Celebrating a decade of CEO peer learning, business collaboration and Valencia College impact while setting a goal to inspire 1,500 leaders by 2028
CEO Leadership Forums is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, marking a defining decade of executive peer groups and leadership development across Florida. For ten years, the organization has brought together CEOs, founders, executives and business leaders to tackle real challenges through peer learning and trusted collaboration.
Founded in early 2016 in Central Florida, CEO Leadership Forums was built on a simple but powerful idea: business leaders become stronger when they learn from experienced peers in a confidential environment. That mission expanded into something bigger, connecting today’s leaders with tomorrow’s leaders through a cornerstone partnership with Valencia College.
“Ten years later, the idea remains the same: when education and business come together, communities prosper,” said Geoffrey Gallo, co-founder and co-chair of CEO Leadership Forums. “Our next chapter is about multiplying that impact, strengthening CEOs today while creating more relationships and opportunities for future leaders.”
What Are Executive Peer Groups and Why Do Florida Leaders Join Them?
Executive peer groups are confidential forums where CEOs and business leaders meet regularly to address growth challenges, leadership decisions and organizational performance through shared insight and accountability. Think of it as a mastermind for executives who want to grow faster and smarter.
CEO Leadership Forums created exactly that model. They rejected transactional networking and built something rooted in real collaboration. The formula is simple but effective: bring experienced leaders together regularly, let them tackle actual business problems, and watch the results compound.
What started in Central Florida expanded quickly. By 2018 and 2019, the organization had grown its executive peer group model into Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. The peer learning approach that worked in Orlando worked everywhere across the state.
How Did CEO Leadership Forums Build 10 Years of Impact in Florida?
From day one, CEO Leadership Forums built strong relationships amongst team members that kept everyone focused and accountable. Co-founder Russell Slappey, CEO of Nperspective CFO and Strategic Services, emphasized this foundation: “The key is strong relationships amongst the team members that keep us all focused and accountable to each other.”
In 2017, CEO Leadership Forums made its first $12,000 scholarship contribution to Valencia College, beginning a broader commitment to student support and internship pathways. That was just the start.
By 2018, the organization committed $100,000 over three years to scholarships for Valencia College’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Business and Organizational Leadership. Working with business partners, that commitment expanded to $150,000. The Distinguished Internship Program launched, directly connecting top-tier students with successful CEOs for hands-on mentorship and real-world experience.
CEO Leadership Forums also supported Valencia’s development of new baccalaureate programs in Business and Organizational Leadership and Software Development, filling real gaps in Florida’s workforce preparation.
Dr. Nasser Hedayat of Valencia College reflected on the partnership: “Valencia College could not be more proud to be engaged in such a partnership where business and education truly collaborate.”
What Is the Next Event for CEO Leadership Forums?
On Tuesday, August 25, 2026, CEO Leadership Forums will host “Leading Beyond the Algorithm: What Great Leadership Looks Like in an AI-Driven World” at 1000 Legion Place, 15th Floor in Orlando, Florida, from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM.
The format is what makes these events different. CEO Leadership Forums brings accomplished CEOs together on a panel, and the audience asks the questions. Whether you’re a CEO, an executive, a sales manager, or a student building toward leadership, you get direct access to leaders who have already faced the challenges you’re working through.
This isn’t just a conversation about technology. It’s about the leadership decisions that determine how organizations navigate rapid change, manage risk, preserve culture, and build the capabilities needed for the future. Topics include AI as a force multiplier, managing the risks of AI adoption, innovation with integrity, preserving human judgment, creating clarity and alignment, and building future-ready leadership skills.
Register today at https://lnkd.in/eY5xkaBY. You won’t want to miss this conversation.
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