Confessions of a Vistage Chair

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let's pull back the curtain!   Heather Anderson is the type of person who said yes to coaching a sixth-grade field hockey team, having never seen a field hockey game. In this episode, Heather unpacks what she learned taking a 2-and-10 team to 10-and-0 and how those same leadership principles show up in every boardroom she walks into. She gets into why toxic culture always traces back to the leader, why emotional intelligence starts with self-awareness, and what her secret sauce has been for two decades of success. Timestamps  04:19 Coaching Without Expertise 07:05 Cultivating Team Culture 11:53 Peer-Led Culture vs. CEO Culture 28:11 Self-Awareness in Leadership 39:12 Three-Perspective Exercises 44:29 Vistage Chair Success Secrets Guest Links Vistage Website: https://app.vistage.com/sites/s/chairs/0038000000slKqPAAU/heather-anderson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-anderson-72230b/

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let’s pull back the curtain!   In this episode, Brian takes us from enlisting in the Air Force at 18, through the Reagan-Gorbachev summits, the birth of the internet, a radio show that got him one-phone-call access to any CEO in DC, and eventually to becoming a Vistage Chair. He also gets brutally honest about the one decision he regrets most: not joining a peer group before the recession hit.   This one is packed with wisdom, war stories, and the kind of perspective that only comes from actually living it. Timestamps 04:44 Path to Becoming an Officer 12:47 Transition to Civilian Life 17:59 Military Skills in the Civilian World 24:34 Resilience Through Career Challenges 28:06 Entrepreneurial Journey: 9/11 and Beyond 43:55 Recession and Business Collapse 47:36 Becoming a Vistage Chair 54:27 The Entrepreneurial Struggle   Guest Links [email protected] Vistage Website: https://app.vistage.com/sites/s/chairs/0038000000slWEfAAM/brian-roberts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrobertscroix/

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings. Let's pull back the curtain! Chris Quinn’s path to Vistage Chair is anything but conventional. He went from shaving his surfer hair at Officer Candidate School to commanding infantry platoons in the Middle East, serving as aide-de-camp to a two-star general, and eventually becoming president of a public biotech company, all before his wife sat him down and told him he was flat-out unemployable. In this episode, Chris gets real about what the Marine Corps actually teaches you about leadership that no MBA ever could, why empathy and sympathy are not the same thing, and what it means to run a Vistage group the way a great coach runs a team.  Tune in! You won't want to miss it.   Timestamps 00:00 Military Beginnings 03:52 Military Deployments and Aid Role 12:30 Simplicity and Agility in Leadership 16:32 Key Leadership Behaviors and Self-Control 20:50 Challenges and Reflections on Military Life 26:21 Embracing Entrepreneurship and Values 32:08 Personal Growth and Career Redirection 36:09 The Power of Vistage and Peer Advisory 41:59 Transition to Consulting & E-Learning 45:34 Marketing Readiness Diagnostic   Guest Links Vistage Website: https://app.vistage.com/sites/s/chairs/0038000002BRNSKAA5/chris-quinn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-quinn-ceoadvisor/

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let’s pull back the curtain!   Julie Reinganum has lived one of the most unconventional paths I've ever heard of: from studying Chinese on a whim to landing at the UN during the early days of U.S.-China diplomatic relations, to leading AT&T's first international deal in China, selling her own consulting firm, and becoming a Vistage Chair. She didn't follow a plan. She followed her instincts.   In this episode, Julie gets honest about what it actually means to create a sacred space within a Vistage group and why planning with assumed uncertainty is the only strategy that works in today's environment. Tune in! You won't want to miss it. Timestamps 03:13 - U.S.-China Relations and Early Career 11:18 - AT&T and the Business School Impact 17:18 - Launching a Consulting Firm 23:27 - Selling a Business and Peer Groups 32:01 - Transition to Vistage Chair 37:16 - Evolving Business Challenges and Leadership 44:31 - Planning Amidst Uncertainty 57:04 - Vistage Connect: Virtual Groups Guest Links Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliereinganum/

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let’s pull back the curtain!   In this episode, Dick Singer gets honest about how most companies are hiring fast and firing slow when it should be the exact opposite, why behavior beats skill every single time in the hiring process, and what it actually means to be a Vistage Chair who puts members first. We also get into business acquisitions, due diligence, and what a six-year drought in Lake Tahoe taught him about making decisions with your gut instead of your head.   This is 25 years of wisdom in one conversation. Don't miss it! Timestamps  07:09 - Recruiting Challenges and Member Retention 16:24 - Tailoring Vistage Groups 25:57 - The Importance of Due Diligence and People 35:14 - Hiring for Behavior, Not Just Skill 44:26 - Strategic Hiring: Always Interviewing Guest Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dicksinger/ Vistage Website: https://app.vistage.com/sites/s/chairs/0038000000slK2zAAE/dick-singer   #HiringStrategy #OnboardingStrategy #DueDiligence #IssueProcessing

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let’s pull back the curtain!   This week, I sat down with Vistage Chair Georganne Goldblum for one of the most honest conversations I've had about what it actually takes to build a business worth owning, and eventually worth selling.   Georganne's path is unlike anyone else I've talked to. She started in the boardrooms of Fortune 500 giant General Foods, moved into entrepreneurship when she and her husband acquired an office furniture company, and eventually found her way to Vistage. What she's built since then is remarkable. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what Vistage Chairs actually do inside the room, how Georganne helps CEOs stop chasing revenue and start building real enterprise value, and why the businesses that sell for the most aren't always the ones growing the fastest.   This episode is packed, and there's sure to be something in here for everyone. Timestamps 04:14 - Entrepreneurial Ventures and Challenges 13:06 - Vistage Philosophy and CEO support 19:46 - Building Business Value and Future Planning 30:10 - Leveraging AI for Business and Operations 46:12 - Organic Growth vs. VC Funding 51:01 - Vistage: Profitable Growth and Support   Guest Links Website: https://coach4execs.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sflexecutivecoach/ Vistage Website: https://vistageflorida.com/vistage-chair/georganne-goldblum/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ggoldblum/

