ChairWaves

Craig James - Episode 87

Sometimes the biggest challenge for a CEO isn’t knowing what to do. It’s actually doing it. In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Craig James, a Vistage Chair from Westwood, Massachusetts, shares one of the lessons that surprised him most about working with business leaders: even successful CEOs need accountability. Craig also shares his journey from finance and sales to entrepreneurship, teaching at NYU, and eventually becoming a Vistage Chair. An interesting part of his story is how a Myers-Briggs assessment pointed him toward teaching, social work, and sales—three paths that seemed unrelated at the time but ended up shaping the work he does today helping leaders grow and succeed.  The best way to connect with Craig is via email at craig@westwoodexecdev.com [craig@westwoodexecdev.com].

Louis-Samuel Jacques - Episode 86

There’s something rare about a leader who still takes the time to send handwritten birthday cards. Quebec City TEC Chair Louis-Samuel Jacques has spent the last eight years building peer groups and intentionally investing in the leaders within them. In this episode of Chairwaves, Louis-Samuel talks about the shift from being a consultant focused on solving problems to becoming a Chair focused on helping leaders think better, challenge assumptions, and grow through the strength of the group. He also shares how a well-kept secret in Quebec became a thriving peer advisory community, why he stopped trying to build groups of six and started building systems designed for twenty, and how asking better questions changed the trajectory of his career. Blending the mindset of an economist with the experience of a seasoned Chair, Louis-Samuel offers practical insight for anyone leading executives, building community, or trying to create more impact in their work.  The best way to connect with Louis-Samuel is through LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lsjacques/].

Allan Fried - Episode 85

Great coaching isn’t always about direction. Sometimes it’s about attention. That idea comes through clearly in the latest episode of Chairwaves featuring New York City Vistage Chair Allan Fried. In this episode, Allan shares how his background in the music industry eventually led him into coaching, meditation, and Vistage, though he admits it took hearing about the organization three separate times before he finally saw himself becoming a Chair. He also explains how listening with real attention can open the door to deeper conversations and better outcomes. What makes Allan’s story especially interesting is the path he took to get here. From Capitol Records and entertainment startups to coaching and Vistage, Allan’s career path has been anything but conventional. This Chairwaves episode is a thoughtful conversation about leadership, self-awareness, and personal reinvention. The best way to reach Allan is by email at allan.fried@vistagechair.com [allan.fried@vistagechair.com].

Ken Mandelbaum - Episode 84

What kind of space do you create when you walk into a room? When Erik asked Ken Mandelbaum what he’s learned in 13 years as a Vistage Chair, Ken’s answer had little to do with tactics or process. Instead, the Northern New Jersey Chair focused on the idea of “space”: the environment leaders create through the way they listen, speak, and show up for others. In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Ken shares how a background that began in a family retail business eventually led him into transformational leadership work and ultimately into leading Vistage groups of his own. Ken also talks about what makes a Vistage experience truly valuable for members, as well as his work as a best practice Chair for the Northeastern United States and Israel. This Chairwaves episode is a thoughtful look at leadership as a human experience, not just a business function.  The best way to contact Ken is through email at Ken@kenmandelbaum.com

Mikki Williams - Episode 83

Most people think they need to reinvent themselves to stay relevant. Mikki Williams took the opposite approach—and it worked for decades. This Chairwaves podcast episode features Chicago, IL-based Chair Emeritus Mikki Williams, a serial entrepreneur whose career spans professional speaking, leading Vistage CEO peer groups, and now building a social media following in her 80s . When asked how to build a brand that lasts, she points to a simple but overlooked idea: your brand is built by paying attention to what makes you different and leaning into it.  Mikki didn’t set out to become a Vistage Chair, but once she did, she built a highly structured environment that drove long-term retention and deep accountability. Now, as a Chair Emeritus, she remains an active voice in the Vistage community while continuing to evolve her own platform in unexpected ways. You can contact Mikki through her website [https://www.mikkiwilliams.com/], via email at mikki@mikkiwilliams.com [mikki@mikkiwilliams.com], or follow her on Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@mikkigogo], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=%2Fmikkiwilliamsunltd%2F&source=omni_redirect], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwilliams.chicago/directory_intro/] or Youtube [https://www.youtube.com/@mikkiwilliams].