leaders, joined for a common purpose

Junto Leadership Collective is built for emerging coffee leaders seeking honest feedback, camaraderie, and personal and professional development.

Leaders can expect…

Monthly peer-to-peer coaching sessions and learning opportunities, with optional 1:1 coaching and access to top roastery leaders from around the United States.

Leader cohorts include:

  • One monthly group coaching session (1-1.5 hours) — an annual value of $4,500+ if billed at Pomelo’s hourly rate

  • Monthly books, articles, and resources that align with learning opportunities which have reshaped past members’ businesses — annual value of $480

  • A monthly rotating “hot seat”, one leader presents a project, topic, or challenge to receive feedback from the cohort

  • Shared strategy, feedback and support on projects you’re working on

  • Each cohort is capped at 6 members intentionally kept intimate to foster trust and open dialogue

  • Ongoing access to all past and present Junto Leaders via Slack

Add On’s

  • 1:1 Coaching: $100 per hour (A value of $250 per hour)

  • Leadership assessment and corresponding video resources — $50/month

Junto Leadership Collective

Individual $100/month

1 Seat

Ideal for: individual leaders working in roasteries that are seeking profession growth opportunities but their company might not be able to offer those opportunities internally.

Team $375/month

4 Seats

Ideal for: roastery teams who are looking for external professional development opportunities as well as connections with contemporaries from roasters around the country.

Enterprise $475/month

6 Seats

Ideal for: roastery teams of up to 6 members who are looking for external professional development opportunities as well as connections with contemporaries from roasters around the country.

✅ Cancel anytime with 30 days notice.

✅ No minimum commitment.

But we do recommend planning to stick around for at least a year.

Members are added monthly.

Apply now to be considered for the next open slot.

👇

Have a larger team than 6? Reach out here and we can work out how to best support your team.

What To Expect

  • Junto Leaders Cohort runs year round and members are added every month.

    Apply today to be considered to join Junto Leaders here!

  • Junto blends group learning with optional 1:1 coaching to support leaders in reaching their professional, personal development and overall career goals.

    Group meetings include:

    • Learnings and observations from the reading, listening and writing opportunities specifically tailored for owners professional development.

    • Previous month's wins & losses.

    • A confidential space to share business challenges paired with candid feedback.

    • Leader Hot Seat.

  • Within the 4 walls of the virtual rooms of Junto, what is shared remains between us.

    The point is to create an environment where leaders can have open conversations around their role, their challenges and their own professional development.

    Our community is built on a foundation of unwavering support. Every interaction is driven by a tone of encouragement, aiming not to dictate, but to foster growth through thoughtful questions and insights gained from our own learning.

    In this group, collaboration triumphs over competition. Each member is viewed not as a rival, but as a partner in creating businesses and careers that we dream of.

    As members of Junto, you are stepping into a space where confidentiality is paramount. What is shared here remains between us, creating a safe environment for open and honest conversations.

  • 4-6 leaders + the facilitator.

  • Group Meetings: 1-1.5 hours long


    1:1 Coaching Sessions: 1 hour

  • The Junto group meet once per month.

  • During the application process, each applicant chooses a day/time that is best for them and the majority of votes will determine the day/time for the Junto group to meet.

  • Each meeting is held virtually.

Apply today!

Apply today!

Previous members say…

Andy Fuchtman

Sidecar Coffee

“I have seen myself...from the outside...through conversations with other owners and that's a hard perspective to get but a super helpful one.”

Julie Luster

Three Waves Coffee

“The Junto program was a game-changer for Three Waves Coffee. With Luke's guidance across sales, production, and packaging we implemented changes that turned our financial struggles into a story of success. Thanks to Luke, Three Waves Coffee is now on a promising path to profitability. I highly recommend Pomelo for anyone ready to enhance their coffee business strategy and achieve tangible results!”

Murtaza Aziz

Ceramic Coffee Roasters

“For me, the writing prompts, the voice assessment, and the accountability have been most helpful.”

Junto In The News

Who facilitates?

Who facilitates?

Luke Waite

Luke Waite is the founder and principal consultant of Pomelo Coffee Consulting, known for transforming struggling coffee roasters into highly efficient and profitable businesses.

Roastery Experience
Before consulting, he worked with four Chicago-based roasters (Metric Coffee, Five & Hoek Coffee, Passion House Coffee Roasters and Pickwick).

Consulting Approach
Luke created a framework (Core 7) for working with roasters that stems from his experience and expertise in running cold brew companies, overseeing sales and pricing strategy as well as branding and operations. He takes a holistic and integrated approach to client engagements.

Speaking
Luke frequently speaks on leadership and operations at events like Specialty Coffee Expo (‘25, ‘24, ‘23), Go Fund Bean (‘23), Coffee Fest Chicago (‘22), the Wilmington Coffee Fest (‘24, ‘23) as well as at Cafe Inclusivo (‘22) a project of Swisscontact.

His Goal
To help roasters achieve operational stability so they can make a positive impact on the industry and world.