6 Peer Advisory Groups Every CEO Should Know

By Mark Cipolletti, Founder, Pinch Hit Partners

Being the CEO of a small or medium-size business (SMB) may be the loneliest position of all. There’s nobody above you to ask for help and everyone below you thinks you already have all the answers. Truth be told, you don’t know what you don’t know and that's okay. So, where can you can go when you need help?

CEO peer advisory groups are a smart place to start. These small groups of CEOs typically meet on a monthly basis and can become like a board of directors for your business. Organizers form peer groups with CEOs from non-competing businesses so you don't have to worry about your cross-town rival knowing what you're up to. Plus, members must agree to maintain confidentiality to facilitate open and honest conversation. 
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Most cities are home to chapters of national or international groups, so it should be easy to find an organization that’s a good fit for you. Keep in mind that most of these organizations have minimum membership requirements for annual revenue and/or number of employees and a few are by invitation only.

Here’s a round-up of the top CEO peer advisory groups you should know about:

Vistage
Vistage boasts 23,000 members across 20 countries so there’s a good chance you can find a chapter in your area. Their primary offering is CEO peer groups, however, they also provide programs for other c-suite executives. Groups typically meet monthly and consist of 12-16 members from non-competing industries.

From their website: 
Diverse perspectives are essential for better decision-making. A Vistage peer advisory group gives you a trusted sounding board of 12-16 high-performing CEOs, business owners and key executives who are focused on your challenges. Draw on the experience of peers who’ve faced similar situations and can ask the tough questions. Now deepen that peer advisory group experience with one-to-one executive coaching and perspectives from expert speakers. You won’t find another organization with a more comprehensive, effective approach to helping CEOs become better leaders, make better decisions and drive better results. It’s been our winning formula for over 60 years.

Renaissance Executive Forums
Renaissance Executive Forums operates 39 chapters in the US. Unlike some other CEO peer group providers, they offer quarterly sessions in addition to their monthly meeting options. This may provide busy CEOs with a way to introduce peer groups into their schedules without jumping in with both feet. Groups consists of 8-12 executives and they also offer programs for your executive team.

From their website: 
We offer several programs designed to serve the specific needs of our members. Programs are based on the "peer advisory process" whereby we provide an environment that facilitates peer exchange leading to improved business performance and enhanced quality of life. We complement the advisory process by coordinating or providing a variety of tools, training and support services to help our members reach their goals and achieve their vision.

Young Presidents
Young Presidents is the largest peer group provider mentioned here with approximately 27,000 members in 130 countries. In addition to membership requirements for minimum annual revenue and number of employees, applicants must be younger than age 45. Young Presidents members don’t break up into small peer groups, instead forming chapters of 16 or more CEOs. Each CEO can belong to one or more local or regional groups. YP also stands out from the other providers by offering programs for your spouse and adult children, recognizing that running a multi-million dollar business can become a family affair.

From their website: 
As a YPO member, you have the opportunity to design your own leadership journey, and choose the best way to connect to YPO’s global network of more than more than 27,000 chief executives worldwide. You have the choice to belong to one, or more than one, local or regional chapter. Whether you choose a local or regional YPO chapter, or both, you have access to powerful peer-to-peer networking, timely guidance from leaders like yourself, and relationships you’ll always treasure. You can even join both regional and local chapters for the best of both worlds.

Women Presidents Organization
The number of female CEOs is growing, and with it, the desire for women-only peer groups is growing too. Women Presidents Organization now has 100 chapters in the US serving more than 2,000 members. WPO’s peer groups have around 20 members, each running a company with more than $2 million in annual revenue ($1 M for service businesses).

From their website: 
The Women Presidents’ Organization is the ultimate affiliation for successful women entrepreneurs worldwide, connecting women who lead multimillion-dollar companies. The WPO is the only international organization serving second-stage, women-led businesses who have achieved a level of success. The WPO helps women from diverse, noncompetitive industries take their companies to the next level.

Convene
If you are looking for a Christian-based organization, Convene offers CEO peer groups through its 42 US chapters. They have groups for CEOs of companies with less than $2 million in revenue and more than $2 million in revenue and they also provide coaching services and an online peer group option.

From their website: 
Convene’s mission is to connect, equip and inspire Christian CEOs and business owners to grow exceptional businesses and become higher-impact leaders to honor God. Through a community of peer-to-peer advisory teams, executive coaching and world-class consulting, we work with Christian CEOs and business owners to impact the Life of a Leader, leading to an ultimate Kingdom legacy.

We work together to enhance your business and life trajectory, while exploring where God is leading you. Convene provides ongoing business and leadership skill-development with access to One2One™ coaching and advisory teams, nationally-recognized speakers, and break-through content for continuous transformational learning. Particular attention is given to contributing wisdom, encouragement and accountability toward your goals for the purpose of achieving better results in all areas of your life.

Entrepreneurs Organization
If you’re looking for the advice and support of other entrepreneurs, EO or Entrepreneurs Organization may be a good fit for you. EO has over 13,000 members in its 186 global chapters. Their peer groups consist of 7-10 CEOs for a more intimate experience among the CEO groups mentioned here.

From their website: 
Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO enables business owners to learn from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life. We educate, we transform, we inspire and we offer invaluable resources in the form of global events, leadership-development programs, an online entrepreneur forum and executive education opportunities, among other offerings designed for personal and professional growth. At its core, EO is a collection of like-minded entrepreneurs focused on business growth, personal development and community engagement.

Many communities may have CEO peer advisory groups that are not affiliated with the previously mentioned national and international organizations. For example, in Richmond, Virginia, where my company is headquartered, there is a thriving CEO peer network called the Virginia Council of CEOs. This organization now has over 200 members and has recently expanded to the Charlottesville area. Be sure to search Google for local options in your area.

CEO peer advisory groups can be a great way to find the help you need. Participants who benefit the most are the ones who are willing to commit the time needed to regularly attend meetings and complete any necessary “homework” that may come from a group session. If you’re not ready to carve out the time needed for membership in a CEO advisory group, you may also consider asking another executive to be your mentor or working with fractional executives in your area who can offer specialized knowledge in finance, human resources, IT and marketing.
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