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    Exclusive to OMP & AGRI Alumni

    Owner Manager Exchange

    Exclusive to Owner Manager Programme and Agribusiness Alumni, The Owner Manager Exchange (OMX) is your chance to step away from the business, gain fresh ideas, perspectives, inspiration and confidence, and connect with Icehouse Alumni who understand what you’re going through.

     

     

    Criteria

    OMP Alumni
    Still a business owner

    Time

    3 Days
    Overnight

    Format

    Group sessions
    In-person

    Investment

    $5,395 + GST
    Incl. accom & food

    Programme overview

    Exclusive to Owner Manager Programme and Agribusiness Alumni, The Owner Manager Exchange (OMX) is your chance to step away from the business, gain fresh ideas, perspectives, inspiration and confidence, and connect with Icehouse Alumni who understand what you’re going through.

    Each year, we refresh the content to ensure it reflects market changes and business trends, so those who have completed the Owner Manager Exchange (OMX) before can join again. Besides new content, returning participants tell us they come back for the interaction with old and new associates and the interactive ‘exchange’ of information and ideas.

    This year's theme is 'Innovation in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) World'. We’re living in an environment where business is more unpredictable, fast-moving, and complex than ever. For Kiwi owner-managers, the pressure is possibly more intense – our access to labour is tighter, we have limited capital, and distance from key markets can make the path forward less certain.

    The Icehouse Owner Manager Exchange is the perfect opportunity to tackle these challenges (and opportunities) head-on.

     

    • ‘Clinic’ Sessions - bring a real business challenge and a possible solution you’re exploring. Your fellow Alumni and our expert facilitators will dig in with insights, feedback, and real-world suggestions - much like your OMP business panel. 
    • Speakers and Expert Panels - gain perspectives from those tackling complexity. 
    • Interactive Site Visits to Local Businesses - see how others are innovating in their space, up close. Gain access to operational and production facilities that are truly world-class. 
    • Reboot your personal leadership and communication techniques. Leading in uncertain times requires a different approach. 
    • Recharge in beautiful Marlborough - because stepping out of the day-to-day helps you step up as a leader for your team. 

    The programme consists of three consecutive days spent as a group. You'll stay at accommodation organised by us to help fully immerse yourself in the learning experience.


    As is the case with all Icehouse programmes, we encourage the sharing of ideas and challenges amongst participants, so come with a list!

    To ensure this feels like the Icehouse experience you're all too familiar with, the directors of the Owner Manager Programme are the ones who lead this 3 day programme.

     

    There will be a selection of guest speakers, owner-managers and subject matter experts that join us on programme.

    You'll be joined by a small group of fellow Owner Manager Programme alumni from different programmes over the years. Some will be first-time Exchange participants, many will be returning participants.

    What will you get from joining this programme?

    Past, Present & Future

    Revisiting where you were at the end of your Programme and paving the way ahead

    Be Inspired

    Hear guest speakers share business stories that will inform and inspire

    Plan Ahead

    Work with business advisors to create an action plan for the future

    Grow Yourself

    Participate in a session around well-being and resilience

    Confide In Your Cohort

    Share reflections, thoughts and advice with business owners and mentors

     

    Relax & Refresh

    Do this all in a serene location away from your business.

    Upcoming Dates

    Wednesday 3 September to Friday 5 September. 

    Accommodation Included.

    "Sometimes you're so busy that you just lose sight of things, I get so much value in getting the opportunity to reconnect with facilitators and properly refresh my goals.

    I did OMP 12 years ago, and OMX just opens the floodgates again."


    Andrew Giltrap
    Managing Director of Giltrap Agrizone
    Owner Manager Programme Alumni
    Read Andrew's Story

    Meet the Directing Team

    Deb_Shepherd_600x400px

    Deb Shepherd

    Programme Director
    Darl Kolb 2025

    Darl Kolb

    Programme Director

    Don't just take our word for it...

    "I always bring a page full of questions for the guys and the course directors – to just bounce off them. Then you also get an update from the likes of Darl Kolb and Deb Shepherd on where the industry, the market, and the country is at. So, I place a really high value on the OMX."

    Kurt Sandtman

    TRACTA

    "We're going through a period of growth at the moment and it’s happening quite fast. So, part of my reasoning for doing OMX is to get a bit of perspective… Is that the right direction? Should we be being growing faster? What's my exit strategy long-term?"

    Clare Davies

    Capstone Hotel Management

    "The challenges of 2014 are not the same as 2021, but what I learned then is still really relevant today. The company is a different animal though, so I did OMX"

    Vaughan Clark

    Primero Profiles

    "I always bring a page full of questions for the guys and the course directors – to just bounce off them. Then you also get an update from the likes of Darl Kolb and Deb Shepherd on where the industry, the market, and the country is at. So, I place a really high value on the OMX."

    Kurt Sandtman

    TRACTA

    "We're going through a period of growth at the moment and it’s happening quite fast. So, part of my reasoning for doing OMX is to get a bit of perspective… Is that the right direction? Should we be being growing faster? What's my exit strategy long-term?"

    Clare Davies

    Capstone Hotel Management

    "The challenges of 2014 are not the same as 2021, but what I learned then is still really relevant today. The company is a different animal though, so I did OMX"

    Vaughan Clark

    Primero Profiles

    Payment Plans

    To help share the load across a longer period of time, payment plans may be available.

    Regional Business Partner Funding

    Management Capability Development funding may be available through your Regional Business Partner. To explore if your business is eligible for support, please contact your Regional Business Growth Advisor directly. Please email us for an introduction.