From Immigrant Roots to Industry Leader: How CEOs Find Strength Through Peer Support

In this episode of "It's Lonely at the Top," host Nancy MacKay welcomes Kim Tofin and Sergey Poltev to discuss the unique challenges faced by CEOs and the importance of peer support. Sergey shares his journey as a first-generation immigrant from Russia, detailing how personal hardships shaped his entrepreneurial spirit and led him to establish three successful companies in IT and cybersecurity. Sergey emphasizes the significance of having a judgment-free space for leaders to connect and grow, which he found in Kim's CEO group. Kim, a seasoned executive and forum chair, highlights the value of peer group learning and the transformative power of mentorship in leadership roles. Sergey Poltev helps growth-minded entrepreneurs escape “CEO overload” by building delegation systems powered by full-time, dedicated virtual assistants. As the founder of VA Desk, based in Ottawa, Ontario, he equips business owners with the playbook to hire, train, and integrate Philippines-based Virtual EAs into daily operations, turning chaos into repeatable workflows and freeing up time for leadership, health, and growth. With a background in technology and cybersecurity, Sergey brings a systems-first approach to delegation that’s practical, measurable, and built to scale. Kim Tofin is a proud father, cultural explorer, and seasoned leader with nearly 40 years of global business experience spanning high-tech markets, major Canadian energy projects, and international consulting. Through BREAKOUTcx, Kim helps CEOs and executives move beyond the “go-it-alone” mindset into teamship — a collaborative leadership approach that transforms silos into strategic advantage. As a Forum Chair and team coach, Kim creates trusted spaces where leaders tackle complex challenges together. He’s known for bridging technical and non-technical worlds and guiding bold, possibility-driven leadership. Kim supports CEOs ready to evolve from soloists into courageous conductors.  Join a MacKay CEO Forums⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Peer Group:  MacKay CEO Forums⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: brings results-oriented CEOs, Executives, and Business Leaders together to solve their toughest problems and maximize opportunity through peer learning and support. Learn more: https://mackayceoforums.com/members/