Mike Calhoun’s 10-Year Vision for Board of Advisors

Board of Advisors turns ten this year, and founder Mike Calhoun isn’t marking the milestone with champagne or confetti. He’s tightening the machine.

For Calhoun, the next chapter isn’t a celebration—it’s a strategy. He calls it The X Decade, a concept that represents intersection, multiplication, and evolution.

“You don’t need a louder room,” Calhoun says. “You need a smarter one. The right intersection creates the multiplier.”

The first decade of BA proved the concept: when founders, operators, and capital connect with purpose, extraordinary outcomes follow. The next decade will codify that success, scaling the structure without diluting the signal.

BA has always been about engineered proximity. The power of the room comes from its precision: who’s in it, how they show up, and what happens when they do. Calhoun is now focused on refining that ecosystem, strengthening the formats, and ensuring that the culture which built BA remains its greatest asset.

X marks the next decade. Not as a theme, but as a playbook.

What X Means (and why it matters)

For Mike Calhoun, X isn’t a mystery to solve. It’s a design principle. A decade into Board of Advisors, he’s learned that growth happens at the intersection where the right mix of people, ideas, and timing collide. And that idea—X—takes on many forms.

X stands for intersection.
It’s where the flannel-shirt founder pulling quiet eight figures meets the operator who forgot which jet he flew in last week. Different worlds, same mindset: help first.
In this room, you don’t read the watches—you read the willingness.

X is the multiplier.
BA was never built for vending-machine ROI. It’s a force multiplier that rewards engagement. Show up, contribute, and follow through, because one introduction can bend your curve for years.

X drives evolution.
As the organization scales, so do its standards. Mike Calhoun is shaping a culture that keeps BA’s original spirit alive, now with the clarity, accountability, and structure to help it scale.

X is expansion.
The summits remain the heartbeat. Now, new BA.X Events bring regional intersections that keep the pulse strong between quarters, while weekly calls keep members connected and deals in motion. Frequency builds trust. Trust builds results.

X refines the experience.
Ten years have taught what fuels the room: high trust, high signal, and low ego. The next decade is about preserving that quality with value packed interactions, sharper focus, and faster outcomes.

X is exchange.
Ideas, capital, opportunity. Growth without greed. In BA, giving comes back around in the form of expertise, introductions, and new possibilities.

X is excellence.
It’s not about being loud. It’s about being consistent. Precision, preparation, and follow-through define the leaders who last.

X is execution.
It’s about action—more doing. The measure of value isn’t who shares the best idea—it’s who implements it.

X expands impact.
As members grow, their scorecards evolve. Impact Capital channels profits and platforms into projects that genuinely uplift communities through purposeful, operator-grade giving.

And finally—X is the factor.
Every member has one. It’s the multiplier they’re focused on this quarter, whether it’s talent, capital, distribution, or credibility. The BA network exists to help amplify it.

Formats That Create Outcomes

Focusing on the Ask

In the next decade, Board of Advisors is doubling down on what built its momentum in the first place: clarity and contribution.

The room’s most powerful ritual—the succint “Who I am / Where I’m stuck”— remains at center stage. Real operators asking for help and getting immediate, tactical feedback from peers who’ve been there.

When someone stands up and asks for help, phones go down and execution goes up. Contribution leads to traction.

Micro Board of Advisors
Some challenges need more than a minute. For that, BA plans to introduce confidential, bookable 1-on-3 Micro Boards—focused sessions with domain specialists across brand, legal, capital, and operations. Bring a bottleneck; leave with clear options, expert input, and introductions that move the needle.
It’s the Board of Advisors, literal and personal.

BX Talks
BA is also raising the bar on stage time with BX Talks, a flagship series featuring short, high-impact sessions from builders with hard-won insights. Think TED-level precision: sharp ideas delivered with precision and pace. It’s the kind of format that attracts serious talent—and sharpens the entire room.

The Ecosystem That Scales It

Digital, Tightened
If the room is the heart of BA, the ecosystem is its nervous system—connecting members, opportunities, and impact around the clock.

The upgraded BA app and member portal become a 24/7 gateway to the network, keeping directories clear, current, and high-signal. Everyone knows who’s active, what they’re building, and how to engage. The focus: transparency, relevance, and speed.

BA Media Network
A new layer of storytelling emerges through print and digital magazines, podcasts, and social spotlights that amplify member success stories. For BA, visibility isn’t vanity; it is leverage. Distribution turns influence into opportunity.

Community Calls & Cohorts
Weekly themed calls and targeted sprint cohorts tackle high-value areas like capital raises, hiring, M&A, and go-to-market readiness. Each one designed for focus over fluff. Cadence beats intention every time.

Standards & Onboarding
BA’s culture scales through its systems. From day one, members learn the rhythm: give first, ask precisely, follow through fast. These aren’t rules; they’re safeguards that keep the room safe, the network high-trust, and the outcomes exponential.

And while the technology keeps everything connected, the true engine of the ecosystem remains human—driven by preparation, humility, and the will to contribute.

“BA isn’t a show, It’s a board. When you arrive prepared, humble, and ready to contribute, you’ll feel the multiplier effect. It often starts with one conversation.”

Founder Mike Calhoun