If you’ve outgrown the surface-level conversations and posturing you’ve found at other gatherings of CEOs, it may be time for you to engage with a more deeply connected community, discussing topics that matter more, with peers who can contribute to your maturation as a leader.

The Forge is an informal community of chief executives of sizable organizations, gathering monthly (in-person) to elevate the vision and craft of being a CEO.   Here, we do deep inner work, in community.  

For 17 years, the Kairos team has helped chief executives build elite executive teams, equipping them with new awareness and capabilities to navigate inflection points and enter new chapters of growth.  We’re well-positioned to facilitate the healthy conversations you and other CEOs are craving.

Participant criteria:

1.  You are the chief (senior-most leader of your organization, accountable for a team of executives).

2. You’re not done growing as a leader, and you’re eager to contribute to others’ growth.

3. You lead a big-enough enterprise (surpassing at least one of these thresholds: 25+ employees, or $1m+ EBITDA, or $10m+ revenue, or $5m+ funded) to have similar challenges as other chiefs in The Forge.

Season 4 (“Navigating Disorientation”)

When leading complex organizations, disorientation is inevitable. CEOs are surrounded by the questions,

“What’s required of me as a leader right now?”

“Do I have what it takes?”

“Now what?”

Disorientation is defined as a prolonged absence of clarity in a high-stakes context. Every day spent in disorientation increases risk exponentially. But when no two situations are precisely the same, how does a CEO prepare her/himself and her/his team to be up to the task?

Season 4 of The Forge: Navigating Disorientation will use wilderness geography as a metaphor for story-telling, mental models, and un-armored discussion with other CEOs like you. You’ll leave each session with a clearer understanding of how to navigate the challenges you face and how to guide others wisely. Each session is part of a whole, and they each stand independently.  You can join us for as many or a few of the monthly sessions as you like.

Schedule: (2nd Thursday of the month – 4pm – 6pm)

September 12th – Episode 1 | Basecamp: Prepare Yourselves

October 10th – Episode 2 | Wilderness: How Struggle Strengthens Us

November 14th – Episode 3 | Storm: Leading Through Uncertainty

December 12th – Episode 4 | Hotspots: When Your Mental Models Wear Out

January 9th – Episode 5 | Backpack: Don’t Pack Your Fears

February 13th – Episode 6 | Sherpas: Why Are You Walking Alone?

March 13th – Episode 7 | River: Embracing Paradox

April 10th – Episode 8 | Campfire: Connection & Growth

May 8th – Episode 9 | Topographical Map: Looking Back So We Can Lead Well

If you meet the participant criteria and want to attend one or more Forge sessions, email us, and we’ll add you to our invite list.