CEO Sparring System

Pressure-test CEO work before you use it

CEO Sparring is a structured, high-intensity way to pressure-test one real piece of CEO work before you use it in a high-stakes situation. Find the blind spots. See what holds up, what does not and what to change first.

The CEO Sparring System — Be unshakeable when the stakes are high — Watch: What is the CEO Sparring System? ↗

Why sparring

Like boxing: tough challenge in a protected setting

In boxing, sparring prepares a fighter for the contest that counts. It is close enough to the real thing to expose blind spots, but protected enough to learn, adjust and prepare. CEO Sparring applies that principle to the work a CEO must use in a high-stakes situation.

Origin of the system

The CEO request behind Sparring

“I don’t want a consultant. I don’t want a coach. I don’t want a mentor. I know where I’m going. But I want a Sparring Partner who challenges my ideas before I use them.”
Ronny Zingre, CEO

The work you bring

One crucial piece of CEO work at a time

Bring one piece of CEO work you plan to use. Improve it in a Sparring Match before it reaches the room. These are some of the most valuable use cases.

Presentations for boards, investors and stakeholders

Pressure-test the story, evidence, decisions and questions behind the presentation before it reaches the room.

Major communications, internal or external

Find blind spots in the argument, language and likely response before a speech, interview, town hall, all-hands, memo or other important communication goes out.

Hiring and firing decisions

Pressure-test the reasoning, trade-offs and communication around a consequential people decision.

Narratives for M&A and major change

Test the story, assumptions and likely points of resistance before consequential stakeholders do.

Strategy, vision and big bets

Challenge the logic, choices and communication behind a major direction before committing the company to it.

Any other CEO work crucial to success

Bring any high-stakes work that must be right—even a short internal memo.

THE Sparring Match

This happens in the 30-minute Sparring Match

1. Before the Match

The CEO shares the work and relevant context. The Fight Caller prepares the Match and the Sparring Partner.

2. Three-minute rounds

In an online session, the Sparring Partner challenges the work as the specific audience or stakeholder might.

3. One-minute breaks

The CEO and Fight Caller identify what surfaced, reset and choose the next focus.

4. At the end

Hard prioritisation: the CEO knows what holds up, where blind spots remain and what to change first.

5. After the Match

A short written summary records the priorities in order of impact.

Formats and pricing

Three ways to use CEO Sparring

Every engagement is built from 30-minute Sparring Matches that take place online. There are three ways to use them.

One Sparring Match

One 30-minute Match for one piece of CEO work.

Ongoing monthly rhythm

Typically two Match credits per month or more.

Special high-stakes project

For especially important or complex work requiring extensive preparation of the CEO and their materials.

Within a monthly rhythm of two Match credits, each Match costs CHF 2’250. More Match credits per month reduce the price per Match. Discuss pricing with Boom for a single Match (without a monthly rhythm) or a special project that uses several Matches over a short period.

In every case, a Sparring Match tells you clearly whether your piece of CEO work is ready to use and, if not, which changes will improve it fastest—in priority order.

The Sparring team

Boom’s Sparring professionals and their roles

The two roles

From Boom’s side, two senior professionals join every online Sparring Match: a Sparring Partner and a Fight Caller. They have different tasks.

Sparring Partner

Challenges the CEO’s work directly as the specific audience or stakeholder might, revealing blind spots before the work is used.

Fight Caller

Prepares the Match and the Sparring Partner, resets with the CEO during breaks and helps prioritise what changes next.

The core team

Dave Hertig

Founder and CEO of Boom

Dave leads the CEO relationship and is ultimately responsible for the factual quality of the CEO Sparring System.

Thomas Stocker

Independent Head of CEO Sparring System

Thomas co-designed the system with Dave and, as its independent Head, continues to help develop it.

Dr. Cari Leyshon

Independent Fight Caller

Cari acts as an independent critical friend, helping prepare Matches, reset during breaks and prioritise what changes next.

Boom brings in senior professionals with the standing and experience to work at eye level with CEO clients. The team is put together around the specific CEO work being pressure-tested.

Next step

Tell Dave about the piece of CEO work you want to improve through pressure-testing

Dave Hertig leads proposals, schedules Sparring Matches and gets the team ready.

Talk to Boom’s CEO