BE THAT LAWYER · 2026-09-10 · 34 min
Discover why the biggest challenges for CEOs aren’t business problems, but life problems - and how the right peer group can become their most powerful tool for clarity, accountability, and growth. In this episode, you’ll hear how listening, vulnerability, and shared experience can transform the way leaders run their firms and live their lives. In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Mark McFatridge discuss: Listening to understand vs. listening to reply Career path from banking to founding CEO peer groups How life challenges derail otherwise successful CEOs Structure and accountability of peer advisory circles Becoming a trusted advisor instead of just a technical expert Key Takeaways: Truly effective business development starts when professionals stop “selling” and focus on building real relationships grounded in listening and trust. Many CEOs don’t fail because they lack technical answers; they struggle when life issues - family, health, aging parents - collide with business responsibilities. Peer advisory groups create a rare, confidential space where leaders can be vulnerable, get honest feedback, and see blind spots they can’t see on their own.
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