My Progress to Partner online Academy courses helps lawyers, accountants and consultants who want to make partner in their firm.
If you want to be noticed as future Partnership material in your professional service firm then you need to take control of your own career development and start building your partner-ready skills.
Progress to Partner Academy courses & guides are completely focussed on the realities of working in a professional service firm. Get 12 months access here
You’ll become more confident, you’ll create the time to work on networking, winning work, raising your profile in your firm and building your cast-iron business case for partner.
Welcome to Progress to Partner Academy!
Imagine logging in and working through the videos and guidance in Progress to Partner Academy! Join all the lawyers, accountants, consultants who are already building their “partner-ready skills” in Progress to Partner Academy
🤩 Member only Access to my self-study courses including How to Delegate Like a Pro, How to Lead & Manage a Team, How to become the Go-To Expert and
How to Build a Cast-Iron Business Case for Partner
🤩 Game Plans that walk you through the resources on the site including “I need to Raise my Profile in my firm” and “I’m a great Technician but need to build a Client Portfolio”
🤩 Learn and Grow: Build your “partner-ready” skills through the 12 Key Indicator Hubs that are packed full of insider knowledge and advice that you can implement straight away.
Progress to Partner members have checklists, guides, short recordings and self-study courses at their fingertips.
They know exactly where they need to focus to get noticed as partner-material each day, week and month of your career.
Isn’t it about time that you did?
“I would have been a career senior manager if I hadn’t signed up to Progress to Partner. It seems so obvious now scary how little even the most senior managers in the firm understand how to make partner”
Tax Director – UK
“I am delighted I made the decision to join Progress to Partner…the Managing Partner said I am “A Hot Topic” at partner meetings. They have noticed a huge change in my focus & are receiving excellent feedback from their contacts”
Tax Director – UK
“I will become an equity partner on the 1st March. Progress to Partner is an excellent pool of material to help you take the step up from senior fee earner to partner.”
New Partner – Switzerland
Still not sure? Now picture this…
It’s a year on from today but you haven’t moved your career forward.
Not really. You meant to. You had good intentions but somehow, twelve months slipped by whilst you waited for the right moment.
Perhaps you were waiting for the partners in your firm to give you clearer guidance, or for your workload to calm down?
Meanwhile, your colleague, the one who’s arguably less technically brilliant than you, has just been told they’re on the partnership track or are being promoted. Why? Because whilst you were waiting for permission, they just started.
The uncomfortable truth: you’re waiting for permission that’s never going to come. .
Be kind to and ambitious for your future self
If you want structured support to create your career plan and actually implement it, join Progress to Partner Academy
For less than the cost of a 1:1 coaching session you’ll have a whole year to work through the courses and webinars. You’ll become more confident, you’ll create the time to work on networking, winning work, raising your profile in your firm and building your cast-iron business case for partner.
Why are you not being noticed?
You put in long hours at the office, take work home and spend too many weekends catching up or getting ahead – often at the expense of time with friends and family.
You attend as many networking events as you can, get on well with your colleagues and managers and your reviews are positive – you’re a well-liked and respected member of the team.
You get the work done, your clients are happy and the partners are pleased – you consistently meet or exceed your billable hours targets.
Silently hoping…
- Your hard work will get you on the partners’ radar…
- Your partnership potential is obvious – surely they must see it…
- And any day now, that long-awaited tap on the shoulder will come…
Except …
These traits make you valuable as “a safe pair of hands”. They’re not what make you stand out as a future partner. Positioning yourself as someone who is commercially aware, able to win work for your firm and leading and managing a great team? This makes all the difference!
Get Focussed!
No-one’s told you what the partnership in your firm is really looking for (because the criteria are often vague, unspoken or constantly shifting).
So, it’s easy to think you’re positioning yourself to make partner in the next 10 years, but actually you’re veering off-track, focusing on the wrong things.
Building your skills and reputation can take years but taking responsibility for your career can start as soon as you like. So you want to develop your partner ready skills? Stop waiting for permission!
I really do wish I had signed up with you earlier, but I’m delighted that I made the decision to join Progress to Partner…
The managing partner said I am a hot topic at partner meetings as I have noticed a huge change in my focus…
Be a hot topic at your firm’s partner meetings. With access to Progress to Partner Academy you can start watching my videos, working through my great courses to get the confidence, the skills AND the time to focus on the right things and move your career forward.
Ready to work with me?
