In a survey of Northern California CEOs on joining CEO groups, we found the following concerns.
- Some of the CEOs assigned to my group don’t have full-scale businesses – “A third of the CEO companies in the group are just not like mine.” Our approach is only CEOs with full discipline companies of innovation.
- They expect me to be at every monthly meeting – “I need flexibility as running my business is priority one.” We are flexible and get it. Your business comes first.
- We don’t meet often enough - “I miss two meetings and I don’t see my CEO group colleagues for six or eight months.” We meet regularly- 11 monthly meetings- 9 are 4 hours and 2 are breakfast only; no meeting in July.
- My group chair has never been a CEO – “I am not sure my chair really gets what I am up against.” Bill Shepard has held the CEO position for over 12 years.
- They are too expensive - “I want to lead by example but this sets a bad example.” We feel our pricing is fair and reasonable.
- They require too much of my time – some groups meet for 8-9 hours a day once a month – “Meetings are taking up a way too much of my precious time.” Our meetings are half day finishing at 11:30 a.m.
- There is too much drive time to and from my group meeting. “My meetings are all over the Bay Area resulting in some very long trips.” Our San Francisco group meets only in San Francisco. Our Silicon Valley group meets only in Silicon Valley.
The CEO Business Forum methodology is highly effective. We believe we have designed our approach expressly for our Northern California CEO community.
How it Works
The CEO Business Forum is a business meeting with time and emphasis devoted to the objective of enabling CEOs to be more effective in their individual roles. Below is information on our meeting approach.
San Francisco CEO Forum
The meeting is scheduled on the third Tuesday each month in San Francisco with a month-by-month rescheduling of the date by the group as appropriate. Limit 14 participants.
Silicon Valley CEO Forum
The meeting is scheduled on the second Tuesday each month in Palo Alto with a month-by-month rescheduling of the date by the group as appropriate. Limit 14 participants.
CEO Business Forum Meeting Agenda
The CEO Forum meetings are designed to be CEO Participant focused. Below is a template of our usual meeting agenda.
- 7:30 AM Gathering time with informal one-on-one conversations.
- 8:00 AM Introductions/updates by all – very brief (2-3 minute each)
- 8:30 AM Topic with a Thought Leader/Speaker and active discussion
- 9:30 AM 15 minute break
- 9:45 AM Each participant’s confidential discussion with the group of their specific company’s business topic.
- 11:30 AM Firm close
Yearly Schedule
- 9 Half-day CEO meetings (7:30-11:30 AM) monthly except March, July, December
- 2 Breakfast CEO meetings (8:00-9:30 AM) in March and December
- No meetings or breakfast in July.
2012 Meeting Schedule
San Francisco
- Tuesday, April 24
- Tuesday, May 22
- Tuesday, June 19
- Tuesday, August 21
- Tuesday, September 18
- Tuesday, October 23
- Tuesday, November 27
- December 2012 – event to be determined
Palo Alto area
- Tuesday, June 12
- Tuesday, July 10
- Tuesday August 14
- Tuesday, September 11
- Tuesday, October 9
- Tuesday, November 13
- December 2012 - event to be determined
The CEO Business Forum is an invitation only group. See Participation for qualifications.
