The Riverbend Group
The Riverbend Group is a privately held, Atlanta-based boutique professional services firm founded in 2002 that delivers customized leadership development, executive coaching, experiential training, and consulting to enterprise and mid-market clients in the US and Africa, using proprietary methodologies including LIFO® and Action-Based Learning™.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Riverbend Group does
The Riverbend Group is a privately held boutique professional services firm founded in 2002 by Doreen Linneman and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company delivers customized leadership development, professional coaching, experiential training, consulting, and national sales meeting facilitation to enterprise and mid-market clients, with a stated reach spanning "rural Africa to Silicon Valley." Its core technology consists of proprietary experiential learning methodologies including Action-Based Learning™, ONE Rowing®, The COACH Model®, The CAR Model: Driving Influence®, and an exclusive Africa-wide license for the LIFO® behavioral science method. Delivery is offered live or virtual, with all engagements initiated through a discovery call and scoped to the client's needs rather than sold as fixed products.
The firm operates through two offices — Atlanta (HQ, serving the United States) and Johannesburg (opened 2012, serving South and East Africa) — and generates revenue primarily through customized professional services engagements plus LIFO® certification/licensing royalties in Africa. A sister company, Prepare To Roar (founded 2012), extends the offering into adventure-based learning in Africa, Belize, and Panama. Named enterprise clients include McKesson, Acadia Pharma, Align Technology, Fresenius Kabi, KC Professional, Solvay, Prestwick Companies, and ReSound, alongside a pro-bono nonprofit program called Riverbend Returns. Marketing is driven by content (The Current blog), webinars, SHRM Atlanta partnerships, and organic social channels.
The business is founder-controlled, privately financed (no disclosed funding rounds), and operated with 1-10 employees. It carries no AI/ML capabilities and relies on industry-experienced facilitators rather than technology-led delivery. Revenue, headcount growth, and contract values are not disclosed, limiting external precision on scale.
The Riverbend Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Riverbend Group
- Legal name
- The Riverbend Group, LLC
- Website
- https://theriverbendgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Riverbend Group is a privately held, Atlanta-based boutique professional services firm founded in 2002 that delivers customized leadership development, executive coaching, experiential training, and consulting to enterprise and mid-market clients in the US and Africa, using proprietary methodologies including LIFO® and Action-Based Learning™.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Riverbend Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Leadership Development and Professional Training Services
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate & Leadership Development (BPACANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Strategy, Decision-Making & Business Acumen Coaching (EDABANAH), Project, Program & Product Management (EDAGANAE)
Keywords
Where The Riverbend Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Riverbend Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Leadership Development Training Programs: Customized professional development and training programs for organizations. Delivered as live or virtual sessions, priced based on program scope, customization level, and delivery format.
- Professional Coaching: Executive and leadership coaching services delivered to individuals and teams within client organizations.
- Consulting Services: Customized problem-solving and advisory services, starting with needs analysis and integrated programming.
- Sales & Team Meetings: National and regional sales meeting facilitation and event design services for corporate clients.
- LIFO® Certification & Training: Revenue from certifying and distributing the LIFO® Method in Africa, including trainer certification programs.
- Pro-bono Services (Riverbend Returns): Pro-bono leadership development services provided to qualifying 501c3 nonprofit organizations, representing community investment rather than commercial revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Customized enterprise programs - quote-based |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
The Riverbend Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Riverbend Group delivers customized leadership development and training programs, executive and professional coaching, sales and team meeting facilitation, and consulting services for enterprise and mid-market organizations. Programs are built around proprietary methodologies such as Action-Based Learning™, ONE Rowing®, The COACH Model®, and The CAR Model, and are offered live or virtually. The company also serves as the Global Agent for Africa for the LIFO® behavioral science method, distributing certifications and training across the continent.
