Building Bridges: The Case for Executive Peer Networks

While few of us enjoy "networking," we all crave authentic conversations with peers, clients, and key stakeholders. The pace of change is accelerating, and we need peer networks more than ever to understand what others are thinking and doing. The most successful executives often have the best networks--to share insights, provide support, and pursue common interests. But strong peer interactions rarely happen on their own. Time, trust, and low expectations too often get in the way.

Building Bridges urges executives to demand more. It describes the characteristics of the most valuable peer networks, where executives meet regularly for conversations they can't have anywhere else. And it offers a set of design principles for those who want to create and sustain these vital professional resources. Because, in a transactional world, we all need to belong.

James Millar is the founder and president of SkyBridge Associates. James believes in the power of great conversations, and his firm creates the platforms leaders need to build authentic relationships and share valuable insights with each other. Since 2004, James has led more than 150 roundtable meetings for networks of executives and board directors in the United States, Canada, and Europe. James grew up in Ottawa and completed his undergraduate degree in industrial engineering from the University of Toronto. He also received an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he later served as director of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid. James has lived with his family in the Boston area for more than 25 years.