Boardwave Breakout Programme
Scale Faster. Lead Smarter. Grow Together
Where Europe's Software Leaders Solve Tomorrow's Challenges Today
In the demanding landscape of European tech leadership, where every decision ripples through millions in revenue and hundreds of careers, our Breakout Programme creates the rarest commodity: honest conversation between peers who've walked the same path.
Picture four quarterly sessions where a CEO wrestling with their first major acquisition learns from someone who's integrated five companies. Where a founder facing board pressure gains perspective from leaders who've navigated similar periods. Where the isolation of making tough team decisions transforms into shared wisdom on preserving culture through challenging times.
From scaling international teams across three countries to managing the transition from founder-CEO to professional leadership, from balancing growth investor demands to building $100M+ businesses, our carefully curated cohorts tackle the challenges that keep software leaders awake at night.
Eight matched leaders share the unvarnished truth about building European software companies: the board dynamics, the personal costs, the wins, the losses and the breakthrough moments that define sustainable growth.
This isn't theoretical leadership development. These are peer-tested solutions for real-world business and leadership challenges.
Breakout Groups at a Glance
Pan-European groups
of 8 like-minded software CEOs and Founders, tailored by stage of growth
Four face-to-face half-day quarterly sessions
over the course of a year, with regular communication in between sessions, plus exclusive experiences
Exclusively for tech companies with annual recurring revenue over €1 million
Expert Moderation & Subject Matter Expertise
Led by experienced moderators who bring real-world scaling expertise to every session. Recent sessions have featured specialists in areas such as AI, pricing strategies, and building resilient leadership teams during hyper-growth phases.
Curated for Your Growth Stage
Every cohort is intentionally designed around similar growth stages and challenges. Whether you're scaling or preparing for your next funding round, you'll be grouped with leaders facing comparable decisions and opportunities.
A Community Beyond the Quarterly Meetings
Breakouts are just the beginning. Members gain exclusive access to experiences that money can't buy - from our 2026 San Francisco tech ecosystem retreat to our exclusive Polar Expedition for select members.
Unique to Boardwave, designed by a leading European leadership coach
The Breakout programme was conceived and developed in partnership with Esther Kerstholt, a passionate executive coach and consultant of board dynamics and leadership, with 20+ years of business and corporate experience supporting CEOs, founders and senior leaders to enhance their leadership impact and transform their companies. Esther successfully co-built and recently integrated the leadership boutique firm Aberkyn to McKinsey & Company, which now consists of 350 professional leadership facilitators and coaches around the globe. Esther is now a Patron of Boardwave.
Who's Already Scaling Through Breakouts?
Our active community includes CEOs and Founders from across Europe leading companies at every stage of the scaling journey - from fast-growing startups to established scale-ups preparing for exit. They represent diverse sectors within software, from fintech and healthtech to enterprise SaaS and developer tools.
Real Impact, Real Stories
Being a part of the Boardwave Breakout programme is inspiring and energising, and I’ve learnt an incredible amount in such a short time. The chance to listen and talk with other CEOs, each with significant skill and experience, and who so clearly think deeply about what it means to be a great leader, is invaluable
Ben Goss
CEO, Dynamic Planner
The Boardwave Breakout programme is energising and covers highly relevant topics, while helping to build real trust amongst members, all while fostering peer coaching. I value the setting and the time to connect with other CEOs. The Breakouts help me move from self-trust to building strong trust within my executive team, and now to creating a trust-based environment across the entire organisation.
Alexander von Fritsch
CEO, think-cell Software
I find Boardwave Breakouts excellent and I especially value the chance to exchange with peers. It gives me time to reflect outside of day-to-day business, triggering concrete actions around internal use of AI, and strengthens my understanding of how to drive greater accountability within my executive team.
Patrice Barbedette
CEO & President, EasyVista
How It Works
We run two carefully curated intakes each year: Autumn and early Spring. Each programme consists of four quarterly half-day sessions over the course of a year, requiring your full commitment to attend all sessions with your cohort.
Each application undergoes thorough review, and places are not guaranteed. We deliberately curate each cohort to ensure the optimal mix of experience, perspectives, and growth stages for maximum peer learning value. With 300+ leaders having experienced the programme, we maintain our commitment to curation over volume.
Our Moderators
About
Jose-Luiz Moura
Executive Director
Breakout Programme
Jose-Luiz (JL) is a seasoned executive leadership coach and former COO of Salesforce UK & Ireland, bringing over 30 years of Fortune 500 leadership experience to his role as Executive Director of the Breakout Programme at Boardwave. With an extensive background spanning finance and operations across multinational technology corporations, JL has navigated complex growth environments throughout his distinguished career, from his early days as a controller to leading Global Finance Business Partners at Salesforce and serving as Board Observer for Salesforce Ventures' strategic investments.
Drawing from his deep operational understanding of matrix organisations and his lived experience leading teams of all sizes, JL now channels his expertise into developing executive leaders. As a certified Integral Development Coach, he creates transformative spaces for reflection and solution design, helping leaders develop collaborative behaviours that drive meaningful change within their organisations.
JL serves as Executive Director of Boardwave's Breakout Programme, where he oversees the strategic development and delivery of our peer learning sessions. He works closely with our network of experienced Moderators, who skillfully facilitate environments where leaders present their business or leadership challenges, can truly hear themselves think, and learn from one another's experiences.
Viola Kaltefleiter
Executive Coach, Facilitator of Transformation, Affiliate Advisor to McKinsey, LCP Coach
Sara Thomas
CEO & Founder, Aspen
Coach to CEOs
Board Advisor
William Alexander
Board Member & Investor
Meyler Campbell
Marie-Pierre
Rogers
Vice Chair & Chair
NCC, softwareone, Xeneta
Katie Ireland
CEO & Executive Flourishing Coach, Re-humanise
David Kean
Chair
CATALYST
Mark
Farrer Brown
CEO, Coach & Mentor
Fit to Lead
Your Next Steps
Join a community that goes far beyond quarterly sessions. Applications open with clear deadlines for each intake. Current members range from €1M+ ARR companies to €100M+ businesses, united by their commitment to ambitious growth and peer learning.
Applications for our Autumn intake are now closed. The next intake will take place in March 2026. Details will follow in the new year.
Join the 300+ European software leaders already scaling through Breakouts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will be in my Breakout cohort? Your cohort will consist of 8 like-minded Chairs, CEOs, or Founders from across Europe, carefully selected to align with your growth stage, sector, and location. Each group is thoughtfully curated to provide a mix of experiences and perspectives, ensuring valuable, targeted insights and support. Facilitated by experienced Moderators, cohorts benefit from structured, focused discussions, with industry experts brought in as needed to tackle specific challenges and provide practical guidance
What is the format of Breakout sessions? Breakout sessions are held quarterly and facilitated by experienced Moderators, with input from industry experts as needed. Designed for pan-European cohorts, sessions are conducted primarily in English, creating a trusted environment for open, candid conversations. All discussions follow Chatham House rules to ensure confidentiality and promote honest, valuable exchange.
What can I expect to achieve through Breakouts? Breakouts are designed to build lasting, supportive relationships that help you overcome business obstacles quickly and effectively. Over the course of a year, you'll strengthen your leadership skills, gain actionable strategies for growth, and develop a network of peers who will champion your success long after the programme ends. Participants are encouraged to provide feedback throughout, helping to shape the sessions and ensure the programme meets their evolving needs.
If you have further questions, please contact our team to learn how Breakouts can help you and your company grow.