John Collins, veteran CEO, global operator, and now Vistage Chair in New York City, joins host Aamir Noorani to pull back the curtain on what leadership really looks like behind the scenes.

After four decades across tech, telecom, and F&B, John now coaches CEOs through one of the most powerful development models in the world: confidential peer advisory groups.

In this episode, he shares what truly keeps leaders up at night, why even top CEOs wrestle with imposter syndrome, and how the right peer group can transform decision-making, confidence, and business performance.

From stolen revenue and avoided conflict to the loneliness of the CEO seat, John breaks down the human side of leadership and why growth never happens inside your comfort zone.

Key Takeaways:

• Why the CEO seat is lonelier (and more human) than most people realize
• How imposter syndrome slows down decisions, especially around people
• The power of Vistage peer groups for accountability, clarity, and better outcomes
• Why CEOs of different-sized companies face totally different problems
• How “issue processing” uncovers the real root cause, not the surface problem
• A case study: uncovering theft that was hidden under “software issues”
• John’s biggest career leap - moving to Europe alone to build a team from scratch
• Why real growth only happens when you jump into the unknown
• What CEOs of nonprofits and for-profits actually have in common
• The one thing leaders must invest in to reduce sleepless nights: developing themselves and their teams

🎙️ The Show Goes On highlights the people who keep businesses running and the leaders who grow through challenge, discomfort, and change.

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