Mid-Market Business Coaching for Ambitious Business Leaders – Auckland & NZ Wide

Expert Support for Mid-Market Business Growth

At Scalable Sustainable Business Growth (SSBG), we coach ambitious mid-market CEOs and leadership teams through the complexities of scaling. We provide the expert guidance, proven frameworks, and personalised advisory you need to move forward with confidence.
Running and growing a business gets harder as you scale. What once worked starts to break down. Your team feels stretched, cash flow becomes unpredictable, and your growth either stalls or becomes overwhelming. Decision-making becomes a grind. Pressure builds and the weight of leadership can feel isolating.
We understand the common roadblocks: fast growth without systems, profitability slipping behind revenue, or a creeping doubt that your current strategy won’t get you where you want to go.
If you’re serious about scaling your business with clarity and control, we’re here to help you take the next step.

Business Coaching That Delivers Measurable Results
Our coaching clients include some of New Zealand’s top-performing mid-market firms, including multiple Deloitte Fast 50 winners. Collectively, they generate over $306 million in annual revenue, with typical outcomes like:
- 2x or more cash flow
- 3x industry profitability
- 23% average growth rate (last financial year)
We help leaders who are ready to stop firefighting, regain control, and lead with confidence. If you’re feeling stuck, stretched, or uncertain, we can help you refocus and scale with purpose.
Support at Every Stage of Your Business Growth
Whether your mid-market business is experiencing growing pains, scaling rapidly, or preparing for succession, we provide coaching and advisory support tailored to your stage of growth.
Scale & Grow
Frustrated with your growth rate? Whether your business has plateaued or is scaling so fast it’s starting to feel chaotic, we offer a clear path to sustainable, well-managed growth.
Grow & Exit
Our agile, scalable, and comprehensive business tools and frameworks can help you position your business for a strategic exit that achieves maximum financial value.
Proven Growth Frameworks
Our personalised coaching services incorporates best practice tools, resources, and methodologies from these leading business growth programs:
7 Attributes of Agile Growth Framework
Proven, simple, practical and actionable. This framework supports business leaders who want an agile, adaptable structure in a fast-moving market.
Outthinker Growth Strategy
Breakthrough strategy development based on the Outthinker Process. Ideal for leaders who feel stuck or sense the market shifting without them.
The Great Game of Business
A time-tested business operating system designed to improve financial transparency, team engagement, and profit performance.
Scaling Up Methodology
Used by more than 70,000 firms worldwide, this framework helps fast-growing companies scale with structure, clarity and control.
Four Decisions Framework
The Four Decisions Framework focuses on the four decisions that every company must get right: People, Strategy, Execution, and Cash.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a business growth advisor do?
A business growth advisor provides the expert knowledge and advice leaders need to overcome challenges and drive sustainable growth. At SSBG, we bring strategic insight and experience, working with you to strengthen leadership, grow leadership capability, align your team, improve culture, improve systems, and deliver long-term results.
What results can I expect from working with a business growth advisor?
Clients working with us often achieve:
- stronger financial performance
- clear growth strategy
- scalable systems
- greater leadership alignment
- strong healthy culture
- strong execution disciplines
- more accountable teams
- time back for the leadership team to be strategic and execute on the projects that will drive revenue growth
- improved profitability
- release the leader from operations.
Many see double their industry profitability, and accelerated revenue growth.
How can working with SSBG help my company grow?
We help you grow by focusing on the areas that make the biggest difference to mid-market businesses: strategic clarity, operational efficiency, team capability, revenue (nationally and internationally), and financial performance.
Using proven frameworks, we uncover gaps that are holding your business back and provide practical, actionable steps to move forward.
What frameworks or tools do you use to guide your clients?
Leigh Paulden is New Zealand’s only Senior Certified Gravitas Impact Business Coach and one of just six Outthinker Growth Strategists in Australasia. He uses the 7 Attributes of Agile Growth, along with proven global tools and diagnostics, to build tailored growth strategies. This mix of world-class thinking and practical advice helps deliver real, lasting results.
What industries do you specialise in?
Leigh Paulden, Business Coach & Advisor, has experience across 30+ industries including manufacturing, distribution, retail, tech, and professional services. Our frameworks work for both B2B and B2C, so strategies are tailored to your market and business model.
How do I know if my business needs coaching services?
If growth has slowed, things are expanding too fast without structure, profits are tight, or leadership is under pressure, it might be time for expert support. We work with leaders who are serious about scaling, building stronger teams, or preparing for succession or sale.