I’m Heather Townsend, Executive Coach and expert in helping professionals in practice progress their career to partnership within the next 10 years.
Author of “Poised for Partnership” and co-author of “How To Make Partner And Still Have A Life”, I’ve spent the last 20+ years helping thousands of accountants, lawyers and consultants take the step up to partner.
My clients come to me when they’re ready to stop being seen as a ‘safe pair of hands’, and want to be recognised as next in line for promotion or partnership.
Dan accelerated his career progression by 3-5 years and made partner in his law firm only 7 years out of law school. Chris moved from his Director role at Deloitte to a partner role at KPMG. Astrid made partner in a tough economic climate after we streamlined her business case into a succinct and persuasive document.
And these are only a few of our clients who have expedited their rise to the top.
And now I want to help you get these kind of results for yourself too.
That’s why I created the Progress to Partner Academy.
“Progress to Partner is for you if you want to be noticed by the partners as a future partner
Work through the courses to get the confidence and the skills that will put you on the right track to partnership
What happens when you join Progress to Partner?
#1: Partnership Readiness Assessment
The first thing I’d suggest is to take my free Partnership Readiness Assessment. This helps you to benchmark yourself against the 12 key indicators that firms actually look for in the people they promote to the partnership.
In less than 10 minutes, you’ll uncover the real reasons you might be overlooked for promotion so with our help inside the Academy, you’ll be able to plug those promotion gaps before it’s too late. Find out where you score for each of the 12 Key Indicators. (find out more here)
#2: Private Strategy Call + Tailored Progression Plan
When you join Progress to Partner Academy, you’ll be able to book a 20-minute 1-1 call with seasoned ‘Progress to Partner’ Executive Coach, Kate, who knows exactly what it takes to make partner in firms like yours.
She’ll review your Partnership Readiness Assessment report, pinpoint where you are along the way to partnership and help you create a personalised 90-day progression plan using the courses in Progress to Partner, tailored for your role, lifestyle and goals.
#3: Progress to Partner Academy
Work through my courses and game plans, packed with video advice and guides. Start with How to Truly Commit to your Career. With your Partnership Readiness Assessment report and your call with Kate, you’ll understand the areas you need to work on first. You can take it steadily and you and the partners in your firm will soon see improvements in how you show up at work.
Read on for a list of Progress to Partner Courses
Level A: Partner Mindset
Level B: Winning Work & Raising your Profile
Level C: Business Case & Partner Admissions
Level A: Partner Mindset
1. Get a Partner Mindset
Understand the difference between being seen as a doer versus recognised as a leader with the potential to make partner in the next 10 years – without you having to work harder or stay in the office later. Work through the course: How to Truly Commit to Moving your Career Forward.
2. Create a Career Development Plan
Partnership means becoming a business owner, and that shift begins now, by stepping out from beneath the shadow of your partner. Work through the course: How to put together a Development Plan to Achieve your Career Goals
3. Delegate Like a Pro.
Take control of your calendar to carve out space to live, rest and advance your career – building essential boundaries to lead at the top.Work through the courses
How to Manage a Hybrid Team
How to Excel as a Line Manager
How to Delegate like a Pro
How to set performance objectives for your direct reports
4. Commit to being on your A-Game every day
Why your career progression is your most important client and how to treat your partnership progression with the reverence your success deserves. Work through the course: How to be on your A-Game Every Day
Videos packed with advice including:
- 10 critical lessons to learn if you want to make partner
- How to start thinking commercially
- 5 mistakes to avoid to get promoted ahead of your peers
- How to create the space, time & energy to make partner
- How to transition from peer to manager
- How to Get Unstuck if you are at a Career Crossroads
- How to be more resilient
- How to put together a career development plan that will really accelerate your career
- How a Mentor can Accelerate Your Career
- How to Say No (to Partners, Clients and Friends)
- PLUS Download the:
- Guide for Mentees
Career Action Plan
Default Daily Diary
Evening Checklist
Level B: Partner Persona
5. Winning Work
Build the confidence, habits and awareness to spot commercial opportunities, attract clients and generate revenue, so you add value to your firm’s bottom line – even if you’re not yet client-facing. Work through the courses:
- How to Make Time for Business Development
- How to create your Business Development Plan
- Getting Confident on LinkedIN
6. Build Referral Networks
Network like a pro and build a network of people inside and outside your firm who will (eventually) refer you work. Work through the courses:
- How to go from Coffees to Instructions
- How to start winning work (when you don’t know where to start)
7. Personal Brand & Reputation
Getting clear on your niche and becoming known for the great work you do means it’s easier to win work for your firm Work through the courses:
- How to choose your niche
- How to become known as the Go-to-Expert
PLUS Videos packed with advice including:
- How to Generate a Lead and get Prospects over the Line
- How to Create a Team of Introducers (who regularly refer you)
- How to win work as a litigator or arbitrator
- How to Structure your Business Development Activity
- How to turn a conversation into business
Make the move from being seen as a reliable and trusted technician to a credible leader who’s seen as partner material.
