The Power of executive advisory councils
CEO Update’s executive advisory councils acts as your personal board of advisors combining candid feedback, shared experience, and mutual accountability to help you solve complex challenges more effectively, grow as leaders, and drive measurably better performance in their organizations
Each council is a highly curated group of association leaders matched by role, revenue band, organization type and tenure to allow for deeper discussion and problem solving with peers running similar organizations. Councils meet virtually six times per year and are currently available exclusively to CEO Update Roundtable members, complementing CEO Update’s in‑person Roundtable member experiences.
Executive advisory councils in Practice
Curated Council Matching
Each curated council will consist of 10-15 leaders at organizations matched by role, revenue band, organizational structure (Trade, Hybrid, Professional Society), strategic priorities and tenure.
Confidential + Strategic Meeting Structure
Each 90‑minute meeting opens with a confidential, top‑of‑mind discussion so leaders can surface immediate challenges, test decisions, and get candid peer feedback. It then moves to a strategic theme chosen by the group, with each council typically meeting 4–6 times over 12 months.
Expert Facilitation
Our pilot executive advisory council is led by hand-selected expert facilitators — seasoned C-suite leaders and industry experts skilled at guiding candid, high-value peer discussions. They keep every session focused, confidential, and packed with actionable insight.
Supplementary In-Person Experiences
Supplementary in-person Roundtable experiences including dinners, summits, retreats and targeted workshops with the broader Roundtable offer additional touch points and exposure to the broader Roundtable council between executive advisory council meetings.
Seamless Scheduling
Seamless scheduling and meeting coordination is provided through a deep Zoom and calendar integration via RallyBoard so each council can align on times that work best for their group.
Measurable Impact & Accountability
Peer accountability keeps momentum going long after each meeting ends. Members set goals, track progress, and report back to their Council — turning candid conversations into measurable leadership growth and stronger organizational performance.
executive advisory council FAQ
Who is eligible?
Members of CEO Update’s C-Suite Roundtables are eligible for participation. Executive Advisory Council participation is included with your Roundtable membership. All members must complete the intake form in order to be appropriately matched.
How are meetings structured?
Every 90-minute Council meeting begins with a discussion of the members’ top-of-mind challenges, followed by a strategic theme discussion determined by the Council, allowing for a fully customized experience.
Will I be meeting with the same group each time?
Yes. Each Council is designed as a consistent advisory group, so members build trust and context over time with the same curated peers. Trust and continuity are central characteristics of effective Executive Advisory Council.
Are Meetings Confidential?
Chatham House rules apply. No recording is permitted during the confidential issues section of each meeting. During the strategic themes discussion, by default, the discussions will be anonymously transcribed in order to provide actionable summaries delivered to each member. Councils have the opportunity to opt out of recording.
Is Attendance Required?
We understand that our Roundtable members have demanding schedules, but the power of our Executive Advisory Council is in the consistency, commitment and participation of members. Participation will be reevaluated if more than 2 meetings are missed annually. Our flexible scheduling tools are designed to help busy executives manage scheduling challenges.
How are meeting times set?
Councils can coordinate meeting times that work best for the group using deep Zoom and calendar integrations that help streamline recurring meeting coordination.
What happens between meetings?
Members continue to build relationships through in-person Roundtable experiences including dinners, summits, retreats and targeted workshops with the broader Roundtables.
How often are new Councils launched?
New Councils will be scheduled to launch every six months. We encourage you to fill out an application as soon as possible and you will be notified once you are matched.
Are Executive Advisory Councils Available for other leadership roles?
Yes, we will be opening Executive Advisory Councils for other leadership roles soon.