What a CEO peer advisory group is
A CEO peer advisory group brings together a small set of non-competing CEOs or owners who meet on a set schedule to work on real decisions. Members present an issue, the group questions and advises, and everything said stays in the room. Organizations such as Vistage, EO and YPO run versions of this format, with different structures and rules for chairs and members.
The value to members is candid, outside perspective. The value to the chair is trust, which is the only asset that matters and the one a careless referral destroys.
What a chair does
| Responsibility | Typical activity | Why it matters here |
|---|---|---|
| Recruit and vet members | Interviews, fit and conflict checks | Chairs know which companies are established |
| Run monthly meetings | Facilitate issue processing | Chairs hear what owners are deciding |
| One-to-one sessions | Private coaching with each member | The consented setting for introductions |
| Book speakers | Bring in outside experts | A legitimate route for a topic session |
| Enforce confidentiality | Reinforce group norms | Sets the limit on what can be shared |
Peer group vs similar formats
| Format | Who attends | Confidentiality norm |
|---|---|---|
| CEO peer advisory group | Non-competing CEOs, curated | High, explicit |
| Industry association | Open membership, one sector | Low, public events |
| Mastermind | Self-selected peers | Varies |
| Executive roundtable | Invited, often sponsor-hosted | Moderate |
| EOS implementer engagement | One leadership team | Client confidentiality |
Where can data licensing appear?
There are two appropriate routes, and one that is not.
- A speaker topic. Invite a neutral expert to explain how companies license operational records to AI labs and data buyers, with the group deciding whether it is relevant. The topic is educational and the chair does not recommend any member act.
- A one-to-one introduction, with consent. In a private session, a chair can say the option exists and ask whether the member wants a pointer. If yes, the member runs the company fit checker or is introduced directly.
- Not appropriate: sharing what members said. What a member disclosed in the group about systems, customers, exits or finances is not yours to use, and a chair should not mine meetings for leads.
Illustrative: a fictional chair hears a member mention a retiring support platform. Rather than raising it in the next meeting, the chair waits for the next one-to-one, asks permission to share an idea, and leaves the decision with the member.
A 3-question check before saying anything
- Did the member raise this with me in a setting where I can follow up?
- Have I asked permission before introducing an idea or a name?
- Would the member be comfortable if the whole group knew I had made this introduction?
If any answer is no, say nothing. Also check your own organization's chair agreement and code of conduct before accepting any reward.
How the introduction works
Partners make introductions and give basic fit information only. The company, through an authorized sponsor, works with SourceX on qualification, a data inventory, price and terms, and buyer review. Nothing is binding until the company signs, and the partner never exports, uploads or describes confidential records. The baseline is US companies with 50+ full-time employees at peak (contractors excluded) and several years of documented operations; see who qualifies.
For terms owners will ask about, point to fully paid-up license, and the CFO's view in EBITDA bridge. Sale-related questions are covered in data privacy representations and the exit readiness guide. Adjacent adviser roles are in the management consultant page.
Rewards
Partners earn 25% of the eligible platform fees SourceX actually collects from the referred company's licensing deals, capped at $100,000 per referred company. The reward is paid only after the buyer pays and SourceX receives its fee; an introduction, meeting or signed agreement alone does not trigger payment, and no reward is guaranteed. Whether a chair may accept a reward is a question for the chair's own organization and advisers.
Next step
If a member has asked for an introduction, register as a partner and share your referral link, or have the member apply at sourcex.si/apply.