For Small to Medium Business Owner or Leaders ready to confidently lead their business to its next-level of growth
The Next-Level Growth Program helps you move from feeling stuck at your current stage, not happy with the way it is working or cautious or excited about a pivotal growth to leading confidently with clarity, a practical growth strategy you actually use.
This is not about working harder. It’s about making better decisions as complexity increases.
Award-winning Program
In 2025, Next-Level Growth Program was recognised for its impact on local communities in City of Whittlesea, City of Ballarat and Latrobe City at the Economic Development Australia Awards for Excellence.
Growth changes the job of the business owner
As your business grows, the way you lead has to change.
Decisions that once felt straightforward can now carry greater risk. You may be balancing trying to get customers, trying to deliver to customers, people, systems, cash flow and new competitors often without a clear framework for what to prioritise, what to do next.
Many very capable leaders find themselves:
Stuck - busy, stretched, unsure what will actually move the business forward or them out of this hamster wheel situation
At a pivotal point - sensing the next level is possible, but cautious about getting it wrong because what is at stake
The challenge isn’t to put more effort in. It’s about getting clearer on your decisions and actions.
We’ve been trusted by
Take your leadership skills and your business to the next level
You’re passionate about what you do, you know you provide value to your customers and you care about the outcomes. But something isn’t working as well and you don’t know what you don’t know.
You are motivated to build your skills as a future focused business leader as long as it doesn’t take too much of your time.
You’ve considered traditional education and the ‘guru’ and ‘blueprint’ type of business programs, but you want no fluff, real and applicable guidance that get results for your specific situation.
Not just knowing what to do, but how to do it for you and why you should do it.
You need to know what to do right now, in your business, for your situation to get to the next stage.
Time to grow your business
In a short space of time, you’ll feel clear about exactly what you can do to reach that next stage and have built your confidence to achieve it.
You’ll feel like you now have time, but that its used wisely, ensuring you get maximum results from anything you action.
You’ll be running your business rather it running you
Your own capabilities as a leader significantly increase, such that you can confidently lead a thriving business into the future, through any market changes.
What the Next-Level Growth Program really does:
Helps you understand what stage your business is truly at, what gaps it has and opportunities.
Get to the heart of any barriers, what might be holding growth back or what’s essential to have in place to grow.
Aligns your strategy to what you actually want to achieve, in a way that you want to achieve it. This isn’t about what you should do, It’s about what you want to do.
Helps you develop your own, clear, evidence-based growth strategy and know how to do it, so you can do it again and builds your confidence to trust your own business decisions.
Develops your confidence as a business leader driving your business into its next stage.
Finally feels like all of the pieces of the puzzle are fitting together and things start to flow more easily. It may still require effort, but it feels enjoyable and exciting.
What the program is not:
It is not a ‘follow my step by step guide’ type of program where everyone is doing the exact same thing as the teacher and everyone else so that sooner or later that way of doing things doesn’t work any more
It is not a motivational course that doesn’t build practical business and digital skills, although we do work on mindset and what drives you.
It is not all theory that teaches you all about what you should be doing, but doesn’t teach you the step before that or how to do it for your business. It’s practical, immediately applicable and relevant to your business right now.
It isn’t a program that just takes your money and then forgets about you. We care a lot about helping you get great outcomes, so we’ll work hard for you to get them.
The program that works for you
How the Program works
Online activities you complete specific to you and your business
4 x Group Workshops
3 x 1:1 Sessions with a Coach & 1 x 1:1 with a Mentor
Virtual Delivery with Flexible Timing
Four group workshops, eight weeks of self-paced online education and activities, 3 x 1:1 sessions with a business coach and 1 x 1:1 session with a Mentor as well as an online community to ask questions and get support
8 weeks of targeted support
Personalised to you and your business. We start with a comprehensive diagnostic and audit to pinpoint your growth potential, systems of scale and identify your unique needs. No generic approach here.
Expert business coaches trained to help you reach the best possible conclusion so that you can design a successful business on your own terms. Build without burnout, overcome limiting beliefs and create a business that truly reflects your values.
