The Power of Executive Peer Networks (and How to Actually Leverage Them)

There’s a moment in every executive’s journey where ambition collides with a strange sense of isolation. You’ve built your reputation, you’re surrounded by people who expect you to have the answers—and yet, you feel stuck. I know that feeling all too well.

For years, I thought growth meant grinding harder, reading more, and pushing for the next title. What I didn’t realize was that I was missing true peers: people who would challenge me, call out my blind spots, and force me out of my comfort zone.

Everything changed when I helped create The Council.

It wasn’t about collecting business cards or adding LinkedIn connections. It was about gathering a group of executives who were tired of posturing and ready for radical honesty. We shared not just our wins, but our failures and doubts.

We built a space where accountability was real, and diverse perspectives fueled new ways of thinking. That’s when my growth curve went vertical—not because I worked more, but because I started thinking differently and embracing the discomfort that comes with real feedback.

How to leverage executive peer networks for real growth:

Show up and participate—don’t just join for the optics.

Seek out people who will challenge you, not just cheer for you.

Share your failures as much as your wins; vulnerability is contagious.

Give as much as you get; reciprocity builds trust and momentum.

Make peer learning a habit, not a one-off event.

If you’re comfortable, be careful. Comfort is the enemy of growth. Find your Council—or build one. Your future self will thank you.

Martina Mazzoni, Principal, The Council & Senior Consultant, LYC Partners