Join Progress to Partner Academy for £290+VAT
Level C: Building your Personal and Business Case for Partner
8. Personal Case for Partner
Follow our proven, step-by-step process to show the measurable impact of your work, leadership, and commercial potential and make a clear, confident case for partnership – even if your firm’s criteria are vague or unwritten. Videos packed with advice including:
- How to be seen as sharp, commercial and future partner material
- How to Deal with Professional Jealousy Directed Against You
- How to Change your Firm’s Perception of you when you are seen just as a Safe Pair of Hands
- What Can I do if I Seem to be Irreplaceable and my Career Progression has Halted?
12. Partner Admissions
Videos and guides to help you get through the partner admissions process in your firm – whether it’s a tap on the shoulder or months of high pressure Partner Panel Interviews – you’ll walk into the room like you were always meant to be there.Videos packed with advice including:
- 9 Differences of a Lateral Hire Partner Business Case
- Acing the Partner Admissions Process
- The Importance of Your Business Case Narrative
- PLUS Downloads:
- How to Elegantly Handle Challenging Questions or Open Conflict
- Guide to undertaking your own Due Diligence
- Partner Panel Interview Timeline
9. Member of the Club
Why ticking every box on your performance review form isn’t enough to position you as a peer to the partners who will decide your future. This will help you become the person who the partnership wants in their ranks of the partnership – even if you don’t feel “ready.” Exercises & guides including:
- Create a Networking Plan to Raise your Profile
- Guide to being Politically Savvy
- Start your Internal PR Campaign
- 6 ways to be seen as a Member of the Club
11. Building your Business Case for Partner
You can’t write your business case for partner over the weekend! Work through the course: How to build a cast-iron business case for partner
PLUS Videos packed with advice including:
- Identifying the Right Business Case for You and Your Partners
- Putting Pen to Paper to start your business case
- How to Successfully Pitch your Business Case
- What needs to go in your Business Case if you are inheriting a partner’s client portfolio
PLUS: Downloads
Guide to creating a cast-iron business case
Deck to Pitch your Business Case for Partner
In Level C, you’ll be fully prepared to make the leap, with everything in place to be selected, succeed in your current role and thrive as a partner.
#4: Weekly Private “Office Hours” (Asynchronous Support)
You will be invited into a private 1:1 email conversations with Heather and the team, where you can ask questions, discuss your challenges and celebrate your wins.
Whether you’re navigating toxic leadership, unclear manager feedback, juggling work with a busy life or you’ve just been praised by your partners, send us a private email at any time and we’ll reply directly and confidentially during the weekly Office Hours (typically Tuesday between 3pm and 6pm UK].
This might be the only place in your entire professional life where you can speak freely, without judgement, without consequence, and without fear of anything being reported back to your firm.
You’ll receive strategic and unbiased support from experienced experts who have navigated the path to partnership and know exactly what it takes.
#5: 12 Months Unlimited Access to Supported Progress
You’ll have full access to the Academy for 365 days, so you can take it at your own pace, with no fear of falling behind when life (or work) gets in the way.
Whether you’re six months out from putting your Business Case forward or just starting to build visibility, in Progress to Partner, you will have constant career progression cheerleaders, companions and coaches by your side for the next 12 months – experts, guiding you steadily and strategically towards partnership.
“Partnership doesn’t just happen by working harder. It happens when you show up differently, take the right actions, and get the right people in your corner.
And that’s what’s waiting for you when you join Progress to Partner today. ”
- Crystal clear clarity on where you stand and what to focus on first, with a tailored 90-day plan to progress your career.
- Our proven, three-level partnership pathway with all the mindset, strategy and habits to take you to the top – without burnout.
- Confidential, no-holds-barred support from experts who have lived experience of the world you work in, so you never have to second-guess yourself again.
- Great courses to help you in every step of your career (see list on the left).