The Power of Peer Groups for the CEO with Aviva Wolmer

Small Business Matters

Aviva Wolmer graduated from the University of Baltimore Law School with plans to become a criminal defense attorney for juveniles. What she thought would be a brief return to her family’s business culminated in her serving as CEO. When she became CEO of Pacesetter, she immediately joined a Vistage group to get the support and guidance of people in similar positions. For six years, she relied on the wisdom of the group to help her process complex issues and make tough decisions on topics such as talent, M&A, and change management. Now as a Vistage Chair herself, Aviva gets to create an environment that brings diverse perspectives and experiences to CEOs who have a desire to grow and scale their businesses or achieve their visions faster. Aviva strives to inspire others to become the leaders they can be through helping them envision their goals and dreams (personal and professional) and empowering them with the clarity and accountability they need to achieve them. Show Notes: In this episode, Aviva Wolmer shares her journey from law school graduate, to CEO, to Vistage Chair. She talks about how important it is for leaders to listen to their employees, overcoming the imposter syndrome, and the benefits of belonging to a peer group. Episode Highlights: • What Matters to Small Business [0:02:55] • The Journey to CEO [0:03:38] • It’s Lonely at the Top [0:07:00] • Dynamics of a Family Business [0:08:30] • Benefits of Peer Groups for CEOs [0:10:38] • The Role of CEO [0:14:03] • Shifting into Coaching [0:15:07] • Imposter Syndrome [0:18:03] • Current Business Trends [0:20:05] • Retaining Talent [0:21:05] • Best Mistake as CEO [0:22:18] • Rapid Fire [0:23:38] • Contact Information [0:26:09] • Takeaways [0:26:54] • SBM Announcements [0:28:00]