Why Executive Agenda?

Comfort in chaos. That’s what today’s thought leaders have determined is the key requirement for success. How do you become comfortable in chaos? By continuously learning and honing your skills. Comfort does not come from knowing the answers. It comes from knowing you can understand the issues and figure out the answers. That is what Executive Agenda is all about: providing a platform where business leaders can help each other learn, develop and improve their performance within the context of their specific organizations and circumstances. And it works. Research shows that businesses, whose leaders participate in peer-learning organizations similar to EA, consistently outperform their competition. The formula is pretty simple: better learning = better leaders and better leaders = better results.
 

How Does Executive Agenda Work?

Executive Agenda is structured around a simple concept: put inquisitive, noncompeting professional peers together in confidential settings and let them learn from each other. Add the leadership and mentoring of a seasoned business Group Chairman and you have unparalleled, real-time, pragmatic learning capable of generating unique corporate and personal value. Three “hubs” are at the heart of EA: The Group, The Group Chairman and The Extended Community.
 

The Group

Groups are composed of 12-16 men and women from a variety of functional areas and non-competing businesses and industries together with a professional Group Chairman. Groups meet once per quarter in all-day meetings that are typically hosted in a member’s facility. The group members determine the agenda by bringing forth their concerns, problems and opportunities. It is in the quarterly meetings that members caringly and confidentially challenge each other, work through issues, share best practices, hold each other accountable and support the achievement of each other’s business, professional and personal goals.
 

The Group Chairman

To paraphrase John Quincy Adams, the role of the Group Chairman is to help each member become a better leader by inspiring him or her to “dream more, learn more and become more.” The two primary platforms upon which they accomplish their role are the quarterly meetings and One-on-Ones. As experienced facilitators, “Chairs” (EA’s nickname) work hard to ensure that the meetings are focused, safe, collaborative, challenging, and deliver high value. The second platform, the One-on-One, is an often invaluable, confidential 1½ to 2 hour mentoring session between a member and his or her Group Chairman. One-on-Ones are held prior to each quarterly meeting. The member sets the agenda; no topic is off limits.
 

The Extended Community

As Wisconsin’s oldest and largest membership organization dedicated to executive development across diverse business functions, members have access to the wisdom of leaders in other groups – 500+ members representing over 300 of Wisconsin’s foremost organizations. And, through a relationship with TEC Midwest, members can tap into the best practices and knowledge of more than 18,000 leaders worldwide via Vistage International’s extensive 24/7 members-only web site. EA’s extended community also includes invitations to exclusive hot topic seminars delivered by top business experts.
 

Who Can Join EA?

Minimum criteria for membership in Executive Agenda includes working in Wisconsin as a senior-level executive other than a CEO. More important than title, age or gender is openness, a thirst to learn and a willingness to invest in your own and others’ development. While we have members from organizations of all sizes, Executive Agenda’s “sweet spot” tends to be private and public, for profit and not-for-profit, organizations between $10 million and $250 million. And membership representing a wide variety of industries is not only welcomed, it is encouraged because diversity is one of the things that makes Executive Agenda work.

Is EA Right For You?

Membership in Executive Agenda is not easy. EA works because its groups are “greater than the sum of their members.” Their “greatness” is the product of the quality and commitment of each individual member and the standards and expectations of the group. If Executive Agenda seems like the kind of organization that would facilitate your growth and development, and you are willing to commit to peers who are willing to commit to you, we invite you to take the next step. Please contact the EA office to learn more or discuss how you can be considered for membership.

Overview of Executive Agenda

• Wisconsin’s oldest and largest membership organization dedicated to executive development across diverse business functions
• Each member is invited to join a dedicated, peer learning group of 12-16 members that formally meets once each quarter in full-day working sessions
• Each EA group is chaired by a carefully-selected, seasoned business professional
• Every member participates in a dedicated mentoring session with his or her Group Chairman every quarter
• Quarterly meetings are structured to provide a safe, confidential platform for working member-defined topics using EA’s unique Seven Step Process
• EA’s extended community provides access to the knowledge and best practices of more than 18,000 executives worldwide through a world-class, members-only business resource web site, and to “hot topic” business seminars by top national and local business thought leaders
• EA’s unique learning method “forges” leadership development by enabling and encouraging peers to teach each other, challenge each other and hold each other accountable
• Companies that participate in peer learning similar to EA outperform those that don’t. And, organizations that support development of their key executives realize better retention, better leaders and better business results