Adriano Pianesi launches live virtual leadership pressure test

Leadership coach Adriano Pianesi will host the first live virtual Changemakers Fight Club session on Sept. 25, 2026, giving executives a structured way to practice persuasion in boardroom-style pushback before real meetings. The three-hour workshop is designed for leaders who need buy-in for initiatives facing resistance inside their organizations.

Why it matters: - Leaders often face resistance that can stall or derail new initiatives in high-stakes meetings. - Changemakers Fight Club is built to help participants practice responses before they are under real pressure. - The format is aimed at executives who need authority and political cover to move work forward inside large organizations.

What happened: - Adriano Pianesi will host the inaugural live virtual Changemakers Fight Club session on Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST. - The program is designed for leaders presenting to a board, executive committee or other decision-making body. - Enrollment is available through Changemakers Fight Club registration. - Questions can be sent to adriano@pianesi.com.

The details: - The session uses a live scrimmage format rather than a traditional leadership seminar. - Each participant brings a pitch for an initiative they want to move forward inside their organization. - Pianesi gives pointed instruction and tips before the group challenges the pitch. - Participants face tactics described as fear mongering, delay, manufactured confusion and ridicule. - The exercise requires participants to recognize the attack in real time, respond succinctly and redirect the answer to the room rather than the individual pushing back. - Pianesi said, "You do the work. I make sure it’s effective." - Pianesi also said the session is not about winning an argument, but about keeping the room and the initiative on track. - Each round lasts 1 minute for the pitch, 8 minutes for group attacks, 4 minutes for peer debrief and 2 minutes for direct coaching from Pianesi. - The cycle repeats until every participant has taken a turn. - Enrollment is capped, making the program a small learning environment. - The cost is $499, with group rates available. - Every attendee receives a named public next move for their next real meeting. - Participants also get a complimentary 30-minute post-event strategy debrief coaching session with Pianesi, a Buy-In Field Guide and a 100-Day Strategic Roadmap. - The coaching session is described as a $300 value. - The Buy-In Field Guide and the 100-Day Strategic Roadmap are each described as $49 values.

Between the lines: - The program is framed less as theory and more as rehearsal for political and interpersonal resistance in decision-making rooms. - The structure suggests Pianesi wants participants to build repeatable responses, not just confidence. - The stated target audience appears to be experienced leaders who already present initiatives and need tighter persuasion skills.

What's next: - The inaugural session is set for Sept. 25, 2026. - Pianesi is expected to continue positioning Changemakers Fight Club as a practical coaching format for leaders handling resistance to change. - Follow-up coaching and take-home tools are designed to help participants apply the exercise in their next live meeting.

The bottom line: - Changemakers Fight Club turns leadership training into a stress test for real-world buy-in.