Product overview
The Riverbend Group is a professional leadership development and training company offering a portfolio of services built around customized, experiential learning. Their core offerings include ONE Rowing® (team-building through rowing metaphors), Leadership Development & Training programs, Sales & Team Meetings facilitation, Experience Based Learning using Action-Based Learning™ methodology, Professional Coaching, and Consulting services. They distribute the LIFO® Method as the Global Agent for Africa and offer certification programs. Their sister company Prepare To Roar® provides adventure-based learning in exotic locations. The company operates offices in Atlanta, GA and Johannesburg, SA, serving clients globally from rural Africa to Silicon Valley.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use The Riverbend Group
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Riverbend Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
The Riverbend Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Riverbend Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- BetterUp: Digital coaching and leadership development platform serving enterprise customers with on-demand coaching and AI-enabled tools; an emerging player reshaping the same enterprise coaching/training wallet with a productized, technology-led model.
Direct peers
- Wilson Learning: Global provider of customized sales, leadership, and consulting training to enterprise buyers; comparable in customized program design, facilitation model, and global delivery (live + virtual) for enterprise and mid-market clients.
- VitalSmarts (now part of Crucial Learning): Corporate training company built around proprietary methodologies (Crucial Conversations, Crucial Influence) delivered via certified trainers to enterprise clients — closely analogous IP-and-trainer-distribution model to Riverbend.
- DDI (Development Dimensions International): Global leadership and selection consultancy offering customized leadership development, coaching, and behavioral assessments to enterprise clients — overlaps with Riverbend's coaching, consulting, and Action-Based Learning™ offerings.
- FranklinCovey: One of the largest dedicated leadership and organizational training firms, offering proprietary methodologies (e.g., The 7 Habits) sold to enterprise and mid-market buyers — directly comparable to Riverbend's customized, trademarked leadership development programs.
- The Ken Blanchard Companies: Leadership and management training company built around proprietary methodologies (e.g., SLII®) sold through certified trainers and partner network — closely analogous to Riverbend's trademarked methodology and LIFO® Master Trainer approach.
- Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Nonprofit research-backed provider of leadership development programs, executive coaching, and customized enterprise offerings; directly comparable in target buyer (enterprise HR/L&D) and customized program delivery.
- Dale Carnegie & Associates: Global leadership and professional training provider offering branded courses for enterprise and individual learners; competes head-to-head with Riverbend in customized leadership, sales, and team-effectiveness training.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Large global organizational consulting firm whose Leadership & Professional Development practice offers executive coaching and customized leadership programs; a much broader incumbent competing for the same enterprise L&D budget.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm whose Heidrick Consulting arm offers leadership development and team coaching to enterprise clients — a broader incumbent with overlapping enterprise coaching/training capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
The Riverbend Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Riverbend Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Riverbend Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
The Riverbend Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Riverbend Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Riverbend Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Riverbend Group
What does The Riverbend Group do?
The Riverbend Group delivers customized leadership development and training programs, executive and professional coaching, sales and team meeting facilitation, and consulting services for enterprise and mid-market organizations. Programs are built around proprietary methodologies such as Action-Based Learning™, ONE Rowing®, The COACH Model®, and The CAR Model, and are offered live or virtually. The company also serves as the Global Agent for Africa for the LIFO® behavioral science method, distributing certifications and training across the continent.
Is The Riverbend Group a public or private company?
The Riverbend Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Riverbend Group founded?
The Riverbend Group was founded in 2002. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Riverbend Group based?
The Riverbend Group is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Riverbend Group make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Leadership Development Training Programs are the primary driver. The others are professional Coaching, consulting Services, sales & Team Meetings, LIFO® Certification & Training and pro-bono Services (Riverbend Returns).
Who are The Riverbend Group's main competitors?
BetterUp is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Wilson Learning, VitalSmarts (now part of Crucial Learning), DDI (Development Dimensions International), FranklinCovey, The Ken Blanchard Companies, Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) and Dale Carnegie & Associates. Broad incumbents are Korn Ferry and Heidrick & Struggles.
Does The Riverbend Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Riverbend Group.
What industry is The Riverbend Group in?
The Riverbend Group's product category is Leadership Development and Professional Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACANAA, Corporate & Leadership Development, with a secondary code of EDABANAH, Strategy, Decision-Making & Business Acumen Coaching. Its NAICS code is 61143 and its SIC code is 8742.