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let’s pull back the curtain!   In this episode of Confessions of a Vistage Chair, I sit down with Mark Taylor to unpack one of the most powerful leadership journeys I’ve heard.   Mark fought to go to college, launched a business that went bankrupt within six months, rebuilt from scratch, and eventually built one of Michigan’s fastest-growing companies. Along the way, he learned hard lessons about culture, financial literacy, and burnout. Joining Vistage became a turning point, helping him move from working in his business to working on it, developing as a CEO, and ultimately discovering his deeper purpose. Today, Mark is a Master Vistage Chair in New York City and one of only 13 Chairs globally with more than 100 members.   If you’re a CEO, founder, Vistage member, or aspiring Chair, this conversation is about growth, purpose, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.   Timestamps 05:53 First Business Failure & Lessons 11:19 Transformational Courses & Second Business 16:29 Vistage: From Micromanager to a True CEO 26:28 Overcoming Financial Challenges 31:37 Selling the Business & Reverse Commute 37:39 The Trauma of Losing Control to Becoming a Vistage Chair 57:22 Finding Purpose in Vistage 1:00:05 Advice for Vistage Chairs   Guest Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marktaylorceocoachnyc/ Website: https://marktaylor.nyc/ Vistage: https://www.vistage.com/research-center/author/mark-taylor/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mtaylortec/

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let’s pull back the curtain!   In this episode of Confessions of a Vistage Chair, I sit down with Vistage Chair Rick Vanasse to unpack one of the hardest truths in leadership: the biggest obstacle to business growth is often the CEO.   Rick shares lessons from decades of working with CEOs and executive teams on organizational design, culture, and leadership development. We talk about why companies hit growth ceilings and why leaders must sometimes let go of roles they love in order to scale. We also dive into the concept of  “Going to the Balcony”, stepping back from day-to-day operations to see patterns, identify root problems, and lead strategically instead of reactively. If you're a CEO, founder, entrepreneur, or executive leader, this conversation will challenge you.   Timestamps 11:12 Leadership and Core Values 21:26 Overcoming Growth Obstacles as a CEO 34:39 Reactive vs. Creative Leadership 39:34 The Hero’s Journey to Self-Awareness 44:07 The Mindset Shift to CEO 52:00 The CEO’s Big Picture Guest Links LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-vanasse-vistagechair/ Vistage Website: https://app.vistage.com/sites/s/chairs/00380000021W2D6AAK/rick-vanasse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grounded_toward_growth/

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let’s pull back the curtain! In this episode of Confessions of a Vistage Chair, I sit down with Beth Adkisson, a longtime Vistage Chair and recipient of the prestigious COPE Award, the highest honor given to a Vistage Chair. Beth shares her journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship and ultimately becoming a trusted advisor to CEOs. We talk about what great leaders do differently, from facing reality fast and investing in their people to building trust, giving honest feedback, and creating environments where leaders can grow. We also explore the concept of “care frontation,” how CEOs can trust their intuition, and why peer advisory groups like Vistage help leaders process challenges, see new perspectives, and make better decisions. This conversation is packed with insights on leadership, decision-making, and building organizations that last. Timestamps 4:20 – From Corporate Leadership to Entrepreneurship 7:05 – The Marketing Lesson Most Businesses Miss 10:10 – Why Brand Story and Relationships Matter in Business 14:00 – The Real Role of a Vistage Chair: Walking Beside CEOs 18:30 – The 5 Traits of Great CEOs and Entrepreneurs 23:10 – “Carefrontation”: How Leaders Give Tough Feedback 28:00 – Trust Your Gut and Face Reality Fast 33:20 – The Beach Ball Exercise: Seeing Different Perspectives Guest Links Email: [email protected] Phone: (949)842-9997 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethadkisson/ Cope Award: https://www.facebook.com/Vistage/posts/congratulations-to-our-2025-cope-award-recipient-beth-adkisson-presented-at-chai/1277961144379232/

Welcome to Confessions of a Vistage Chair, a podcast by Talent Harbor, where we have real, behind-the-scenes conversations with Vistage Chairs. They share honest stories and practical insights on leadership growth, peer advisory groups, and what actually happens in Vistage meetings.   Let’s pull back the curtain!   In this episode of Confessions of a Vistage Chair, I sit down with someone who had a major impact on my leadership journey, my first Vistage Chair, Master Chair Ed Robinson.   Ed became a Vistage Chair at a young age and has always been wired for leadership. We talk about what separates great leaders, building connections over division, inspiring others to rise, and creating win-win environments. We also dive into navigating today’s noise with curiosity, courage, and clarity, and how to use Vistage to grow, not box yourself in.   If you're serious about becoming a stronger, more future-focused leader, this conversation is for you. Timestamps  3:43 Discovering Vistage and Its Impact 10:17: Leadership: Unleashing Potential 22:52 Confronting Fear and Distilling Information 32:24 Things that Guide and Ground you 41:55 Overcoming Adversity: Randy Pausch's Influence 49:11 Navigating AI and Technological Change 54:12 Leadership: Operating in Three Horizons 59:52 Advice for Young Chairs: Be Yourself Guest Links Email: [email protected] Website: https://capacity-building.com/ Vistage Website: https://app.vistage.com/sites/s/chairs/0038000000slKJeAAM/edward-robinson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edrobinson/ Blog: https://capacity-building.com/ed-robinson-blog/

Confessions of a Vistage Chair Podcast coming soon