What QSM Consulting does

QSM Quality Services Management Inc., operating as DirectorPrep.com, is a Winnipeg, Manitoba-based private corporation that runs a subscription-based educational platform serving individual board directors across the for-profit, not-for-profit, and government sectors globally. The company is co-founded by Scott Baldwin and operates with approximately five employees, focusing exclusively on director onboarding, governance skill development, and meeting preparation.

The platform is delivered entirely through a Kajabi-powered learning management system with no physical touchpoints and centers on an annual membership priced at $279 (with a 30-day free trial). Bundled products include ChatDPQ™, an AI-powered board advisor running on Azure OpenAI models (most recently GPT-5.1) and grounded in DirectorPrep's proprietary curated content with hallucination guardrails; the Board Director 101 video course comprising 26 sessions; a DIY Onboarding Program for new directors; and a library of downloadable DirectorPrep Guides and Savvy Director Guides. The Savvy Director weekly newsletter and blog drive top-of-funnel demand.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through annual individual subscriptions, with no disclosed enterprise tier, no outside funding, and no reported revenue figures. Distribution is purely self-serve; the company's reach spans named individual subscribers from Canadian insurance, banking, credit unions, and nonprofit sectors, alongside international users to support its global footprint claim. ChatDPQ is a registered trademark and represents the company's primary product differentiator against generic governance content libraries.

Name

QSM Consulting

Legal name

QSM Quality Services Management Inc.

Website

https://directorprep.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

QSM Consulting operates DirectorPrep.com, a subscription learning platform for board directors featuring curated governance courses, downloadable guides, and ChatDPQ, an AI-powered advisor on GPT-5.1. The 5-employee Winnipeg firm sells $279 annual memberships to individual directors across for-profit and nonprofit sectors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Board Director Education and Training

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Q&A and Knowledge Discovery Platforms (BPAMAAAF)

Keywords

• Board governance training
• Director education
• AI board tools
• Governance resources
• Board member development

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscription: Annual membership subscription providing access to online courses, DirectorPrep guides, Savvy Director guides, ChatDPQ AI tool, and other resources. Membership priced at $279 annually with 30-day free trial.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

QSM Consulting operates DirectorPrep.com, an annual membership subscription ($279/year with 30-day free trial) that gives board directors access to an AI-powered companion (ChatDPQ), two self-paced online courses (Board Director 101 and DIY Onboarding), downloadable governance guides, and a weekly blog/newsletter. The offering is delivered entirely digitally via a Kajabi-powered platform and targets new and experienced directors across for-profit, not-for-profit, and government sectors worldwide.

Product overview

DirectorPrep, operated by QSM Quality Services Management Inc., offers a comprehensive board director preparation platform consisting of a membership-based learning ecosystem with multiple integrated components. The core offering centers on the AI-powered ChatDPQ tool, which provides board directors with on-demand insights and guidance. This is complemented by two structured online courses: Board Director 101 (covering board fundamentals and impact skills) and the DIY Onboarding Program (helping new directors orient themselves). Additional resources include downloadable DirectorPrep Guides and Savvy Director Guides covering governance topics, plus The Savvy Director Blog delivering weekly insights. All content is accessible through a unified DirectorPrep Membership at $279 annually, providing members with a personal library containing tools, guides, and course materials designed to help directors at every stage from first appointment to seasoned leadership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ChatDPQ: AI-powered tool designed specifically for board directors, providing easy, time-saving access to high-quality insights on anything to do with boards and board work. Exclusively for DirectorPrep members.

Products and services

• DirectorPrep Membership Annual subscription membership at $279/year (with a 30-day free trial) that unlocks the full DirectorPrep library for board directors, including ChatDPQ, the Board Director 101 course, the DIY Onboarding Program, DirectorPrep Guides, Savvy Director Guides, and the Savvy Director Blog.
• ChatDPQ™

Quantifiable outcome

• ChatDPQ has been described as a 'great help' for governance inquiries including succession planning and director recusal questions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Kajabi, LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationKajabi provides the learning management system platform powering DirectorPrep's website, course delivery, membership management, and digital product distribution. All content, functionality, and services are offered through Kajabi's platform infrastructure.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Diligent Corporation: Established enterprise SaaS provider for board management — board books, meeting workflows, governance, risk, and compliance software. Much larger incumbent that serves the same director audience through a broader portfolio rather than director education focus.
• Global Network of Director Institutes (GNDI): Federation of director institutes worldwide that promotes governance best practices and director development through member organizations. Ecosystem-level adjacent player curating governance resources for the same global director audience.
• Nasdaq Governance Solutions (Boardvantage): Board portal and meeting management platform owned by Nasdaq, formerly Boardvantage. Larger, broad incumbent serving enterprise boards with document workflows, governance, and ESG tooling rather than education.
• BoardEffect: Board governance portal software provider serving nonprofits, healthcare, credit unions, and education boards. Comparable audience (board directors) but delivers governance workflow tooling rather than director education content.
• OnBoard: Board meeting management software platform serving mid-market and enterprise boards with agenda, document, and meeting workflows. Same director audience but delivers meeting logistics software rather than director learning content.

Direct peers

• National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD): Premier US-based membership association providing education, resources, and certifications for corporate board directors. Directly comparable to DirectorPrep in mission (director development), audience (board members), and content format (courses, guides, blog).
• Directors & Boards: Long-running US publication and conference business serving board directors with editorial content, events, and director education resources. Closely aligned audience and content-driven member engagement model.
• Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD): Canada's primary governance membership body offering director education (ICD.D designation), thought leadership, and board resources. Most direct Canadian competitor, sharing the same board director audience and educational content model as DirectorPrep.
• The Corporate Governance Institute: Globally focused governance education and certification body offering courses, designations, and training for directors and governance professionals. Comparable content-and-membership business model targeting the same board education niche.

Others

• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and board advisory firm whose Board Practice services corporate boards on director recruitment, succession, and effectiveness. Adjacent ecosystem player serving the same board customer base rather than competing on educational content.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/qsm-consulting

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QSM Consulting