“Dream no little dreams.”
Clay Mathile
1941–2023
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our founder and chair emeritus, Clay Mathile. Aileron’s Campus and programs will remain open as scheduled. Clay’s spirit is ever-present through Aileron; join us in celebrating and remembering Clay together as a community.
“Dream no little dreams.”
Clay Mathile
1941–2023
We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our founder and chair emeritus, Clay Mathile. Aileron’s Campus and programs will remain open as scheduled. Clay’s spirit is ever-present through Aileron; join us in celebrating and remembering Clay together as a community.
“The Course for Presidents was a life-altering experience both for me personally and also for my business. By the end… I knew Aileron’s system was exactly what I needed to grow as a leader and to set our company up for our next season of growth.”
David Crnkovich, Follow the Eyes and Quantifi Digital
What is the DOC System?
Aileron’s DOC System is a proven framework for meeting the changing needs of your private business. This system gives you practical tools and proven best practices that you can put into action. As you learn and implement the DOC System, a team of coaches, advisors, facilitators, peers, and allies will support and challenge you along your leadership journey.
Running your business is challenging work
If you’re like most business owners, working in your business is easier than working on it. Many leaders lack the systems their organizations need to grow forward. But while you’re in the weeds of the day-to-day, your business might be lacking the leadership it needs from you, which can leave you feeling stuck or overwhelmed.
Enjoy a Thriving Business
The best way to get started with Aileron is through the Course for Presidents®. It’s our introduction to our system for running a thriving business, and it’s designed specifically for presidents, business owners, and CEOs.
In the Course for Presidents, you’ll explore the DOC System, learn how to implement it across your organization, assess which areas of your business need your attention, and put together a plan to address them. The program includes one-on-one time with an Aileron Business Advisor who works with you to understand your unique challenges and goals guides you to strategies and resources to move forward.
Enjoy a Thriving Business
The best way to get started with Aileron is through the Course for Presidents®. It’s our introduction to our system for running a thriving business, and it’s designed specifically for presidents, business owners, and CEOs.
In the Course for Presidents, you’ll explore the DOC System, learn how to implement it across your organization, assess which areas of your business need your attention, and put together a plan to address them. The program includes one-on-one time with an Aileron Business Advisor who works with you to understand your unique challenges and goals guides you to strategies and resources to move forward.
“Aileron is different. They know what works in the real world. The Course for Presidents helped me implement practices I didn’t even know we needed. Now our company is focused, positive and better positioned to serve customers.”
Jeff Gordons, CEO, Infinity Computer Solutions
“Aileron is different. They know what works in the real world. The Course for Presidents helped me implement practices I didn’t even know we needed. Now our company is focused, positive and better positioned to serve customers.”
Jeff Gordons, CEO, Infinity Computer Solutions
Aileron’s Course for Presidents has helped thousands of leaders run thriving businesses with confidence
Want to Learn More?
Sign Up for Our Free Discovery Session
When you tell us you’re ready to learn more, your Aileron journey can begin with a conversation that’s casual and candid; you don’t need to come with anything prepared. We’ll talk through what’s working, what’s not, and where you want to be.
“Our company was facing a serious disagreement within our founder group. After taking the Course for Presidents and working with an Aileron Business Advisor, our founder group is aligned and we love our business again!”
Amanda Prescott, Co-Founder, Prestige Painting
“Our company was facing a serious disagreement within our founder group. After taking the Course for Presidents and working with an Aileron Business Advisor, our founder group is aligned and we love our business again!”
Amanda Prescott, Co-Founder, Prestige Painting
Learn With Us
3 Insights Mailchimp’s CEO Learned in Course for Presidents
Aileron sees business owners from all walks of life and all industries come through our doors. We’ve seen professional management transform $2M family-owned small businesses as well as $200M large corporations. Recently, Course for Presidents alumni and CEO of Mailchimp Ben Chestnut was featured in NPR’s How I Built This. During his conversation with Guy Raz, he shared how his time at Aileron was a critical turning point in the company’s growth. Here are a few highlights from his inspirational story. “I went out to Dayton, Ohio, and I learned a lot out there. I needed it.” The power of outside perspective In 2014 when Ben participated in Course for Presidents, he was figuring out what the future of Mailchimp looked like. He says the peers he met with during his Course for Presidents experience spurred a major thought shift for him – expanding beyond email marketing. “Every single student in that class told me: ‘You need to get out of [ Read More ]
Mapping the Way Forward: How The Hill Hear Better Clinic used Strategic Planning for Growth and Transition
Dr. Mike Hill founded The Hill Hear Better Clinic 35 years ago to improve quality of life for his patients. Armed with extensive audiology training, used equipment, and $6,000 in savings, Hill knew a lot about providing excellent patient care, but running a business wasn’t part of his formal training. “Caring for patients was my main priority, but I also wanted to run and expand the business well. I’ve always loved reading, which has given me a lot of ideas for growth,” said Hill. “Finding the time to determine which efforts were strategic for us and how to implement those was difficult.” In those early years, a colleague suggested Hill connect with Aileron to find outside perspective and tips for executing intentional business strategy while also caring for patients. Today, Hill Hear Better Clinic is the largest private practice in Cincinnati and has helped more than 10,000 patients. Dr. Hill credits Aileron with providing the thoughtful partnership and strategic planning tools he needed [ Read More ]
Creating a Smooth Transition: How Keith Smith Company Built a Succession Plan and Thriving Legacy
After years of working in the family business, Jim Smith suddenly became CEO of Keith Smith Company, America’s largest independent producer and provider of broiler hatching eggs, in the early 1990s. Looking for support and guidance in his new leadership role, Jim eagerly connected with Aileron’s founder Clay Mathile through a mutual acquaintance and began his professional management journey – a journey that went on to last more than 25 years and continues today.Jim infused professional management into Keith Smith Company for more than two decades as CEO, using the tools and methodologies he learned from Clay and Aileron to lead the company, culture, and team with intention. But eventually Jim was ready to begin scaling back his day-to-day involvement and invest in training the company’s next leaders. His first step? Connecting with Aileron.Training the next generationWe often say professional management is a team sport, but in the case of the Keith Smith company and many of the other family-owned businesses in the Aileron [ Read More ]
