Banded exists to give business leaders the right community so they can go deeper on their entrepreneurial journey than ever before.
From the beginning of time, creatures have banded together in the name of survival. Without the right community, every piece of your life becomes marginalized. Going it alone leaves you vulnerable, burnt out, and out of sync with what you were created for. That goes double for those in positions of leadership. Families are depending on you to remain steady in the daunting face of entrepreneurial adversity – a task that simply cannot be done in solitude. Luckily, it no longer has to.
We built Banded to be a tribe of leaders and business owners coming together to call each other to excellence. We combine the empathetic understanding only peers can provide with the familiarity of a fireside chat. By embracing the power of the collective, leaders everywhere are galvanized to do business better.
Many Christian entrepreneurs experience isolation in their leadership roles and struggle to find a community that understands both their faith and business challenges.
Many business owners struggle to maintain balance across their personal, spiritual, and professional lives, often focusing on business growth at the expense of other important areas.
Christian entrepreneurs often face challenges in scaling their businesses, accessing funding, or finding mentors who understand the intersection of faith and business.
Banded connects entrepreneurs with a network of experienced leaders and potential sponsors, offering resources and mentorship to navigate business challenges more effectively.
Banded promotes holistic development, focusing on the inner life, vocational life, and relational life. The peer groups encourage leaders to pursue growth in all areas, not just business.
Banded provides a supportive, faith-driven community where business owners can connect with like-minded leaders, share experiences, and gain encouragement.
Banded was founded as a joint venture between Ocean and FCCI, blending the innovative leadership development of Ocean with FCCI’s legacy of faith-integrated business guidance. Ocean began by equipping early-stage business owners through its Accelerator and later expanded to support leaders across all stages of growth, helping them align their business practices with faith and values. FCCI (Fellowship of Companies for Christ International) has empowered Christian business leaders globally for decades, focusing on integrity, stewardship, and community impact through a strong peer advisory network and resources.
The vision for Banded emerged from the combined passion and experience of founders Ben Hardman and Luke Dooley, who saw a need for a community where leaders could grow with purpose and resilience. Over the past year, Hardman and Dooley have led Banded beta groups, curating meaningful experiences and trips and building a strong membership community among close friends and relationships. These early stages shaped Banded as a space for leaders to engage authentically and thrive in a supportive, values-driven environment.
Now, after a year of refining and strengthening the foundation, we’re thrilled to open Banded to the world in January 2025, welcoming leaders into a community dedicated to purpose, clarity, and navigating their journeys with faith.
Ben Hardman is the founder of Kingdom Dreams Initiative, the Chief Strategy Officer at Ocean Programs, and the executive director of the Grace Family of Churches. With 15 years of experience as a leadership consultant, Ben has coached thousands of leaders and helped launch numerous entrepreneurial endeavors. He is an accomplished author, a former pastor, and an entrepreneur dedicated to supporting dreamers in launching impactful ideas.
Guiding visionaries to transform their concepts into tangible ventures.
Elevating organizations to achieve rapid expansion and transformation.
Assisting leaders in reaching their goals while maintaining character and life satisfaction.
His vision for the second half of his life is to help others achieve their dreams of impact and transformation, acting as a supportive figure behind countless redemptive and flourishing visions.
Luke Dooley is driven by a desire to see people understand their place in a larger story. He believes that living and leading well has a profound impact on the world. This belief motivates him to create spaces and content that inspire people to live and lead in ways worth following.
Establishing and nurturing meaningful connections.
Assessing and fostering personal integrity and ethical leadership.
Leveraging local and global connections to further organizational goals.
Providing innovative advice and solutions.
Luke enjoys leveraging his network to further the mission of OCEAN Peer Groups, ensuring the organization remains connected and influential both locally and globally.
Banded exists to give business leaders the right community so they can go deeper on their entrepreneurial journey than ever before.
