LeadershipFramework I Built
Prosecco Think Tank
A mastermind format that turns drinks with friends into your most valuable strategic session.
What it is
The Prosecco Think Tank is a structured mastermind format disguised as drinks with friends. The idea is simple: gather a small group of smart people, give everyone a turn to present a challenge, and let the group solve it together. Add prosecco (or whatever you drink) and suddenly the most productive meeting of your month doesn’t feel like a meeting at all.
💡Why it matters
Most of the best advice I’ve ever received came from informal conversations, not boardrooms. The problem is that informal conversations are unstructured - you talk about whatever comes up, and the deep stuff gets left on the table. The Prosecco Think Tank keeps the informality but adds just enough structure to make sure everyone gets real value. It’s a mastermind for people who hate masterminds.
🛠️How to use it
Gather 4–6 people you respect. Meet monthly. Each person gets 15 minutes: 5 minutes to present a challenge they’re facing, 10 minutes for the group to ask questions and offer perspectives. No advice-giving - just questions and observations. The person with the challenge decides what to take away. Rotate through everyone. Keep it to 90 minutes max. And yes, the drinks matter - they lower the walls and make people more honest.
💬My experience with it
I started running these because I noticed that my best strategic thinking never happened in formal settings. It happened over dinner, on runs, at the pub. So I created a format that captured that energy but made it repeatable. The magic is in the group - you get perspectives you’d never find on your own. The groups I’ve run have helped people make decisions about fundraising, hiring, firing, pivoting, and even personal life choices.
🚀Try this today
Message four people you respect and suggest a monthly “drinks and strategy” session. Tell them the format: each person gets 15 minutes to present a challenge, the group helps. Pick a date for the first one within the next two weeks. Don’t overthink it - the first session is always a bit messy, and that’s fine. It gets better every time.
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