Program Overview

CEO Cohorts are fixed groups of non-competitive Member-firm CEOs and Presidents (6-8 per group) who are interested in a deeper network to share knowledge, discuss common problems and experiences, and develop ideas in a safe and confidential setting. 

The annual commitment is to attend 1-2 four-hour in-person meetings and 1-2 virtual meetings. As the group becomes more familiar with each other over time, the benefits increase. 

Typical agenda items focus on building success now and for the future. These may include senior talent development, new business strategies, agency compensation, mergers and acquisition concepts, the unique challenges of agency leadership, and other areas of interest and concern to agency CEOs.  

The format, which features established norms and protocols, allows CEOs to engage at a deeper and potentially more productive level than the existing PRC Leader Roundtables. 

The PRC will provide administrative support to the groups and, based on the Cohort structure’s proven success, the PRC will provide a training session to share what works. In short, the agenda and guidelines are derived from a YPO model. As our groups convene, we’ll continuously share learnings and best practices with all groups.  

Please register your interest here by Friday, February 16th. Space is limited, as we will offer 10 cohorts for 2023. The first group meetings are slated for April/May and a training session for group leaders will be held in advance.

The Cohorts are a free benefit, available exclusively to PRC Member-firms, but participants commit to the cost of travel, food, and accommodations. Cohort participants will determine meeting locations and sites independently, however, a rotation of hosts and locations is ideal.

Sample Agenda
Welcome and socialize 10 minutes
Short centering exercise 5 minutes
Discussion of forum norms

  • Confidentiality 
  • Participation 
  • Responsiveness  
  • Respect 
  • Openness 
3 minutes
Purpose of the CEO Cohort

  • Why are we here, what do we hope to accomplish, our expectations 
10 minutes
Member updates

  • Brief updates from each member using the follow-ing questions as thought starters: 
    • What’s working? 
    • What’s missing?  
    • What needs to change? 
7 minutes each
“I noticed” 2 minutes each

10 Minute Break

Update From the PR Council (10 min) 10 minutes
Presentation

  • Topic to be selected by the group in advance. Pot-ential topics include: 
    • Establishing/strengthening the business development function: 
      • Strategies for RFP response 
      • Approaches to lead generation 
      • Managing conflicts 
45 minutes
Article / Trend group discussion – topic provided in  advance 30 Minutes
Housekeeping items 3 minutes
Open Discussion 10 minutes
Info Video
The new CEO Cohorts are modeled on a successful PRC CEO Forum that has been meeting for years. The group includes Luke Lambert, President & CEO, G+S Business Communications; Aaron Schoenherr, Founding Partner, Greentarget; Cortney Stapleton, Managing Partner, The Bliss Group; Renzi Stone, Executive Chairman, Saxum; and Laura Tomasetti, CEO & Founder, 360PR+. In this short video, group members share how the group worked and how they and their firms benefited.

Join a Cohort