what fails, James created effective frameworks that simplify, speed up, and systematize growth. These tools help founders avoid reinventing the wheel and overcome common hurdles efficiently.
Why This Purpose?
James knows the struggle personally. Twice, he grew startups from the ground up to multi-million revenue in a few years. But he’s also faced setbacks—being let go, losing investor trust, and dealing with failure. He understands the pressure of leading at the top while feeling out of control. That’s why he dedicates himself to helping founders navigate scaling with less pain and more success.
Our Vision: By 2034, 200 founder-led companies will expand from 50 to over 250 employees, generating 300,000 jobs and $60 billion in revenue.
Outcomes That Count
Strategy
A Defined Path to Growth Without Overwhelm
Trying to scale without a strategy is like speeding toward a dead end. A well-defined plan helps you grow intentionally, rather than just pushing harder.
Founder-CEOs Develop…
A cohesive blueprint that unites leadership, execution, and vision—fueling sustainable profits, not merely increased headcount.
Why It Matters
Because successful scaling means moving forward with clarity and purpose, not chaos and constant crisis management.
Culture
Building a Team That Grows, Thrives, and Performs
Scaling isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about people. Without the right talent in the right roles, mis-hires, low performance, and a weakening culture can halt your progress.
Founder-CEOs Build…
A high-performing team committed to staying, alongside a culture of trust and accountability that empowers founders to step back and delegate.
Why this matters
Because a smoothly running business without micromanagement lets you focus on what truly drives success.
Execution
Unwavering Commitment and Measurable Results
Ideas mean nothing without follow-through. When leaders take responsibility, innovation transforms into tangible progress, keeping momentum alive rather than fading away.
Founder-CEOs Develop…
A leadership team accountable for execution—where promises are kept, focus remains steady, and growth accelerates instead of stalling.
Why this matters
Because without strong execution, strategy is just talk. Sustainable scaling requires a team that consistently delivers the right outcomes.
Your Team
Collaborators in growth—partnering with founder CEOs to expand, lead, and succeed.
James Walker
Coach and Mentor to Elite Founder CEOs
James grew two technology startups from zero to $40 million within five years. Now, he supports founder-CEOs in building fast-growing companies without compromising their influence.
Ethan Clarke
Associate Coach
Ethan applies an analytical engineer’s approach to business growth, blending structured problem-solving with strategic guidance to help leaders scale confidently and maintain momentum.
Partners
Jamie Grant
TALENT partner
Co-Founder of Talent Shift — a former musician turned recruitment innovator who revolutionized traditional agency models with a lean, technology-powered, and people-centered method focused on collaboration, integrity, and creativity.
Mark Benson
Insight Partner
With over 30 years’ experience, Mark founded and led three market research firms. He now helps businesses deepen customer insights and craft compelling core value propositions.
The Leadership Lab at Horizon Grove
Scaling a company means making the critical decisions that truly drive progress. That’s why we created The Leadership Lab at Horizon Grove—a dedicated space for leadership teams to step away from daily distractions, cut through the noise, and focus on what counts.
The Leadership Lab isn’t a typical conference room. It’s where motivated teams clarify their strategy, execution, and culture—then leave equipped with a clear plan to grow and succeed.
Some key activities at The Leadership Lab include leadership retreats to align vision and priorities, execution workshops that transform ideas into results, culture-building sessions designed to attract and keep top talent, and growth sprints to remove obstacles and boost momentum.
Scaling isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing what truly matters. That’s the purpose of Horizon Grove.
