CEO Masterclass
A Playbook for the Toughest Role in Business
Join a select group of CEOs for three days of learning, discussion, and reflection at a private ranch outside Austin. When you attend the CEO Masterclass, you learn the Chief Executive Operating System directly from its creator, Joel Trammell—a CEO for more than 30 years, Austin Technology Hall of Fame inductee, and former instructor at the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power School—alongside executive coach Sherif Sakr.
The Pressures Facing Today's CEO
Even highly successful CEOs face growing demands on their time, judgment, and leadership.
Unprecedented pace of change
Boards and investors expect predictable performance, even as competition intensifies and AI transforms how businesses operate. The CEO is ultimately accountable when expectations aren't met.
The challenge of knowing where to focus
CEOs have enormous discretion over their time, but constant demands and urgent problems can crowd out the strategic work that matters most. It isn't always clear where their attention will have the greatest impact.
The isolation of the role
CEOs make consequential decisions with few people who fully understand the weight of their responsibilities. Even experienced leaders can benefit from trusted guidance, objective feedback, and a community of peers.
“The CEO Masterclass is a ten out of ten. It exceeded my expectations and gave me practical tools I can implement immediately.”
Why We Created the CEO Masterclass
We believe better CEOs build healthier, more successful companies, yet CEOs receive remarkably little formal training or ongoing support for their specific responsibilities. The CEO Masterclass gives them a clear framework for the job: what to own, where to spend their time, and how to run the company for predictable results.
“This is the first complete system I have ever seen for the CEO and executive team.”
What You'll Learn
The CEO Masterclass teaches the Chief Executive Operating System through a structured curriculum combining instruction, practical exercises, and discussion. Participants leave with tools and methods they can apply immediately in their organizations.
The Five Responsibilities of the CEO
- Own the Vision: Define and communicate a mission, vision, and strategic direction that aligns the organization.
- Provide the Resources: Allocate the people and capital needed to meet the company's objectives.
- Build the Culture: Understand how organizational culture develops and how the CEO can deliberately influence it.
- Build a Decision-Making Organization: Establish clear decision authority, improve decision speed, and prevent the CEO from becoming a bottleneck.
- Deliver Predictable Performance: Align goals across the organization and establish the disciplines that keep execution on track.
Sustaining Personal Effectiveness
- Learn mindfulness techniques to manage stress, improve focus, and sustain performance in a demanding role.
- Develop greater awareness of the habits and behaviors that influence leadership effectiveness.
Using AI Effectively as CEO
- See how leading CEOs are applying advanced AI to the role itself, using it to run their operating system and gain a competitive advantage.
- Put AI to work as a thought partner, decision-making resource, and on-demand CEO coach.
- Explore practical applications for strategic planning, executive meetings, performance management, and board preparation.
“The CEO Masterclass gives you a pattern and a system for thinking through all of your structural decisions as chief executive.”
The Masterclass Experience
The CEO Masterclass takes place at Texas CEO Ranch & Retreat, a private, 150-acre property near Bastrop, Texas, approximately 40 minutes from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The residential setting offers a balance of structured learning, candid discussion with peers, and time for reflection, with wooded trails, a swimming pool, pickleball court, golf range, and electric trail bikes on site.
Your Registration Includes
- Three days of in-person instruction, exercises, and discussion
- Private accommodations and chef-prepared meals
- A customized Chief Executive Operating System playbook
- Two private 1:1 sessions with Joel Trammell
- Access to CEO alumni programs and resources
- Certificate of completion
Our Guarantee: Attend the first day of instruction. If you are not fully satisfied, return your workbook and receive a full refund.
“It was an exceptional experience—one of the best environments I've trained in.”
Meet Your Instructors
Joel Trammell
Joel Trammell has spent more than 30 years as a CEO, leading private and publicly traded companies through significant growth and successful exits. He cofounded NetQoS, acquired by CA Technologies for $200 million, and CacheIQ, acquired by NetApp. He also served as CEO of publicly traded Black Box Corporation.
An Austin Technology Hall of Fame inductee and former instructor at the U.S. Navy Nuclear Power School, Joel has spent more than 15 years teaching CEOs and developing a systematic discipline for the chief executive's job. He is the author of The CEO Tightrope, The Manager's Playbook, and The Chief Executive Operating System, coauthored with Sherif Sakr.
Sherif Sakr
Sherif Sakr has coached CEOs leading organizations ranging from $1 million to $1 billion in revenue. His experience spans engineering, corporate sales, business ownership, and executive development.
As coauthor of The Chief Executive Operating System, Sherif works with CEOs to strengthen their leadership and personal effectiveness. He also leads the Masterclass instruction on mindfulness, helping executives improve focus and manage the pressures of the role.
“This is the knowledge we've been needing to build great leaders—straight to the point, from people who have been in the seat.”
What Attendees Say
“The CEO Masterclass has been life-changing—for myself and my executive team.”
“Powerfully simple, and simply powerful. A toolkit for the newly minted and veteran leader alike.”
“The CEO Masterclass distilled complex topics into simplified methods, with everything rooted in systems and processes.”
“Thanks to the CEO Masterclass, I see more clarity in what my role and responsibilities should be as CEO.”
Who Should Attend?
The CEO Masterclass is designed for:
- CEOs and presidents of companies with 50 or more employees who want to build on their success and invest in their continued professional development
- Leaders who want greater clarity about their responsibilities, stronger executive alignment, more effective use of their time, and more predictable company performance
- Executives preparing to take on the CEO role
Each class is limited to 12 participants, selected to create an engaged group of leaders who can learn from the curriculum and from one another.
“I definitely recommend the CEO Masterclass. It's a very implementable, experience-driven, hands-on course.”
Apply to Attend
The cohort is limited to 12 participants. Complete the form below and we'll be in touch shortly.