VBSR CEO Solidarity Circle
CEOs and executive leaders know that it can be lonely at the top. You hold a lot of information and responsibility, and can’t necessarily share this with others. It can also be difficult to let down your guard and acknowledge that you’re not completely confident in what you’re doing. Yet to be an effective leader, it’s important that you too have the opportunity to air your concerns and fears, and to benefit from guidance and community – throughout your career.
Join VBSR, Jason Lorber from Aplomb Consulting, and Vermont executive leaders for the VBSR CEO Solidarity Circle, a safe and structured space for values-driven CEOs to explore and learn from their peers about confident leadership and innovatively managing change. Drawing upon leading-edge practices, expert facilitation and guidance, and the collective wisdom of Vermont’s visionary business leaders, this will be a place for sharing perspectives, asking questions, and creating a confidential, supportive community for learning and growth.
CEOs and executive leaders of all backgrounds (including businesses and nonprofits) are welcome. Leaders that identify as LGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color (BIPOC), and those with accessibility needs are encouraged to participate!
Our work together will be informed by the socially responsible approach to business, including VBSR’s 5 Values:
- People-Centered Workplaces
- Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Environmental Sustainability
- Prosperity for All
- Community Vitality & Strong Local Economies
Together, we will dive into a variety of topics based upon the interests of the group, such as:
- Understanding your leadership style
- Imposter syndrome
- Managing difficult conversations
- Creating strong teams
- Succession planning
- Managing crises and constant change
- Leading with vision and values
- Stewarding a triple bottom line (people, planet, profit)
You will emerge energized and inspired with:
- Greater knowledge of leading-edge leadership practices
- Increased confidence in your leadership skills
- Insight into coaching and formulating S.M.A.R.T. goals
- Strategies for creating positive change within your organization
- Articulated professional goals and an action plan to achieve them
- Valuable connections and bonds with your peers
- Accountability to your commitments
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Self-Assessment
Participants will complete a self-assessment to help you envision your goals for yourself and your organization, as well as what you hope to gain from the CEO Solidarity Circle.
Opening Session – Tuesday, October 3rd from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
We will begin together in-person in Burlington to commence this journey with teambuilding, forming interpersonal connections, setting individual goals, and exploring current challenges and opportunities with the triple-bottom line approach to business. You will do this through reflecting on your leadership style, and articulating your connection to Social Responsibility.
Virtual Sessions – November 7th, December 5th, January 16th, and February 20th from 10:00 AM -12:00 PM
These monthly, 2-hour sessions will include full and small group discussion and opportunities to contemplate real-life challenges, including role-playing, peer advice-giving, and connections with peer leaders and community building. Before each session, you will be assigned 15-to-30 minutes of readings or videos to expand your knowledge and awareness and add depth to our conversations.
Councils – 4 Meetings, Dates to be determined by the council members. Location can be virtual or in-person.
Each participant will be part of a 4-to-5-person group, with whom you will meet virtually between full group sessions for 45-minutes. You will be given assignments for each Council meeting related to establishing your professional goals and action plan and creating accountability to your commitments.
Final Session – March 19th from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
We will join together for one final in-person gathering in Burlington to take a deeper dive into your leadership skills and challenges; strengthen connections with one another through reflective feedback; share our professional goals, action plans, and commitments; complete a self-assessment comparing the before-and-after self-reported results; and celebrate our successes.
Questions? Please reach out to VBSR Education & Events Manager, Molly Barfuss, at mollyb@vbsr.org.
MEET YOUR FACILITATOR
President, Aplomb Consulting
“My vision is that all employees are fully engaged in change. And I work with leaders to empower their employees through strategic planning, teambuilding, communications, executive coaching and when it’s needed, mediation.
I bring to the table my MBA from Stanford, my four terms serving in the Vermont State Legislature, decades of working with global, national, statewide, and local organizations, and yes, acting, improvisation, and stand-up comedy.
I draw on the wisdom and expertise of John Kotter, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Simon Sinek, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Brene Brown, Susan Cain, John Doerr, Kim Scott, Malcolm Gladwell, Steven D. Levitt, Chip and Dan Heath, insights from real-life situations, numerous case studies, as well as from so many teachers, advisors, and coaches in strategy, coaching, mediation, communication, leadership, and organizational behavior.
I set high standards for my work. I love helping people and organizations create change that has a lasting impact. And I can’t seem to help adding a bit of fun to the mix.”
Jason has cultivated success with organizations as diverse as Gardener’s Supply Company, Hewlett Packard, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Encore Renewable Energy, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, and more. We look forward to bringing Jason’s expertise to the VBSR community through this special group rate.
TESTIMONIALS
“Jason is an exceptional Executive Coach. Every time I met with him, I was impressed by his ability to ask the right questions and shape our conversations in a way that led to profound and valuable insights. Everyone talks about ‘putting on your own oxygen mask first,’ but Jason truly helped me figure out how to do that, making me not only a more effective leader, but bringing deeper satisfaction to all aspects of my life.” – Roxanne Vought, Executive Director, VBSR
“Transformational might be overstated, but just a little. Jason’s executive coaching has had a significant impact on my career. Through listening and asking pointed questions, Jason helped me identify what was holding me back. Then, he gave me homework to do in-between sessions that was easy to complete, and packed a lot of power. As much as I’ve seen my own personal growth, I certainly appreciate how my colleagues have noticed and remarked to me about the positive changes.” – Andrew
“Jason did a marvelous job leading our strategic planning retreat. Our leadership team is populated by sharp, type-A personalities which Jason deftly managed with aplomb.” – Allan
“Thanks to Jason Lorber and Aplomb Consulting, our C-Suite successfully made strategic decisions that we had been stuck on for months.” – Michael
