This week, Josh, Jason & Alisa welcome Mary Forte to the show as a special guest co-host. Mary is the Philadelphia Area Vistage Chair, and former CEO at Zale Corporation. Josh (River Avenue Digital) leads the discussion on executive mentorship based on his own journey as an entrepreneur, and his most recent experience as a member of Mary’s Vistage group. Why is it important to establish a network of leaders across different industries, and what is the role of an executive mentor? All bosses know it can be lonely at the top – but it doesn’t have to be.

00:25 Josh introduces the episode

01:25 Josh outlines the role of a Vistage group

07:00 Mary Forte discusses Vistage and her experience as a CEO.

11:00 Josh talks about his favorite part of a Vistage meeting.

13:30 Vistage goes beyond simple networking – accountability, perspective, and a wholistic assessment of the individual allow them to dive deep and do the work together.

18:00 Boss Moves of the Week!

Resources & Links:

Smart Boss Media

First Steps Financial

Meyer Business Law

River Avenue Digital

For more information, e-mail us at info@smartboss.media

Quotes:

How can you create camaraderie and get advice from people who have been in your seat, who are in your seat, who have done all the things that you're doing? How can you help them and get a great feeling about bringing other people along? It's all part of executive mentorship.

Josh Irons, River Avenue Digital

I think it's a common experience for entrepreneurs to sort of get their business to a point and then just keep hitting some glass wall.

Jason Meyer, Meyer Business Law

What people don't realize… is that someone who's in manufacturing is going through a lot of the same problems as someone who owns a marketing firm or someone who owns a law firm or someone who owns an accounting firm; they still have some really similar basic issues.

Alisa McCabe, First Steps Financial

I don't think I would have grown as much as I did in my career if it wasn't for some pretty great mentors.

Mary Forte, Vistage Chair