How Much Does a Leadership Mentor Cost in Wisconsin? The Real Expense May Surprise You

“What if we invest in developing our people and they leave?”
“What if we don’t… and they stay?”

This quote is widely cited in leadership circles, often attributed to Zig Ziglar or Henry Ford. It also appears frequently in HR presentations, but there’s no verified source or publication linking it definitively to either. What is clear, though, is the truth behind it: failing to invest in your people is far riskier than watching them grow and move on.

When executives ask about the cost of leadership mentorship, they’re often focusing on line items. But the real cost is hidden, not in your budget, but in your talent pipeline, performance metrics, and missed opportunities.

If you’re responsible for cultivating leadership in your organization, here’s what you need to consider.
 

The Hidden Cost of Doing Nothing

Failing to invest in your leadership team doesn’t just stall growth—it quietly erodes your culture from the inside out.

Consider the ripple effect:

• $34,500 is the average cost of losing a single manager, according to Gallup.
   
• 70% of the variance in employee engagement is directly tied to the manager’s effectiveness.
   
• 65% of employees would take a new boss over a raise, says Harvard Business Review.

Unprepared leaders create disengaged teams. Disengaged teams underperform. Underperformance leads to turnover. And turnover is expensive.
 

Why Leadership Mentors Outperform Training Alone

Leadership training is important, but it often ends when the seminar ends. Mentorship, on the other hand, is ongoing, situational, and strategic.

It helps leaders:

• Solve real business problems with confidence.
   
• Develop executive presence.
   
• Avoid common pitfalls that cost companies time and money.

A study from Deloitte found that companies with mentoring programs enjoy 23% higher profits and greater internal mobility. When your leaders grow, your entire business becomes more agile, resilient, and future-ready.

 

Serving Wisconsin Executives with Proven Mentorship

At Executive Agenda, we serve leaders across Wisconsin—from Milwaukee to Madison, Green Bay to Kenosha. Our members are C-suite leaders, Vice presidents, and senior decision-makers in mid-size and enterprise organizations. They don’t need theory. They need trusted, strategic guidance they can act on immediately.

Each Executive Agenda group is led by a seasoned Group Chair—a tenured or retired executive who facilitates quarterly sessions focused on business problem-solving, leadership growth, and executive-level accountability.
 

One member summed it up best:

“Executive Agenda is my filter, my sanity check, and my accountability. Without it, I’d be flying blind.”

 

So, What Does a Leadership Mentor Cost?

Here’s the truth: Executive Agenda doesn’t list pricing online. That’s because we believe fit matters more than fees.

Every prospective member is pre-qualified to ensure our program is a valuable and relevant investment, based on your goals, your seniority, and your organization’s scale.

The real question isn’t “What does it cost?” It’s “What’s the cost of letting your leaders stay stuck?”

 

Final Thought:
You’re Already Paying—Just Not the Way You Think

If you’ve lost a high-potential employee, missed a key strategic window, or struggled to build your next tier of leadership, you’re already paying a price.

The right leadership mentor doesn’t just guide one person. They impact teams, shape strategy, and accelerate growth across your entire organization.