ChairWaves

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].

Chris Donnelly - Episode 82

What actually drives performance inside a company? It comes down to how well people show up for each other. In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Philadelphia, PA Vistage Chair Chris Donnelly breaks down the kind of leadership that doesn’t show up in the numbers. Drawing from his military background, Chris explains why real camaraderie, relying on the people around you to step up and deliver, has become the lens he uses to evaluate businesses and leadership teams.  His path from the Navy to investment banking to leading and exiting his family’s plumbing business shaped how he leads and makes decisions.  Chris also reflects on stepping into leadership during personal loss, building a company that could run without him, and why pushing people, not protecting them, is what makes a Vistage group valuable. The best way to connect with Chris is on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisdonnellyvistage/]. His contact info is there, and he welcomes texts.

Fenella Kim - Episode 81

Fenella Kim had no network, no resources, and no roadmap when she arrived in the United States—but she figured it out anyway. Fenella is a Long Island, NY-based Vistage Chair who went from high-voltage electrical engineer to serial entrepreneur, building and exiting multiple companies after arriving in the U.S. In this episode of the Chairwaves podcast, Fenella shares how a single mentor changed her trajectory and how that experience shaped her commitment to paying it forward. Today, she’s all in on that mission as a Vistage Chair and venture capitalist. Fenella is grounded in a belief that Vistage works—because it helps leaders grow, strengthens families, and creates real impact in the communities they serve. This is an inspirational episode that shows what’s possible with persistence and an abundance mindset.  The best way to connect with Fenella is via email at fenella.kim@vistagechair.com