As the Executive Coach, Michael Owen brings decades of real-world leadership, executive coaching, and operational experience to every session—creating an environment where top leaders collaborate, process challenges, and solve each other’s real-world problems in an environment with no competitors.
Known for his culture-first approach, clear thinking, and ability to turn complexity into actionable strategy, Michael facilitates each session with intention and high accountability.
As founder of the Retail Leadership Lab and a former multi-industry executive operator, he guides members to breakthrough insights, sharper decisions, and better outcomes—ensuring every leader leaves each session more focused, more equipped, and more confident than when they arrived.
This is leadership development at 4x speed. Your coach and peer group become your ultimate competitive advantage.
At the Retail Leadership Lab, leadership development happens through powerful, real-world collaboration—never in isolation.
Each monthly session, called a Lab, is a facilitated environment where executives and top leaders bring real challenges, pressure-tested strategies, and lived experience to the table.
These competition-free Labs function as true laboratories for growth, designed to spark confidence, clarity, and breakthrough thinking.
Guided by the expert facilitation of an executive coach, every Lab equips leaders to show up stronger, lead with intention, and build cultures people not only will follow, but want to follow.
At the heart of the Retail Leadership Lab (RL²) experience is a confidential, high-caliber peer advisory group.
Once a month, 12–20 executives from non-competing organizations come together to work through real challenges and strategic opportunities using our proprietary decision-support framework.
The truth is simple: the group that helped you get here won’t be the group that takes you there. Growth requires new perspectives, new pressure, and a network that challenges you to think bigger.
RL² gives leaders that room — a trusted circle of top-tier peers committed to helping each other break through barriers and accelerate what’s next.
Top leaders consistently make smarter decisions that drive exceptional outcomes. For more than 30 years, Michael has set the standard for world-class leadership development and business optimization, guiding hundreds of leaders across diverse industries.
His journey began in the 1990s with local peer advisory groups—an idea inspired by his father’s belief that small businesses thrive when they help each other grow. What started as a grassroots effort has evolved into a modern, time-tested approach that blends timeless principles with today’s tools to meet the challenges faced by CEOs and top executives.
In the early years, the network was fueled by small business trade publications, expanding across 13 states and connecting thousands of businesses in hundreds of communities. Today, social networking accelerates that same spirit of collaboration at four times the speed of print.
At the core, however, the mission remains unchanged: a confidential, competition-free environment where leaders come together to solve real problems, share practical solutions, and grow stronger—together.
RL² membership connects you with a trusted circle of CEOs, business owners, and senior executives who share a common goal: making better decisions, achieving stronger results, and growing as leaders.
Each RL² peer advisory group brings together 12–20 leaders, guided by an experienced executive coach.
Think of it as your own confidential board of directors—an environment free from competition where you can troubleshoot challenges, test new ideas, and uncover blind spots with the support of peers who understand your world but are not competing with you.
For most members, the peer group itself becomes the most valuable part of their RL² experience.
RL² members dedicate time from one day each month to meet with their peer advisory group, focusing on the big-picture vision for their business while addressing the challenges that may be holding them back.
These sessions (labs) provide time to refine strategic plans, explore new opportunities, and confront obstacles head-on.
Within the group, members collaborate to vet ideas, troubleshoot strategies, and uncover practical solutions together. Each meeting is guided by an experienced executive mentor (RL² Executive Coach), who uses a proven framework to keep discussions sharp, productive, and results-driven.
RL² is far more than networking—it’s about solving problems in real time with a trusted group of peers.
As an RL² member, you gain access to internal and confidential RL² Networks, a 24/7 online forum designed to connect you with CEOs, business owners, and executives.
Through RL² Networks, members exchange feedback, seek critical advice, and collaborate virtually and in-person.
Mastermind groups share similarities with RL² peer advisory groups, but there are key differences. An RL² group is made up of successful CEOs, Executives and business owners from outside your industry, ensuring there’s no competition among members. This creates a truly collaborative environment where leaders can openly share challenges and solutions.
Unlike many mastermind groups that operate without a clear leader, every RL² group is guided and moderated by an Executive Coach. With their experience and creative insights, Coaches help members stay focused, challenge assumptions, and push each other to reach the next level of leadership and business growth.
Your RL² group will be based in your local area, made up of fellow business owners from small and midsize companies who are not competitors.
Meetings take place locally, virtually and in person, creating a trusted environment for collaboration and growth.
When it comes to CEO coaching fees, RL² members consistently say the investment is worth it.
Since the early 1990s, Michael has guided hundreds of leaders across the U.S., helping them sharpen their decision-making and accelerate growth.
Most RL² members remain engaged for more than five years, and data shows they grow their businesses faster than non-members running companies of similar size.
Fill out the application on this page to see if you qualify. If accepted, a member of the RL² team will reach out to answer your questions, share details about introductory events in your area, and provide exclusive content.
You’ll also be matched with the right RL² peer group in your local community.