MBA Accredited education. Navigate through micro activities teaching proven frameworks that help you incrementally develop and deploy strategies and help you make faster strategic decisions in the future. This toolbox of frameworks help you dynamically adapt to any market changes.
Industry mentors & peer-to-peer mentoring help you feel less isolated, provide guidance and support. They share their lived experience to inspire you and highlight different perspectives. Build your connections and network in a safe space.
Feel motivated, clear and intentional in your business
What you’ll get
AI enabled comprehensive business diagnostic: Pinpointing your current stage of growth and identifying areas for development, and creating a plan of action to level up what you currently know and do to help you reach the next stage.
A clearly defined fully bespoke growth strategy: Working towards your most important goal and tailored to achieve within your capacity. This might be focused on sales, marketing, HR or operational efficiencies and the use of technology, but is always aligned to how you want to do business.
Action plan with manageable and achievable tasks to execute each quarter as well as strategy rhythms for working on your business, rather than just in it.
A pathway forward, clarity and focus that reduces overwhelm
Suite of frameworks and tools: Frameworks and tools you can reference long past the end of the program and provide your team with what they need to succeed.
Greater confidence in your leadership decisions and in what you do and why you do it, which translates into other areas of your life and often sees a renewed passion for your business.
Accountability and encouragement to stretch: Your expert business coach keeps you on track and helps you and the business get the very best outcomes for you.
Insights from other leaders: You’ll have a mentor session with someone matched to your industry and challenge to provide insights, guidance and connections. The majority of our Mentors are past program participants who’ve achieved success in their business and can share their experience with you on yours.
Like-minded online community: Ask questions, chat with like-minded business leaders and keep on top of all of the latest developments in technology and business growth.
Access to ongoing support through our ‘Chief of Everything’ CEO Circle and further learning only available to alumni when you need it
Finally stop questioning all of your decisions and know what to do, how to analyse whether it has worked and what to do next, helping you become the ‘guru’ of your own business.
87%
of past participants experienced significant increase in revenue within 12 months of completing the program
91%
Rated 9 or 10 out of 10 on whether they would recommend this to others
100%
felt more confident to continue to grow their business
Who this is for
You’ve move passed the just starting out phase and want clarity (not hype). You’re motivated want to invest in yourself, build your own capabilities as a strategic leader, rather than handing the power over to someone else.
You care about your business
This program gets the most transformative results for business owners who have been in business for more than a year and have some customers.
You may now have reached a plateau or a pivotal point in your growth journey and need that extra help to get to the next level.
This may be, but isn’t limited to:
Passionate Technical/Creative/Service-Based Business Owners: who love what they do but may not have a business education or background and would like to increase their knowledge and skills so their business can impact more people.
Complex Industries. Those in sectors like advanced manufacturing, technology, space, defence, health, renewables who value high performance training that is specifically tailored to their complex and important market.
Female Leaders who seek a credible and structured approach to building their leadership skills, confidence and reputation in her (often male-dominated) industry.
Aspirational leaders. Those who are driven by the potential of their business and want the best support to help them achieve their goals faster.
“It really brought home what I had to focus on. I had to stand out and that’s exactly what I did!”
Strategy, Growth, Digital & Innovation
Sam Hurley, CEO and Head Coach has lead the growth of 25eight since 2015, navigating disruptive market changes and the development of new technology.
Prior to entrepreneurship, Sam spearheaded international growth for several large companies, working and living in Asia, the US and Europe. She is adept at helping business and its leaders adopt high performing strategies and operations to ensure the business and the people within it thrive.
She’ll keep you accountable and ensure the fastest path to your success, on your own terms.
You’ll develop your knowledge & skills across:
Strategy
Rowing harder doesn’t help if you’re going in the wrong direction. This is one of the most important areas to get right and one where new practices and tools can help you navigate ever-changing markets.
Growth
If you don’t have ‘customers’, you don’t have a business. The role of sales and marketing has changed considerably and you need to keep up to attract and connect with those who will love what you do.
Digital
Advancements in technology are accelerating and this can be a powerful enabler in your business. You need to choose the right systems for you and build internal confidence to optimise them.
