About

“If you want to go fast, go alone.  If you want to go far, go together.”  – African Proverb

During his tenure at Vistage Worldwide, Leo Bottary directed a thought leadership initiative on the power of peers in business, which resulted in a book he coauthored with Leon Shapiro titled:  The Power of Peers: How the Company You Keep Drives Leadership, Growth & Success. The premise of the book is as simple as it is powerful.  Who you surround yourself with matters and, because of this, business leaders can help each other in ways they just won’t find anywhere else.

Peer influence is something you’ve experienced for your entire life, often without a great deal of thought or effort.  Peer advantage is what can be realized when you engage your peers in a manner that’s more selective, strategic, and structured.   If you want to grow as an individual, collaborate more effectively, become a better leader, and prepare your organization to meet the challenges of the future, then enlist a group of peers you respect and who are committed to the same goals and watch what happens!

Background

In addition to his work as a speaker and thought leader on the topic of peer advantage, Leo also serves as an adjunct professor for Rutgers University.  Prior to that, he served as an adjunct for two of Seton Hall University’s graduate programs, where he led online learning teams and on campus residencies. In April 2015, he was named adjunct teacher of the year for its College of Communication and the Arts.

Before joining Vistage in 2010, Leo enjoyed a 25-year career counseling leaders in strategic communication. During that time, he served as a Senior Vice President (Corporate Practice) and Director of Client Service for the US at Hill & Knowlton. He also founded an award-winning public relations agency, which he sold in 2000.

Leo earned a BA from Jacksonville University, an MA in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University and is expected to receive his EdD from Northeastern University with a concentration in Organizational Leadership upon completion of his dissertation.  His topic focuses on the power of peer influence on entrepreneurs and CEOs of early stage companies.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leobottary