Let’s Create Your Most Successful Customer Advisory Board
I work with you to craft holistic, personalized experiences that have a long-lasting impact on your customer relationships and bottom line.
Uncover all my Customer Advisory Board Secrets
Sign up to be one of the first to read my book. Get all my Customer Advisory Board insider information and actionable expert tips.
Why a Customer Advisory Board?
☑ Build authentic, long-lasting customer advocacy
☑ Unlock deep industry insights
☑ Open sales opportunities
Great! You’re in the right place. I’ve dedicated my career to creating memorable Customer Advisory Board programs that have invaluable lifelong benefits:
Endless customer endorsements
Countless upsell possibilities
Mutually beneficial relationships
Whether you need coaching or all the bells and whistles, no matter your needs and budget, I have you covered.
Happy words from happy clients
“As an early adopter of Riverbed solutions, I was the youngest CAB member. I learned how to form partnerships with Riverbed's executives and network with global leaders. Being invited by Irene to a CAB so early in my career has shaped how I evaluate and negotiate with technology vendors,”
Adam, VP of Technology Operations, Automotive
“Irene and I worked together during a time of massive technological change in the data storage industry. Our CAB efforts were a crucial part of our customer outreach, product feedback, and thought leadership program. Irene managed the entire end-to-end CAB process with the expertise, agenda-setting, and event planning you normally associate with a luxury hotel, not a tech company. I could focus on discussion content, secure in knowing that our customers were going to have a first-class experience. She’s an expert in details others might overlook, like developing pod-based seating charts that place customers strategically to encourage inter-networking,”
Josh, VP of Strategy, Software/SaaS
“All the usage data in the world doesn't tell us why users choose a product. Insights about customers' jobs to be done, can only be gained by talking to customers. Even on a shoestring budget, it's possible to pull a small group of engaged customers together into a bootstrap CAB to get feedback on a current product or to co-create and validate a new product. Irene provides a step-by-step guide and templates to plan and execute a successful CAB with little to no budget.”
Monique, Product Management, SaaS
Choose your Customer Advisory Board adventure
Three flexible solutions, each tailored to your needs
-
THE BELLS AND WHISTLES
Craft a board
Need everything expertly taken care of? I work with you to create a holistic, end-to-end experience that builds enduring connections and drives long-lasting value.
-
THE REBOOT
Revamp your board
New leadership, new goals? Want to get more out of your current board? Together we can fine tune your formula so you can reach your goals, and more.
-
THE DIY
Have an expert on hand
Need an expert and low on budget? I’ve got you covered. I roll up my sleeves and train you and your team on the secrets of an outstanding customer advisory board.
A LITTLE ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Irene Yam and I’m so glad you found me. I put my 24 years of expertise to use by crafting completely bespoke Customer Advisory Boards that facilitate long-lasting, meaningful connections and are a win-win for customers and executives alike.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Company executives want the opportunity to gain customers' insights and advice. They generally form a 8 to 12 person board to meet, typically in person. Since the pandemic, CABs have often been run virtually, or in a hybrid board.
-
Yes, my passion is working with companies to enable long-lasting relationships that will organically progress to partnerships.
-
Yes, I can offer you both and even a bootstrap CAB if you need a quick, low-budget solution.
-
A bootstrap CAB is ideal when you have little to no budget, but still want to run a CAB.
-
For coaching, I charge a consultancy fee of $200 per hour. For my personalized packages, I first work with you to understand your CAB goals and then tailor an SOW to fit your needs.
-
In my book there’s CAB tenets. The first tenet is time and respect.
Most vendors only hold CABs once or maybe twice a year. These are rare times when you are asking your executives and customers with very demanding schedules to focus, interact, advise, and listen over the course of 2-3 days. Time is coveted by your VIP customers and your executive leadership, therefore the agenda must be thoroughly planned and polished. The board meeting must have the best speakers and facilitators, the brand and content need to be sincere, not a sales pitch. Ensure the board has a safe environment for constructive discussions and criticism. For more in-depth best practices, please join my mailing list for my book, Customer Advisory Boards, Build deeper relationships and validate strategies.
-
My unique holistic process factors in the before, during, and after experience of a CAB. It’s an approach that creates mutually beneficial connections and reciprocity. Read more about my philosophy and services here.