One Great CEO. Once a Year.
One Great CEO. We are asking every member to introduce just one great CEO to VACEOs. Speak to a CEO you think would benefit from a peer roundtable, and if they are interested, just contact us to make the referral. As soon as we have a face-to-face meeting with that CEO, your work is done!
- Rewards for your Roundtable or Forum. Earn funding for your Roundtable or Forum’s activities. Plan an awesome retreat! Get $2,000 when you make 8 qualifying referral connections. Get halfway there — sure, we will deposit $1,000!
And, if your Great CEO joins VACEOs, we will add some bonus funds for your group.
- A Culture of Referral. You know that it is just a part of our culture to introduce great CEOs to our community. More CEOs means more great people with whom to learn and grow.
- Here’s where you might find yours . . .
- @ your club @ your customers
- @ your church @ your suppliers
- @ your neighborhood @ your competitors
- @ your service club @ your office building/park
- @ your boards @ your gym
- Want to look at a list of prospects to find CEOs you might know? Just ask!
- 25 for 25 by year end! So that we will have lots of members available to join your Roundtable or Forum in our 25th Anniversary year (2025), we want to bring on 25 Great CEOs by this December. Whenever you meet or think of a great CEO, connect them with us!
STEP ONE — Talk to a CEO you know
Sample Email – Copy this, Edit, Send
I’ve been in a CEO Roundtable in the Virginia Council of CEOs (VACEOs) for ___ years, and I wanted to tell you about it.
It has made a big difference in my life! I have a group of peers I trust, with whom I can talk about anything. Personal, business, family, community – it all blends together, doesn’t it?
My Roundtable helps me get perspective on issues I thought were roadblocks. I make better decisions. I’m a better leader because of the time I spend with my peers.
VACEOs also connects me with more than 200 other members through an amazing annual retreat and other programs that offer the chance to learn and connect.
You came to mind when I was thinking about CEOs who would add value to VACEOs. It’s the members that make it great.
Let me know if you are interested in learning more about VACEOs. I would love to introduce you.
Questions to start conversation
- Where do you go to learn and grow as a leader?
- Do you have a confidential peer group?
- Who do you turn to when it feels “lonely at the top?”
- Are you having growth challenges at your business?
- What one or two strategic questions do you need to answer in the next six months?
- What’s got you stuck right now?
- How are you growing as a leader?
- Do you have time for life outside of your business?
- Who do you talk to when you have a business challenge?
STEP TWO — Send your referral to VACEOs if they express interest
- Send an mail introducing your prospect and Scot McRoberts – scot@vaceos.org
- Email VACEOs staff (info@vaceos.org) with: Name, Company, Email, Phone and any info on the prospect
- Invite your prospect to an “Intro to VACEOs” lunch. See www.vaceos.org/events for dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I get started?
A: Plan a time to look through directories, your contacts, and places you interact with business people. Ask us for a list to review. Maybe do this with a colleague or your Roundtable. Make your own list of Great CEOs, then reach out to them. Most will be honored to be considered.
Q: What’s a good way to open a conversation with a CEO?
A: Ask your contact, “Have you ever heard of the Virginia Council of CEOs?” Follow with, “Let me tell you about my experience.” Or, forward our Leader News email to open the conversation. Find sample emails and conversation starters at VACEOs.org/ogc2024.
Q: How can I get my Roundtable/Forum on board?
A: Someone from your group is on the Membership Committee, and is charged with leading you all! Also, Executive Director Scot McRoberts, or another VACEOs leader, would be happy to come to your meeting and get them fired up! Just ask.
Q: What exactly do I need to do? What counts as a referral?
A: Talk to CEOs you know. If you think they qualify ($1mm+ revenue, 5 FTEs) and they express interest in learning more, introduce them to us with an email, and/or bring them to an event. We will arrange a meeting or invite them to lunch, and will invite you (you don’t have to attend). Once that meeting happens, you are done!
To count for One Great CEO: 1) you must communicate with the CEO and get interest in learning more; 2) your referral must have a meeting/conversation with our staff or membership committee.
Q: Just one? Can I introduce more than one CEO to the Council?
A: No, just one.
Kidding! Of course you should introduce as many great CEOs as you can. But, the focus of this campaign is quality, not quantity.
Q: So, how does my Roundtable or Forum earn funds?
A: Just get members of your RT/Forum to make 8 qualifed referral connections and we provide $2,000 to fund your group’s acitivites. Get to 16 and we double it! Get halfway there? Sure, we will deposit $1,000!
These funds separate from the annual Roundtable Retreat funding and Forum budgets, which are annual “use it or lose it” funds. These funds remain available year to year until you spend them.
And, if your Great CEO joins VACEOs, look for something extra to come to your Roundtable or Forum.
Q: What events can I invite my prospect to?
A: We have “Intro to VACEOs” lunches every month. See those dates at www.vaceos.org/events.
Q: My prospect wants to know “What does it cost?”
A: As you know, the primary cost is the time commitment. Because we are a nonprofit, and have tremendous support from sponsors, our cost is lower than any other CEO peer group. Current pricing is available at https://www.vaceos.org/become-a-member/.