Ed’s Confessions of A Vistage Chair Interview

In this interview with Ryan Hogan from Talent Harbor, I share my experience as a Vistage Chair and what I’ve learned working alongside CEOs, business owners, and senior executives. These are people carrying real responsibility—making tough calls, building teams, navigating growth, and dealing with the uncertainty that comes with leading a business.

My role isn’t to hand out answers. It’s to create the kind of environment where leaders can slow down, think clearly, and get honest with themselves. A place where they’re challenged, supported, and surrounded by peers who understand the weight of the decisions they’re making.

Over time, I’ve seen how powerful that can be. When leaders have the right people around them—people who will ask the hard questions, offer real feedback, and hold them accountable—they make better decisions. They see things they were missing. They move forward with more clarity and confidence.

We also talk about something that often gets overlooked: leadership can’t be done in isolation. The idea that you have to figure it all out on your own is not only wrong, but it’s also limiting. Growth happens faster—and better—when you have the right perspective around you.

If you’re a business owner, CEO, or someone in a leadership role, this is a practical look at what the Vistage experience is really about and how the right peer group can have a meaningful impact on both your business and how you lead.