Innovation
Innovation is vital for business that will survive into the future and the ability to creatively problem solve and generate and execute new ideas essential leadership skills that can be built through practise.
Build your skills & confidence
“I have more confidence to back myself, strategies that are helping my business grow and a crew of like-minded people to bounce ideas off.”
Industry Mentors
We work with a number of mentors from across industries, sectors, roles and responsibilities who love to help you get what you need to succeed.
Rather than just having one mentor, we can call on several to advise you in your current situation meaning you get super specific, tailored advise to fill your gaps of knowledge and build the right connections.
View some of 25eight’s Industry Mentors
First in, best dressed
How 25eight compares
Ready to take control of your business and confidently lead it to the next stage?
Frequently Asked Questions
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The program is designed for small business leaders who have moved beyond the very early stages and are either stuck in their growth journey or at a pivotal point where decisions feel heavier and more consequential.
If you’re running a capable business but feel unsure what to prioritise next — or cautious about getting the next stage wrong — this program is likely a strong fit.
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There’s no single revenue threshold, but participants are typically beyond “just starting out.”
Most have:
an established product or service
paying customers
increasing complexity around people, systems, cash or growth
If you’re unsure, we explain some common challenges on this page and how the program would benefit
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Yes — and that’s exactly why the program exists.
The Next-Level Growth Program isn’t about adding more to your plate. It’s about reducing noise, improving focus, and helping you make better decisions with the time and energy you already have.
Many participants join feeling time-poor and leave feeling clearer and more confident about what actually matters.
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That’s very common and we help a lot of people in that way.
The challenge at this stage isn’t knowing more; it’s knowing what to do next and having confidence in those decisions.
The program focuses on applying thinking directly to your business, with support to help you translate ideas into action.
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That’s a sensible question and a sign you’re thinking like a leader.
If you’re unsure, the best place to start is with our mini Business Diagnostic to get some clarity or by joining one of our information sessions (which you will be emailed about when you join the waitlist). Both are designed to help you make an informed decision, not push you into a program that isn’t right.
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We understand that when clarity clicks, people want to move.
The Next-Level Growth Program is designed as a cohort-based experience because learning alongside other business leaders at a similar stage significantly increases:
completion rates
consistency and momentum
quality of thinking and reflection
The shared rhythm, accountability and peer context help leaders stay engaged and apply what they’re learning , which is why cohort participants are more likely to finish the program and get meaningful outcomes.
If you enrol ahead of a cohort start, you won’t be left waiting.
We’ll:
help you complete a Business Diagnostic
provide guidance on how to prepare so you get the most from the program
ensure you’re clear on what to focus on now, rather than trying to rush ahead
This means when the cohort begins, you’re already grounded, oriented and ready to engage fully — rather than starting cold or second-guessing your direction.
If timing is important, we’re always happy to talk through options and help you decide the best path forward.
Our waitlist businesses also receive earlybird offers and bonuses, so it won’t feel too long before you can get started.
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Trust matters most when the stakes are higher and growth transitions are exactly that.
25eight has supported thousands of small businesses across Australia through structured, capability-building programs delivered both directly and in partnership with governments and industry bodies. Our work is grounded in real-world business experience, not theory alone, and measured by outcomes rather than attendance.
What sets 25eight apart is our focus on decision-making and leadership capability — not quick fixes, generic advice, or one-size-fits-all solutions.
We get meaningful outcomes for all of our participants.
We are transparent about what we do, what we don’t do, and what meaningful progress actually requires.
If you value clarity, integrity and a program designed for long-term capability, not just short-term motivation then 25eight is a good fit.
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Our aim has always been to provide the most value for your investment. Where you may have to pay for a series of coaching sessions before the coach understands your business, our structured process enables them to know everything before your session, ensuring you get the maximum from the session.
This means you don’t have to have as many sessions, which brings the cost down in comparison to other coaching offerings.
Our price is similar to a course form a quality University, but heaps more relevant to you and twice as likely to get you results as well as build your knowledge and skills.
Comparable online courses from business ‘gurus’ usually have less 1:1s and what worked for them, may only work for you until too many people do that same thing and it stops working, meaning your investment is worth less.
And if you were to pay a consultant for a growth strategy, you’d pay a good one upwards of $10,000.
We believe in being transparent and upfront about cost.
The Next-Level Growth Program is priced at $2,995 (AUD), which we think offers incredible value for the outcomes you achieve and can be paid in a way that suits your circumstances:
One-time payment: $2,995
Payment plan: $495 enrolment fee, then $885 per month for three months
Weekly option: $495 enrolment fee, then $180 per week for 15 weeks
All options provide the same program experience, support and outcomes — the difference is simply how the investment is spread over time.
If you have questions about which option is most suitable, or want to talk through timing, we’re always happy to have a conversation.
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Most business programs focus on tactics or information.
This program focuses on decision-making and leadership capability — helping you understand:
what’s changing in your business
why previous approaches may no longer work
how to lead effectively as complexity increases
It’s structured, practical, and grounded in real business experience — not hype, theory or one-size-fits-all advice.
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Yes.
Participants leave with:
a clear, practical growth strategy
confidence in what to focus on next
improved decision-making capability
a stronger leadership mindset for the next stage
This isn’t a program you complete and forget — it’s designed to change how you think and lead.
You have 12 months access to the online resources so you can always finish those smaller details later. And you have a team of people dedicated to your success, we’ll keep you accountable and help every participant shift the needle in their business to some degree. However, you get out what you put in and this is a partnership. We help you run your best race, but you need to do the running.
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The program combines:
structured group learning
one-to-one coaching
mentoring support
This balance ensures you benefit from shared insights and personalised guidance that reflects your specific business context.
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Sam Hurley is your head coach and brings deep experience in business leadership, education and strategic capability building, and has spent over a decade working directly with small business owners at critical growth stages.
She personally trains all of 25eight’s coaches who all have built successful businesses themselves.
You’ll meet Sam in a workshop or 1:1 and be matched with a coach and mentor who best meets your goals and industry needs.
Rather than positioning themselves as “gurus” or experts with all the answers, Sam and the Coach’s role is to help leaders think more clearly, ask better questions, and build confidence in their own decisions.
This approach is grounded in:
real experience working across industries and regions
a strong understanding of how adults learn and apply knowledge
a commitment to ethical, human-centred coaching practices
The goal isn’t dependency on the coach or mentor, it’s capability for you as a business leader to make your own decisions.
Leaders leave better equipped to make decisions long after the program ends.
Because this isn’t always visible, it can be hard for people to see the impact, however, the fact that most of our participants go on to be Industry Mentors with us, send staff through our programs and rate us so highly is testament to the impact felt.
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After completing the program, many participants choose to continue their development through the CEO Circle — an ongoing support option for leaders who want a trusted place to ask questions, test decisions, and stay focused as the business evolves. There are tiers based on your support needs.
25eight also offer a range of one-off support for topics such as pricing, managing, digital marketing and others only available to our alumni.
There’s no obligation, it’s there if and when it’s useful.
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We don’t promise unrealistic results or quick fixes.
What we do offer is a structured, proven approach that builds clarity, confidence and capability, supported by real outcomes from businesses who’ve completed the program.
Your results depend on engagement, context and application, and we’re transparent about that.
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We understand that when clarity clicks, people want to move.
The Next-Level Growth Program is designed as a cohort-based experience because learning alongside other business leaders at a similar stage significantly increases:
completion rates
consistency and momentum
quality of thinking and reflection
The shared rhythm, accountability and peer context help leaders stay engaged and apply what they’re learning , which is why cohort participants are more likely to finish the program and get meaningful outcomes.
If you enrol ahead of a cohort start, you won’t be left waiting.
We’ll:
help you complete a Business Diagnostic
provide guidance on how to prepare so you get the most from the program
ensure you’re clear on what to focus on now, rather than trying to rush ahead
This means when the cohort begins, you’re already grounded, oriented and ready to engage fully — rather than starting cold or second-guessing your direction.
If timing is important, we’re always happy to talk through options and help you decide the best path forward.
Our waitlist businesses also receive earlybird offers and bonuses, so it won’t feel too long before you can get started.